October 3rd 2006

“IS&WFO shocked by release of Spanish Vessel ”

The Irish South and West Fisherman’s Organisation (IS&WFO) have today expressed their anger and extreme disappointment at the release, without charge, of a Spanish fishing vessel that had been arrested for deploying undersize fishing gear off the Irish coast. The vessel had been arrested last Friday and escorted by the Naval services to Cobh. The vessel was originally detained for fishing with illegal undersize gillnets but was later released without charge. The vessel justified the deployment of illegal gear claiming that it was participating in scientific trials.

IS&WFO Manager Jason Whooley said, "We highlighted the practice of French registered vessels using bogus scientific trials to cover their illegal activities two months ago and we were assured that the practice had been stopped. Now, it appears that Spanish vessels have pulled the same stunt and have been granted permission from someone to use mesh sizes that are 20% smaller than the minimum size allowed in EU Regulations. The species that these vessels are fishing for is Hake and until recently it was subject to a Recovery Plan. Using undersize gear for this species cannot be justified on scientific grounds.

This is the second time in two months that this underhand diplomacy is being used by some Member States and it raises serious questions which must be answered by Minister John Browne. Who is granting permission for these trials to be conducted in Irish waters? How can the Minister and the Government advocate criminal sanctions for technical fishery offences for Irish vessels while fishing with undersize gear by foreign vessels goes unpunished? This illegal gear is causing untold damage to fish stocks yet no legal action is being taken. We are demanding, once again, that these bogus trials are halted immediately".