The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has confirmed that a case brought against the master of a fishing vessel for under-recording of catches has resulted in a conviction and fine.
James Devlin, of Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to the under-recording of monkfish, the SFPA says.
It says this was detected during a joint Naval Service and SFPA inspection in November 2021, when the over-recording of catches of megrim was also detected.
The sea inspection of the vessel was undertaken by Naval Service officers attached to the L.É. William Butler Yeats.
The SFPA then conducted a check of the catch on landing which disclosed the under-recording of monkfish by 62 boxes (2,056 kgs) and the over-recording of megrim by 51 boxes (or 1,454 kgs).
The sentencing was heard at Wexford Circuit Court on Friday, June 30th, where the court found the activity was “an intentional act of deception” and that the under-recording of monkfish was by a “significant quantity”, the SFPA says.
The court imposed a fine of €2,500.
