Our People

My name is Liz Hoban.  I am a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer (SFPO) with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), based in the Howth Port Office, Co. Dublin. 

My duties include:
Conducting direct inspections of fishing vessels, processing establishments, seafood business premises and other places of fisheries and marine activity to verify compliance and to detect non-compliance with Sea-Fisheries and Seafood safety legislation. 
Taking appropriate follow-up action following these inspection activities such as writing reports, preparation of case files, inputting data of inspection activity, compilation of written statements or attending court.
Collecting samples of shellfish, fishery products and fish to sampling specification at shellfish production sites, fish processing establishments, auction halls and fishing vessels.

The variety of our job means that we are constantly learning and interested in the role. Changes in legislation and organisational procedures means that we are constantly upskilling, learning and adapting to changes in the industry or political changes e.g. Brexit.

I am based in Ros A Mhíl Port Office in County Galway and in my work as an authorised SFPO, I perform multi-faceted front-line roles related to Sea-Fisheries conservation and Seafood safety.

This work requires the regular conduct of direct inspections, on-board fishing vessels, at processing establishments, at seafood business premises and in other places of fisheries and marine activity

The inspection activities include, taking samples of fish, shellfish, and fishery products, collection of articles of evidence, taking formal statements, cross-checking and verification of surveillance data, etc. and the compilation and production of formal statements to be used in the taking of prosecution cases.

I like to think that I play a part in conserving the future stocks of fish for the future generations of fishermen in Ireland through Fisheries Control duties as well as monitoring compliance in line with Food Safety Regulations to ensure the safe consumption of fishery products.

As the Internal Communications Manager I am responsible for delivering effective internal communications across our 8 office locations around Ireland in an organised, efficient and timely manner.

My week is bookended by two communications priorities.  Firstly, I moderate a weekly, Monday morning all-staff virtual meeting open to all colleagues to attend and hear from senior managers. Secondly, at the end of the week I collate and issue a summary newsletter of information and news from around the organisation. 

In addition, I provide communications support to teams working on projects who are at the point of introducing that project to the wider organisation.  My role is to understand the project in order to develop a communications plan for the stakeholders concerned, focussing on what the project is, why it is being implemented and the benefit it brings to all parties concerned.

I enjoy working across multiple business units, putting a communications lens on the work they are doing in order to help them tell the story about the benefits of their work to the organisation and beyond.

Based in our Head Office in Clonakilty, my role as Shellfish Environmental Manager involves ; co-ordination of a national sanitary survey* programme to ensure compliance with EU regulations, develop and manage a shellfish stakeholder engagement network, manage shellfish stakeholders in relation the sanitary survey programme, represent the SFPA at national stakeholder events, write, review and publish sanitary surveys, policy and SFPA organisational documents.

*A sanitary survey is an assessment of pollution risks in a shellfish production area, used to identify a sampling point that accurately reflects microbiological contamination levels—helping to protect public health and ensure consumer confidence in seafood.

One of the things I enjoy most about my job is the sense of satisfaction from producing a sanitary survey that gives industry a better understanding of their water quality and how this influences their product.

As a Senior ICT Specialist at the SFPA, I contribute to the organisation’s mission by optimising its technology infrastructure and services. My primary responsibilities include:

Technical Expertise and Leadership
 - Configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting operating systems and applications
- Managing and troubleshooting network issues, ensuring optimal performance and reliability
- Implementing and enforcing security measures to protect sensitive data and systems from cyber threats.

Support and Consultation
- Providing technical support to end-users, troubleshooting issues, and resolving problems
- Advising on IT best practices and making recommendations for improvements
- Training and mentoring team members to enhance their skills and knowledge.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is knowing that my work directly contributes to the protection of Ireland’s seafood safety and sea-fisheries protection. I enjoy the challenge of implementing innovative IT solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the SFPA.

I started working for the SFPA in Jan 2024 here in the head office in Clonakilty, Co. Cork.

I initially started as Clerical Officer in the Port Operations office and then, more recently I joined the Facilities team where I am based at our front desk, on Reception. My work is varied and no two days are ever the same.

My duties include; greeting visitors and members of the public as they arrive to the office, taking inbound calls that I then redirect around the organisation, document preparation and uploading to staff intranet, distribution of post, packages, equipment to colleagues, checking stationery supplies etc.

In addition to my day-to-day role, I am also a Fire Warden. Duties include checking fire safety equipment is in place and properly serviced, working with other Fire Wardens to co-ordinate fire drills during the year.

I really enjoy my job and I feel proud to work for in the public sector where I can serve the country and its citizens in my own small way.

My role in the Project Management Office involves working collaboratively with individuals and teams across the organisation to make sure projects meet their business objectives.  I have responsibility for the execution and successful delivery of projects from concept through to hand-over to the business unit, ensuring that the PMO standards, methodologies and quality standards are consistently applied.

The beauty of working in the PMO offers a unique insight into the workings of the organisation from our operational colleagues, Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers based in our Port Offices around the coastline to support staff in our head office, observing the role every person and every team plays in the protection of our sea-fisheries and seafood industry.

I enjoy the variety and complexity of my role.  In the PMO we work on a wide range of projects which allows me to work on different tasks.   There are always new challenges and projects to deliver, and no two days are the same. 

I oversee organisational change across the SFPA. A key focus is ensuring our work remains aligned with the organisation’s mandate and we can respond to external developments. I contribute to strategic planning and, where appropriate, work with external consultants to develop tailored solutions. I also provide leadership support to the enforcement, trade compliance, and quality functions, including cross-sector engagement on issues such as Brexit.

What I enjoy most about my job is the variety - it is interesting and constantly evolving. I really enjoy working with people and feel privileged to contribute to the organisation’s role, particularly in protecting consumers through seafood safety. Promoting compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy is also vital for sustainability. While I’m not directly involved in that work, it’s rewarding to support and collaborate with colleagues who are.

My career has evolved since starting as a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer (SFPO) in 2003 which pre-dates the formation of the SFPA in 2007, and so was part of the Seafood Control Division of the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine.  Initially based in our Killybegs Port office, in 2008 I moved to the port office in Dunmore East where, in 2014, I became the Senior Port Officer.  In 2017 I was promoted to Director of Port Operations, based in our head office in Clonakilty responsible for leading operational and investigation units across a broad spectrum of control and enforcement taskings as well as representing the SFPA in international engagement and regulatory negotiation. I work closely with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), the European Commission, other Member States, and Third Countries to ensure consistent and transparent implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and Coastal States Agreed Records.

As a member of the Management Board and the Senior Management Team, I support the work of a number of key units within the SFPA to fulfil the statutory obligations of the organisation. The SFPA plays a pivotal role in the protection of marine resources and safeguarding the reputation of Irish produced seafood.  While it is challenging, getting to work with highly motivated teams and individuals is incredibly rewarding.