COURT FINES FISHING MASTERS FOR CATCH REPORTING AND LOGBOOK OFFENCES

Court fines fishing masters for catch reporting and logbook offences.  Fines and forfeiture orders were imposed on fishing masters in four fisheries control prosecutions brought at two recent sittings of Cork Circuit Criminal Court for offences relating to inaccurate recording in the fishing logbook and mandatory catch reporting.

The master of a fishing vessel, Tony Browne, from Co. Cork, pleaded guilty to offences of failing to report the fish catch data through the electronic reporting system on two dates in January 2023, which was detected in the course of a Naval Service patrol and inspection. The Court imposed a fine of €2,000 and ordered forfeiture of €8,500 of the value of catch and gear. In providing its decision, the Court noted the importance of the regulatory requirement for logbook reporting to monitor quota uptake.

In a case involving a Spanish fishing master, Miguel Angel Tourino Gonzalez, of the UK-registered vessel “Manuel Laura”, the Court heard evidence that officers of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) conducted a landing inspection of the catch onboard at Castletownbere port in June 2023. A logbook under-recording of boxed Black Sole and Cod was detected. The Court imposed fines totalling €15,000 and ordered forfeiture in the sum of €40,000.

In a case relating to the detention by the Naval Service of the Irish registered vessel, ‘Northern Celt’, the fishing master, Adrian McClenaghan, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to accurately record the quantity of boxed Haddock onboard in the fishing logbook. The Court imposed a fine of €2,500 and ordered forfeiture in the sum of €8,000.

In a case involving the fishing master, Colm O’ Riordan, the Court heard evidence of an inspection undertaken of boxed catch landed by the vessel ‘Western Venture’, in September 2021. Officers of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority detected an under-recording of catches of Cod, Sole, Monkfish and Haddock, with over-recording of boxed catch comprised of species with a lower-commercial value. The Court heard evidence that the purpose of the legal requirement for accurate logbook recording is to “ensure conservation measures are maintained and stocks don’t deteriorate.” The Court imposed fines totalling €7,500 and ordered forfeiture of the value of catch and gear in the amount of €10,000.

A Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority spokesperson commented:

“The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority notes the seriousness attached to these offences by the Court, as reflected in the remarks made and sanctions imposed. Compliance with the requirements for accurate logbook recording and catch reporting is key to the sustainability of fishing for fishing communities. Accurate reporting of catches is essential in order to assess the extent of catches, and quota uptake, on an ongoing basis, ensuring catch limits are managed to allow for the continued sustainable exploitation of fish stocks. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority commends its own personnel and the Naval Service personnel involved for their effective inspection and enforcement work.”

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