A master of the third country fishing vessel “Speedwell II” was fined €300 at Buncrana District Court on the 16th of September 2025, for landing in an Irish port without prior authorisation. Shaun Crossan, with an address in County Donegal, pleaded guilty to the charge in respect of the landing of the Northern Ireland registered vessel “Speedwell II” on the 14th of August 2023 at Glengad.
The Court heard evidence from an officer of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) that the vessel landed into Glengad Pier, County Donegal without a prior notification of landing being sent to the authorities, and without prior authorisation to land, in contravention of the rules on landings by non-EU fishing vessels required under law. Evidence was given that 21 boxes of live crab landed from the vessel were returned to the sea by Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers.
An SFPA spokesperson commented:
“The SFPA notes the guilty plea and the decision of the Court. Compliance with the rules for non-EU vessels regarding prior notification of landings, and the prohibition on landing without an authorisation to land, is key to ensuring seafood entering the EU market is traceable and checked for compliance with the rules against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. These rules support consumer confidence in seafood and sustainable fishing. The SFPA commends the officers involved in the investigation.”
ENDS
About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie