The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has denied its officers have been putting the safety of fishing vessels at risk when enforcing EU landing rules.
The authority's chairman, Peter Whelan, said a flexible approach was being taken by his staff in relation to rules requiring skippers to give advance notice of landing catches. Under the regulations, a "four-hour hail" must be given in advance of landing to allow for inspections, but this has proved controversial in bad weather situations.
James O'Flaherty, who co-owns a fleet with his four brothers, said this issue had arisen in Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford last month. The authority's officers inspected a vessel, which prevented several other vessels behind it from berthing in a force eight gale, Mr O'Flaherty said.
The following day, officers were discovered in the wheelhouse of one of Mr O'Flaherty's vessels and refused to identify themselves, he said. Mr Whelan said a complaint by the O'Flahertys had been investigated and a meeting had been held between the parties.
The authority's officers were "intimidated" in Kilmore Quay, he said. However, Mr O'Flaherty said that two of the authority's officers were asked by his brother, William, who was with a three-year-old child at the time, to leave the vessel as they wouldn't give identification.
Mr Whelan said the officers had been informed that the vessels' safety was never to be put at risk in relation to landing rules.
"It may be that vessels won't be able to land immediately, but they should always be free to seek shelter," he said.
Two vessels owned by the O'Flaherty brothers are the subject of investigations by the authority. Mr O'Flaherty said a "heavy-handed" approach by officers was causing serious concern around the coastline, where many vessel owners were struggling to make ends meet.
"We are all being treated like criminals, even for minor offences," Mr O'Flaherty said.
