The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is undertaking a month-long programme in May in support of an updated EU regulation aimed at protecting the dolphin, porpoise and whale population during fishing activity. With the assistance of the Naval Service, they will be monitoring compliance with the use of acoustic deterrent devices (ADD) as part of fishing gear on vessels.
Inspections will take place at sea, while the SFPA will be monitoring vessels on landing throughout May. The sea-fisheries regulator will also be providing advice and information to fishers on the requirements under the regulations. Acoustic deterrent devices send out a low frequency signal to sea mammals to warn and alert them from approaching fishing nets and have proven to lessen incidental catches.
The SFPA programme is part of an EU wide effort to promote and verify compliance with Regulation (EU) 2020/967[1] on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures.
Dr Susan Steele, Chair of the SPFA said: “The cetacean population are an important part of our ecosystem. This regulation is part of wider conservation measures designed to protect sea life, fish stocks and our marine eco system while allowing fishers to operate.”
Further information and advice is available at SFPA.ie
END
[1] The regulatory references are EU 2019/1241 Annex XII Part A and 2020/967 enforced by SI 440-2020
Notes
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/967 of 3 July 2020 lays down the detailed rules on the signal and implementation characteristics of acoustic deterrent devices as referred to in Part A of Annex XIII of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32020R0967