Skipper Makes Donation to RNLI After Pleading Guilty To Fishing Without a Valid License

15th March 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Lifeline Donation: An RNLI all-weather lifeboat at sea. The charity received a €2,500 donation after a Galway fishing skipper admitted unlicensed fishing offences, with the court directing payment to the lifesaving service

An Irish skipper made a donation of €2,500 to the RNLI after being fined for fishing without a valid license.

Sheamus Quinn, master of the Irish sea-fishing vessel “Garvoge”, with an address in Co. Galway pleaded guilty at Derrynea District Court to two offences of unlicensed fishing activity in the period of July 2021 to December 2023, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says.

The court heard evidence that an SFPA officer detected that fishing vessel “Garvoge” was actively engaged in fishing at a time when it did not hold a sea-fishing licence, in particular during 25 fishing trips between 2021 and 2023.

The court directed that a donation of €2,500 be made by the fishing master to the RNLI.

The donation was subsequently made, and on February 17th 2026 the court applied the Probation Act, the SFPA says.

Published in SFPA, Fishing

Published in SFPA

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About the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority was established on the 1st of January 2007. The SFPA is independent in the exercise of its functions, which are below.

The principal functions of the Authority are:

To secure efficient and effective enforcement of sea-fisheries law and food safety law

To promote compliance with & deter contraventions of sea-fisheries law and food safety law

To detect contraventions of sea-fisheries law and food safety law

To provide information to the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors on sea-fisheries law and food safety law and relevant matters within the remit of the Authority, through the Consultative Committee established under section 48 of the above Act or by any other means it considers appropriate

To advise the Minister in relation to policy on effective implementation of sea-fisheries law and food safety law

To provide assistance and information to the Minister in relation to the remit of the Authority

To collect and report data in relation to sea fisheries and food safety as required by the Minister and under Community law

To represent or assist in the representation of the State at national, Community and international fora as requested by the Minister, and

To engage in any other activities relating to the functions of the Authority as may be approved of by the Minister.

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