Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
120. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, to ensure that the Fisheries Monitoring Centre is adequately resourced to perform its responsibilities throughout the Irish EEZ; and to provide statistics on inspections of vessels in the zone for the past five years, by year, to illustrate this point. [35071/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is responsible for securing the efficient and effective enforcement of sea fisheries law and food safety law and the sustainable exploitation of marine fish resources from the waters around Ireland within Ireland's EEZ.
Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters including in relation to sea fisheries control. However, I understand that a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is in place which underpins the relationship between the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Department of Defence. I am informed that the SLA between the Department of Defence and the SFPA facilitates a close and effective partnership between that Department and the SFPA so that Ireland meets its obligations under the Common Fisheries Policy to ensure a system of fishery control for the protection and sustainable exploitation of marine organisms.
The Naval Service and the Air Corps inter alia patrol the Irish 200 nautical mile limit in respect of sea fisheries protection and these patrols are augmented in the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) located at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, which the Naval Service is responsible for operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Under the EU Fisheries Control Regulation, Member States are required to establish and operate Fisheries Monitoring Centres which shall monitor fishing activities and fishing effort etc.
The FMC provides for fishery data collection, analysis, and dissemination to the Naval Service and client agencies such as the SFPA. The FMC carries out monitoring and surveillance of fishing vessels operating within or adjacent to Ireland’s EEZ and also of all Irish vessels operating worldwide.
The resourcing of the FMC and connected matters are the responsibility of the Department of Defence.
Inspection data as requested by the Deputy can be provided by the SFPA given its responsibility for sea fisheries control matters. Accordingly, I have referred that query to the SFPA for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
