Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
729. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to ensure that onboard electronical monitoring is implemented on all factory ships and any and all other large foreign trawlers that enter Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65536/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraChanges to common fisheries policy, including changes to control requirements for fishing vessels, come within the sole competence of the EU. Member States are permitted to introduce non-discriminatory measures within their 12 mile zone, subject to compliance with policy and procedures set down in the CFP.
The monitoring requirements referred to by the Deputy are encompassed within the EU's Fisheries Control Regulation.
The Fisheries Control Regulation provides for a Union fisheries control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level playing field across the EU on fisheries control. The current Control Regulation entered into force in January 2024 and updates and amends the previous 2009 Control Regulation.
The amended Control Regulation provides that onboard electronic monitoring shall be in place from 10 January 2028 for Union catching vessels of 18 metres in length overall or more which pose a high risk of non-compliance with the landing obligation/discards ban. The flag Member State (where the vessel is registered), and the Coastal Member State (in whose waters the vessel is operating), shall have access to the monitoring data. Implementing Acts are anticipated to provide for detailed requirements on, and the application of, the rules for onboard electronic monitoring.
Under Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and the Council of 12 December 2017 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets, all requirements of Union vessels shall apply to Third Country vessels operating in EU waters, as a general rule.
The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational matters are exclusively the responsibility of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters in relation to sea fisheries control.
