Department of Agriculture refuses to release documents on contested fisheries inquiry

An ‘administrative inquiry’ into Irish fish landings has been roundly refuted by the sector.

The Department of Agriculture is refusing to release correspondence with the European Commission on an ‘administrative inquiry’ into Irish fish landings that has been roundly refuted by the sector.

The 2019 inquiry conducted by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) for the commission suggested that catches were being manipulated and misreported and led to the Irish Control Plan being revoked and a new ‘weigh at pier’ rule being imposed in April.