Fisheries penalty points ‘unfair’

The High Court has declared the manner in which penalty points were imposed on the licence of a sea-fishing vessel over an under-recorded catch was contrary to fair procedures.

Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley’s decision, affecting a company which owns a vessel called the Anders Nees, followed another High Court ruling less than two weeks ago striking down the entire penalty point system for fishing vessels.

Penalty points were introduced in 2014 under the EU Common Fisheries Policy regulations to deter illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing. Once a vessel gets 18 points, the licence is suspended to two months and it rises on a scale to a year’s suspension for 72 points. If it gets 90 points, the licence is permanently withdrawn.