The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and Irish Naval Service have come together to organise a seminar on the Landing Obligation, on the 15th March 2023, at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Cork. The seminar is specifically aimed at Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers of the SFPA and the Irish Naval Service. The primary objective of the seminar is to ensure compliance with the Landing Obligation through inspections and control activities, both at sea and on land, as well as cooperation across control agencies. The SFPA has highlighted that in order to promote compliance with the fishing industry, cooperation with other control agencies and stakeholders are vital to achieving these objectives.
The Landing Obligation is a key element of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform of 2013, which mandates the gradual reduction of discards. Since 2015, the Landing Obligation has been gradually implemented across pelagic and demersal fisheries in different regions, leading to its full implementation since 2019, which applies to all species with catch limits.
The Landing Obligation aims to align previous regulations that prohibit high grading and require the recording of all catches with new requirements to retain previously discarded catches of species with catch limits. The use of selective fishing gears is a vital aspect of implementing the Landing Obligation, as it reduces the capture of unwanted catches.
Commenting on the seminar, Paschal Hayes, Executive Chairperson of the SFPA said:
“We are delighted to be co-hosting this seminar with the Irish Naval Service. The SFPA continues to ensure implementation of the landing obligation through inspection, control activities and promotion of compliance through consultation with fishers, other control agencies and various stakeholders.”
Commenting on the seminar, the Irish Naval Service said:
“By working closely with the SFPA, the physical inspection at sea, carried out by the Naval Service through Last Haul Analysis and gear inspections, together with the corroboration and verification of findings ashore by the SFPA ensures greater compliance with the landing obligation.”
To find out more about the landing obligation, please contact a regional office via Contact Us or by email SFPAFood&Fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
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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
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.