There is limited inspection of large ‘factory’ fishing vessels operating off Ireland, an Oireachtas committee has heard.
The issue emerged during a session of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs examining the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA).
Committee Cathaoirleach Conor McGuinness said the State appeared “utterly blind to what is being caught” by such vessels in Irish waters.
SFPA officials confirmed there have been no at-sea inspections of these vessels so far this year. They also acknowledged there is limited information on processing, landings and catch volumes.
“There have been no ‘eyes only’ inspections of these landings,” the committee was told.
Officials cited difficult sea conditions and reduced Naval Service capacity as factors limiting enforcement activity. Responsibility for inspections beyond 12 nautical miles falls under European frameworks, with reliance on the European Fisheries Control Agency.
The committee heard that just four inspections were carried out last year.
Sinn Féin fisheries spokesperson Pádraig Mac Lochlainn told the meeting a recently launched vessel had a processing capacity equal to several Irish factories combined.
“This is huge,” he said, raising concerns about scale and oversight.
SFPA representatives said information-sharing takes place regularly between EU control agencies. However, they acknowledged resource constraints.
The session formed part of ongoing scrutiny of the SFPA’s accountability and enforcement framework. It was the Authority’s third appearance before the committee.
Marine Minister Timmy Dooley has indicated a review of the legislation underpinning the SFPA will begin in June.
The meeting was described as fractious, with members expressing frustration at a lack of detailed data.
“It is utterly unsatisfactory,” McGuinness said.
SFPA chair Paschal Hayes rejected suggestions that questions had gone unanswered.
