A Spanish fisherman has been fined after he pleaded guilty to a charge of having static fishing water over the legal limit time in the Irish exclusive economic zone, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says.
Angel Ares Esteban, with an address in Spain, previously pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of having static fishing gear in excess of the 72 hour legal time limit in the Irish EEZ in July 2020.
The SFPA says that on December 10th the court heard evidence of an inspection onboard the German registered vessel, Pesorsa Dos, by Naval Service officers attached to the L.É. William Butler Yeats, when it was detected that five sets of fishing nets had been left in the sea for periods of up to 50 hours approximately in excess of the maximum permissible limit of 72 hours.
The vessel was detained in an operation involving the Naval Service, the SFPA and An Garda Síochána. There was an estimate of catch onboard to the monetary value of approximately €44,500, the Court heard.
Evidence was given that the time limits for leaving fishing gear in the water, applicable to fishing operations involving monkfish, were important for environmental reasons.
The court imposed a fine of €14, 000 and ordered forfeiture from the value of catch and gear in the sum of €35,000.
In providing reasons for its decision, the court found that it was a “most serious matter” and referred to the potential adverse impact on the fishery habitat and the potential “destructive effect” of non-compliance with the time-limit requirements for fishing gear soak times.
The court noted the master had a previous conviction under sea-fisheries law in Ireland.
The SFPA said it commends the sea-fisheries protection officers of the SFPA and Naval Service, and An Garda Síochána, for their work on this investigation.”
