Fishermen say penalties on EU breaches are unfair

IRISH fishermen are being over-penalised for breaches of EU regulations, it was claimed yesterday.

The industry highlighted discriminatory fines against Irish skippers compared to other international fishing fleets.

The average circuit court fine on all 42 detected Irish vessels brought before the courts last year was €15,000. However, in Finland, the average penalty was a very modest €137 while in Spain, where 3,600 trawlers breached EU regulations, only four were brought to court.

Unlike Ireland, where offenders are brought to the circuit criminal court, Spain dispenses with EU breaches by way of an out-of-court administrative fine.

Jason Whooley, who heads the Irish South and West Fishermen’s Organisation, has raised the discrepancies with newly-appointed marine minister Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher.

“The industry is going through a radical change with many people believing it’s on a slippery slope.

“The level of fines applied to Irish fishermen is a burning issue and an offence, such as over-quota, is enough to put someone out of business by the time the court deals with them,” he said.

Mr Whooley said he was hopeful during Mr Gallagher’s tenure, priority issues such as dwindling landing prices, high operating costs and unrealistic quotas will also be addressed.

A key player in the industry in the southwest Ebby Sheehan said yesterday some trawlers owners are being forced to take a serious look at their future in fishing.

Castletownbere-based Mr Sheehan owns two trawlers and is a shareholder in a third, the Ocean Reaper.

Two weeks ago, the vessel was boarded by a fishery patrol and the skipper subsequently appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on a breach of EU fishery regulations, having excess monkfish on board.

Mr Sheehan said the €5,000 court fine was penalising but did not reflect the true cost of detection.

The entire catch and gear, with a value of 15,000 was seized while the operational cost of the nine-day trip for the trawler was €14,100, made up of €11,500 in marine diesel.

He is furious Irish fishermen, who breach the EU regulations, should be forced into the circuit court where a conviction carries fines up to €125,000.

“In the current climate of increased bureaucracy and dipping profits, many fishermen are running scared,” he said.

“Fishery patrols have their job to do but a simple mistake, such as a logbook error, could land the trawler and crew back in port with their catch and gear seized and a court appearance for the skipper.”

The industry, meanwhile, said its biggest concern is the price of fuel.

An average-sized Irish trawler can burn up to 25,000 litres on a nine-day fishing trip. Marine diesel shot up from 25 cent per litre 12 months ago to 42 cent per litre.