Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority Launches Training Video on Landing Obligation Compliance for the Fishing Industry
Clonakilty, Ireland — May 19, 2023 — The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is pleased to announce the release of a new, comprehensive training video focusing on the Landing Obligation as part of the Common Fisheries Policy. The video is available for viewing on the SFPA's website https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Sea-Fisheries-Information/Landing-Obligation
The purpose of this training material is to offer clear, easy-to-understand information on the Landing Obligation requirements. These include guidelines for compliance, landing obligation exemptions and storage provisions. The content is specifically tailored to assist the master’s and crews of Irish fishing vessels in adhering to the landing obligation regulation.
The Landing Obligation, a key component of the 2013 Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform, mandates a progressive decrease in discards. It has been phrased into practise across pelagic and demersal fisheries in various regions since 2015, reaching full implementation in 2019. This obligation applies to all species subject to catch limits. The Landing Obligation seeks to harmonize 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 efficient use of selective fishing gears is a vital aspect of the Landing Obligation’s implementation, as it reduces the capture of unwanted catches.
An SFPA spokesperson said: “We are pleased to publish this training video on the Landing Obligation on our website. We are committed to ensuring the implementation of the Landing Obligation through education, inspection, control activities and through the promotion of compliance. To support compliance, we are publishing this training video so that industry has access to and understands current requirements and we encourage all stakeholders to view it.”
To access and view the Landing Obligation Training click https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Sea-Fisheries-Information/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