Two more Norwegian fishing vessels have been apprehended by the Naval Service, just weeks after a similar detention of a non-EU vessel.
The vessels were detained by the LE Aisling under Lieut Cdr Barry O'Halloran 80 miles north-west of Tory Island, Co Donegal, at 10 a.m. yesterday for alleged illegal fishing and logbook infringements. The two vessels have been escorted to Killybegs, Co Donegal.
In February a bail bond of almost £250,000 was fixed by Donegal Circuit Court following the detention by the LE Deirdre of a Norwegian vessel, the Moegsterfjord, 180 miles west of Achill island. It was the first arrest by the Naval Service of a Norwegian vessel for this type of offence, and it is believed the ship had over 600 tonnes of blue whiting on board.
The three detentions bring to five the total number of arrests by the Naval Service so far this year, but are particularly significant, given Norway's own harsh fisheries management regime.
Under an EU-Norwegian agreement on shared fish stocks, including mackerel, the non-EU member has a quota of blue whiting in these waters.
Blue whiting has been a developing fishery for the Donegal super-trawler fleet, and last year some 46,000 tonnes of it was caught by seven Irish vessels for use as fishmeal. Trials are currently taking place to process the fish for human consumption.
