The Master of a fishing vessel, Antoine Griffin, from Lettermullan, Co. Galway, pleaded guilty on the 16th of April, at Derrynea District Court, to a charge of failing to facilitate an inspection of his sea-fishing vessel by Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers (SFPOs) of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) on the 7th of May 2023 at Tiernee, Co Galway. Mr Griffin also pleaded guilty to two charges of retaining onboard 71 Spider Crabs which measured below the minimum legal size in addition to a charge for failing to carry the sea-fishing licence.
The Court heard that two SFPOs commenced an inspection of a sea-fishing vessel and requested the master to present a crate of lobster for inspection – at this point, a crew member proceeded to throw the contents overboard following an interaction by the master. On inspection of the remaining catch, SFPOs found 58 male, and 13 female Spider Crabs which measured under the minimum legal size required under 2006 regulations on the conservation of Spider Crab. The Court heard evidence that the Defendant was engaged in the commercial sales of Spider Crab.
Mr Griffin was convicted on the charge of failing to facilitate the inspection and fined €1,000, with the other charges taken into account.
An SFPA spokesperson commented:
“The failure to facilitate officers conducting an inspection to ensure compliance with sea-fisheries regulations is a serious matter and the SFPA notes the seriousness with which the Court treated the case. Officers must be facilitated to exercise their lawful powers to ensure compliance with regulations in place to protect the sustainability of fish and shellfish, and the fishing for such stocks by fishing communities. Regulations to support the conservation of Spider Crab have been in place for many years. Fishers must ensure any Spider Crab caught which is below the minimum legal size is carefully handled and returned immediately, alive to the sea. These regulations are an important tool to ensure the sustainability of Spider Crab in Irish waters and the viability of a stock for the fishing community. This case also serves as a reminder to fishing masters and owners that the conditions of a sea-fishing licence must be adhered to. The SFPA commends the officers involved for their diligence in this investigation.”
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