Monster supertrawler currently operating in Irish waters

The country’s fishing watchdog has said a supertrawler currently operating off Ireland’s Atlantic coast is likely to be inspected — even though it is not doing anything illegal.

It comes as an online petition, sparked by the presence of the Margiris off the Irish coast and calling for supertrawlers to be banned from the area, has received more than 6,000 signatures.

The Margiris, which was yesterday in the Atlantic off Co Donegal, is the second largest fishing vessel in the world. Built in 1985, it measures 136.12m by 18.29m and has a gross tonnage capacity of 9,499 tonnes. It flies under the flag of Lithuania and has previously been refused entry to Australian waters.