Spanish trawler detained by Naval Service over fishing breaches

A Spanish trawler allegedly fishing illegally in Irish waters has been detained by the Naval Service.

A Spanish trawler allegedly fishing illegally in Irish waters has been detained by the Naval Service and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The boat, the Punta Candieira, is currently moored in Cobh Harbour, having been escorted there by the LE Roisin on Tuesday.

On arrival, the skipper was met by gardaí who are investigating its movements up to the point it was detained on Monday evening by the LE Roisin.

The detention follows an incident last Friday in which the trawler was involved in a confrontation with an Irish fishing vessel.

The Punta Candieira is alleged to have been operating illegally within the waters of Bantry Bay, which is within Ireland’s 12-nautical mile limit.

The limit gives exclusive rights to Irish-registered fishing vessels to fish in those waters.

Late on Monday night, the LE Roisin detained the Punta Candieira 95 miles south of Mizen Head, Ireland’s most south-westerly point.

“The detention was in relation to alleged breaches of fishing regulations,” the Naval Service said.

It said this was the fifth vessel detained in 2021 so far.

Video of Friday’s incident records Lours De Mers skipper Kieran Sheehan asking the 32-metre Spanish vessel to “stay away from us”.

The request is made repeatedly as the Punta Candieira appears to steam at Mr Sheehan’s boat before suddenly changing course.

When asked by the Irish Examiner about Friday’s incident, a Naval Services spokesperson said the Navy received a number of phone calls in relation to “an incident alleged to have happened” between two trawlers.

They said that analysis was being conducted in relation to satellite-based tracking data and “potential infringements of fishing regulations”.

A spokesperson for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority also told the Irish Examiner: “A situation arose last Friday when Punta Candieira was encountered by Lours De Mers.

“The Naval Service proceeded to the location to gather information as part of their analysis into the matter.

“The area was searched by the Navy for fishing gear in alleged locations, with nothing found.

“A report is being prepared by the National Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, which had been monitoring the situation throughout in consultation with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.” 

Despite having escorted the vessel to Cobh, the LE Roisin was still anchored nearby yesterday evening.

The Irish Navy conducted 309 Boardings in 2020 of vessels fishing.

Of these, 164 involved foreign-registered vessels, and 145 involved Irish vessels.