Officers from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) detained six Irish-registered vessels last month for the alleged illegal landing of fish.
The vessels were detained for a series of alleged offences at locations in Wexford, Cork and Dublin.
SFPA chairman Peter Whelan, said that the alleged illegal landings and marketing of fish only serves to "depress the price" for legitimate fisherman. "It is disappointing that a number of fishermen continue to operate outside of the requirements of the legislation."
The SFPA said that on Thursday, January 10th, the Ronan Ross was detained with a catch valued at €21,000 at the port of Ringaskiddy by the Naval Service. The vessel was held on suspicion of illegally fishing herring, and the skipper was charged by gardaí.
Two days later the Rony was detained at Kilmore Quay with a catch was valued at €1,280 on charges of failing to give advance notice of their intention to land a quantity of monkfish in excess of 150kg. The skipper was cautioned by SFPA officer, and a file sent to the DPP.
The Maarten Luther was detained with a catch valued at €15,000 on failure to give advance notification of their intention to land both cod and monkfish. The ship was detained on January 17th in Rosslare.
On January 24th an unregistered local fishing vessel, the Charlotte Kate, was detained in Co Waterford after it had been potting for shrimp. The skipper of the fishing vessel has been cautioned by a SFPA officer, and a file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Richard Mary was detained with a catch valued at €1,200 at Cobh on charges of under-recording of fish, failure to record the full catch in the logbook, and failure to provide a boarding ladder. The master of the vessel was cautioned by a SFPA officer, and a file has also been sent to the DPP.
Finally the Celtic Ross was detained in the Irish Sea and then escorted to Howth on Tuesday, January 29th, for contravention of the sea-fishing boat licence in regard to crewing regulations.