Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) officers confiscated 48 live undersize crawfish off the southwest coast late last month.
The SFPA says that the crawfish were “returned safely to sea” after the discovery during a routine patrol.
It says that a file is currently being prepared for consideration by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Crawfish, also known as European spiny lobster or crayfish, are one of Ireland’s “most at risk” species and are listed as vulnerable and decreasing by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They are also the highest-value crustacean species caught in Irish waters, achieving prices of €30 - €40 per kilo on landing, the SFPA says.
Crawfish are primarily caught in inshore waters around the south and southwest coast and are an important source of revenue for the inshore fleet during the summer months.
Protection of these valuable stocks depends on a range of legal measures enforced by the SFPA, just one of which is the “minimum conservation reference size”, it says, which stipulates a carapace size of 110mm.
It is prohibited for the master or person in charge of an Irish sea-fishing boat to cause or permit the boat or any person to have onboard, land, or tranship crawfish that fall below this minimum size.
Displaying or selling below the minimum size is also illegal.
Illegally removing immature animals from an already vulnerable stock is likely to result in further stock depletion, the SFPA says.
“Trade in undersized fish not only damages the stocks, but it also impacts the communities who depend on them,” the SFPA said.
“ Illegal fishing is unfair to the majority of inshore fishermen who fish sustainably and within regulations. The inshore patrols undertaken by the SFPA are a vital tool in our work to protect stocks,” it said.
“We encourage buyers at all stages of the food chain, restaurateurs, processors and consumers to be aware of the minimum size and please let us know if you are offered undersized fish for sale,” it said.
The SFPA confidential telephone line is on 1800 76 76 76, or it can be emailed at [email protected].
