The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) recently published a new Fisheries Information Notice (FIN) on European logbook requirements.*
Fishing vessels of 10 metres overall length or more that are engaged in commercial fishing are required to maintain a fishing logbook. The FIN summarises key requirements for vessel masters and owners under the Council Regulation (EC) 1224/2009 and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 404/2011. This includes the mandatory information to be reported in the logbook and the requirements for the completion and submission of fishing logbooks. Logbooks must be updated every day, no later than midnight, immediately after the last fishing operation has been completed, before entering port, and at the time of any inspection at sea.
Fishing vessels that are 10 metres overall length and above, up to 12 metres overall length, are required to complete a paper logbook. Vessels of 12 metres length overall and above must keep an electronic logbook. In autumn 2022, training was provided by the SFPA to owners and masters using electronic logbooks on the new version of ieCatch.** The FIN provides information on the completion of both paper and electronic fishing logbooks. An example of a paper logsheet is provided in the FIN, along with guidance on the completion of each field. Fishing vessel masters should familiarise themselves with this FIN to ensure they are filling in their logbook correctly and submitting the logbook in a timely manner.
For further details on the FIN, please contact:
sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
Ends
Note to Editor
*The FIN can be accessed on sfpa.ie and by clicking on the following link: FFSU-FC-FIN-OC-07-23 EU Logbook Requirements V1.
**The SFPA conducted an eight-week series of engagements with fishers, rolling out enhancements to the Electronic Recording & Reporting Systems (ERS) required for fishing vessels and the provision of training on the use of the new system. Training events were held during September, October, and November 2022 at various locations across Counties Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Meath, Waterford, and Wexford. In addition, the SFPA ran training for masters new to electronic logbooks in April 2023 at various locations across Counties Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Mayo, and Wexford.
The ERS is a system for recording, reporting, processing, storing, and transmitting fisheries data (catch, landing, sales, and transhipment) according to the EU rules. The key element of the ERS is the electronic logbook. The electronic logbook is used to securely record and transmit details of fishing operations. The information is entered by the master of the fishing vessel and is transmitted to the Member States authorities.
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