The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says the master of a fishing vessel has pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to offences relating to failure to use acoustic deterrent devices on gear.
The French-registered vessel was detained earlier this week by the SFPA, after an inspection from the European Fisheries Control Agency’s (EFCA) offshore patrol vessel off the Irish south-west coast.
The master of the detained vessel was brought before Bandon District Court on the evening of June 21st.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed that the charges be dealt with in the Circuit Criminal Court on indictment,” the SFPA states. T
“The master pleaded guilty to four alleged breaches of failing to have the requisite acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) on two sets of bottom-set gillnets. This is in contravention of EU legislation on the signal and implementation characteristics of ADDs,” it says.
“Gillnets are made of monofilament nylon mesh that is invisible underwater and therefore acts as a hazard to cetaceans and other marine mammals,” the SFPA says.
“ By utilising ADDs or “pingers” to emit a certain frequency at regular intervals, pingers warn cetaceans such as dolphins of the presence of the obstacle and enable them to avoid the nets and deter them from swimming into nets, becoming entangled and drowning,” the SFPA states.
Cetaceans are part of the prohibited species list, and catching and landing this species represent a threat to the conservation status of the species which includes all species of dolphins, porpoises, and whales.
The SFPA says it has been using enhanced technologies both at sea and ashore to verify compliance.
After the master of the vessel confirmed his guilty pleas in the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork on June 22nd,2023, the court set a bond of €107,000, which, if lodged, will allow the release of the vessel.
The case has been adjourned to Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on October 24th, 2023.
“The vessel and catch remain detained at Castletownbere port,” the SFPA states.
