The Sea-Fisheries Protection Consultative Committee comprises 14 representatives from the Irish marine community, who are appointed by the Minister under Section 48 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. Its functions are:
- To inform the SFPA of concerns and views of the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors regarding the functions of the SFPA
- To seek to keep the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors generally informed of the applicable sea-fisheries law and food safety law, as well as of the standards, guidelines, practices and procedures operated by the SFPA in relation to the enforcement of that law
- To advise the SFPA on keeping the burden on the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors generally of compliance with that law to the minimum possible consistent with the essential purposes and the effective enforcement of that law.
- To advise the SFPA of its views on the fairness and consistency of the operations of the SFPA
- To seek the delivery of a high standard of service by the SFPA
- The Consultative Committee shall have no function in relation to detailed operational matters or individual cases or groups of cases with which the SFPA is or may be concerned
- The Minister or the SFPA may consult the Consultative Committee on any matters arising in relation to the functions of the SFPA