To mark this year’s World Fisheries Day and a Joint Deployment Plan* in collaboration with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) to promote compliance with national and EU sea-fisheries legislation within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) today hosted an event aboard the Lundy Sentinel patrol ship in Cork Harbour.\n\n \n\nThe event showcased the collaboration between the SFPA, Ireland’s competent regulatory authority for sea-fisheries and seafood production, and EFCA, responsible for operational coordination of fisheries control and inspection activities by member states of the European Union.\n\n \n\nThe Joint Deployment Plan involves the deployment of the EFCA chartered Lundy Sentinel in Irish waters supporting the ongoing fishery protection services work undertaken by the SFPA in collaboration with the Naval Service and Air Corps. As part of this year’s Western Waters JDP an EFCA aircraft will operate in tandem with the sea-patrols conducted by the Lundy Sentinel and the Irish control service.\n\n \n\nThe Joint Deployment Plan provides additional operational capabilities to promote compliance with sea-fisheries legislation in Irish waters of EU and non-EU flagged vessels. It provides important support for the SFPA’s work in ensuring the sustainability of Ireland’s marine resources and protecting the long-term viability of the sea-fisheries industry.\n\n \n\n Cristina Morgado (Deputy Head of Unit EU Waters and North Atlantic, EFCA), Paschal Hayes, (Executive Chairperson, SFPA), Susan Steele (Executive Director, EFCA), Michael Finn (Authority Member, SFPA) aboard the Lundy Sentinel in Cork Harbour\n\n \n\nPaschal Hayes, Executive Chairperson of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority said,\n\n“Protecting the long-term viability and health of our marine ecosystems and ensuring long-term sustainability for our fishing industries and communities is an issue of significance not only here in Ireland but across Europe. Our work with the European Fisheries Control Agency is a critical element in supporting the overall remit of the SFPA to ensure the sustainability and future viability of Ireland’s sea-fisheries and marine resources, an industry that supports over 16,500 jobs in coastal communities across Ireland.”\n\n \n\nSusan Steele, Executive Director of the European Fisheries Control Agency said,\n\n“Our work strongly contributes towards sustainable fisheries by enhancing compliance with existing conservation and management measures to the benefit of present and future generations.\n\n \n\nThis is a valuable aspect to the patrol where inspectors from different Member States work together to deliver harmonized fisheries control with the support of EFCA liaison on board and the EFCA coordination centre in Vigo.\n\n \n\nFor the first time ever, an EFCA directed aircraft will also operate in Irish waters in tandem with the patrol ship Lundy Sentinel, transmitting live aerial patrol footage to the EFCA centre in Vigo and the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) in Haulbowline, Cork.”
Ireland
SFPA and European Fisheries Control Agency collaborate to implement Joint Deployment Plan in Irish waters
