Dáil debates

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

1:00 pm

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Naval Service has powers to unilaterally intervene at sea. Under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, the Naval Service is empowered to board and inspect vessels and their cargos and, when necessary, to formally detain vessels and direct them to port. Fishing vessels detained by the Naval Service at sea are handed over at a port to An Garda Síochána for arrest. The Naval Service assists the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, in promoting compliance with and deterring contraventions of the Common Fisheries Policy. The SFPA liaises regularly with the Naval Service and inter alia the Fisheries Monitoring Centre, FMC, and the Air Corps.

In order to achieve strict compliance with quota and other conservation legislation under the Common Fisheries Policy, Naval Service targeted boardings and inspections are agreed between the SFPA and the Naval Service. Boardings are targeted based on the risk analysis carried out by the FMC. The criteria examined for the risk analysis include the fishing vessel's date of last offence, the date of last gear inspection, the number of days fishing in Irish waters, the species targeted and the method of fishing.

In 2009 , the Naval Service carried out 1,841 boardings at sea of vessels of various nationalities with 15 fishing vessels detained. In 2010, the Naval Service carried out 1,684 boardings with eight fishing vessels detained. Statistics up to the end of August for this year show the Naval Service has carried out 1,100 boardings and has detained 11 vessels. Further details of vessels detained and their country of origin are contained the following tabular statement.

FISHING VESSELS DETAINED BY IRISH NAVAL SERVICE – 2009, 2010 AND 2011

Nationality200920102011 to dateTotal
Irish43411
Spanish1348
UK5229
French5005
Belgian0011
TOTAL1581134

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