The detention of a German registered fishing vessel operating in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) resulted from a joint operation under the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) Western Waters Joint Deployment Plan (WW JDP) with the Irish Naval Service and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). The German registered fishing vessel was detained by the Irish Naval Service on the 7th February 2023 for a number of alleged breaches of fishing regulations following extensive analysis of the vessel’s Electronic Logbook (ERS) and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) positions over a number of weeks. An intelligence led operation with multi-agency co-operation led to the detention.
Both the SFPA and Irish Naval Service received an intel report from a confidential source on the 6th January 2023 in relation to this vessel and alleged breaches of fishing regulations. The Fisheries Monitoring Centre monitored and conducted analysis of the vessel once it entered the Irish EEZ in late January. The Irish Naval Service then requested the activity of the vessel to be monitored by the aerial surveillance aircraft chartered by EFCA who had a flight plan for the Irish EEZ at that time under the WW JDP. The flight plan was amended to monitor this vessel and the video footage gathered verified the intel received as well as additional evidence gathered. The Irish Naval Service had a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer (SFPO) on site at the EFCA Coordination Centre in charge of the WW JDP analysing this aerial footage as it was live steamed back to both the SFPA and the FMC.
On Tuesday 7th February, the vessel was detained by the Irish Naval Service vessel LÉ SAMUEL BECKETT for numerous suspected non-compliances with sea-fisheries legislation. The vessel was escorted to Castletownbere arriving in port on Saturday.
The Master of the fishing vessel, Ortegal Tres, was brought before a special sitting of Bandon District Court on Monday February 13th and was charged with a total of 25 fishing offences on various dates between a date unknown in December 2022 and February 3rd 2023 while fishing within the exclusive fishing limits of the State and has been returned for trial by a judge and jury.
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FURTHER INFORMATION:
About EFCA
The European Fisheries Control Agency is a European Union agency. The agency’s mission is to promote the highest common standards for control, inspection and surveillance under the Common Fisheries Policy. The EFCA will function at the highest level of excellence and transparency with a view to developing the necessary confidence and cooperation of all parties involved and, in so doing, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of its operations.
Joint deployment plans (JDPs) are the vehicle through which the EFCA organises the deployment of human and material resources of control and inspection pooled by Member States and EFCA. The deployment of pooled national means is coordinated by the EFCA in cooperation with Member State and frequently with the presence of national coordinators at EFCA premises.
About the Irish Naval Service
The Naval Service is the maritime component of the Defence Forces of Ireland and is the State's principal seagoing agency. The Naval Service acts as the official agency with responsibility for the operation of Irelands Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC). This responsibility is carried out as part of a service level agreement between the Department of Defence, Naval Service and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). The Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) operates in accordance with EU Requirements 24/7/365 and has sole responsibility of the operation of Irelands VMS system, The FMC carries out monitoring and surveillance of all Irish Fishing vessel globally and all other member state fishing vessels in Irelands EEZ (200nm). The FMC is also the co-ordination centre in charge (CCIC) for Joint Deployment Plans (JDPs) in Western Waters. Please see www.navy.ie or contact Naval Press Office at navypress@military.ie for further information.
About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie