The S.F.P.A recently raided the offices of a Wexford business…
Wexford Sinn Féin TD Johnny Mythen has raised some deep concerns about the recent S.F.P.A. raid on the offices of the Saltees Fish Company in Kilmore Quay, Wexford.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the seafood production sectors.
Reports have indicated that the raid involved the company’s office staff being evacuated from the building, and the seizure of computers, papers and other items related to the company’s business.
The S.F.P.A were accompanied by seven squad cars and up to 25 Gardaí and armed detectives.
“The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority confirms it participated in an operation in conjunction with An Garda Siochana on Wednesday July 3rd 2024 as part of an on-going investigation,” the SFPA confirmed.
One person who expressed concerns about the raid was Sinn Féin TD, Johnny Mythen, who stated:
“I would consider this an overaction and heavy-handed treatment of Fishers and their employees. This raid almost mirrors the one that occurred in 2004 by the SFPA in Killybegs resulting in neither a conviction nor an arrest. This is galling stuff when compared to the kids gloves approach to foreign fishing vessels and supertrawlers fishing in our territorial waters.”
The mail on Sunday reported last week a whistle blowers account of an incident involving, a 126 mts. Long supertrawler the MVF Afrika. However, there was no squadron boarding this vessel or zealous questioning of personnel on board.”
Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on fisheries raised this incident last week with the Taoiseach also.
Speaking on the matter, Padraig MacLochlainn said:
“It is well known in the Irish Fishing communities that they hold a strong view that there is one rule for supertrawlers ,and super factory ships and another for our indigenous fishing fleet”.
Deputy Mythen continued,
“How fair is it that Belgium Boats can catch 80% of Black sole, the most lucrative fish in our waters, while the Irish Boats have a mere 4% Quota?
In simple terms Belgium boats catch between 3 and 7 tonnes of black sole a trip , fetching 20 Euros a Kilo, while Irish boats are limited to 100 Kilos per trip. This is an impossible rule to comply with.”
Mythen refers to the Minister’s website. On the Ministers website, it states ”Irish fishers are an economically vital part of our Nation. If you work in this sector you are contributing to the economic and environmental wellbeing of Ireland.”
“These words are sadly sounding very hollow in Co. Wexford’s coastline communities today,” Mythen concluded.
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
The fishermen were sold out years ago. Absolute madness we have countries with no coast entitled to more fish from our coast than we are…We should have 100 miles at least of fishing rights around our coast…
The fishermen were sold out years ago. Absolute madness we have countries with no coast entitled to more fish from our coast than we are…We should have 100 miles at least of fishing rights around our coast…
Sold out our waters to any other EU Country to haul in as much as they can with there factory ships…..poor old Irelands fishermen have Draconian laws to make sure they don’t go over a gram in there miniscule quoters….
Gestapo hard on there case with over the top raids……for fishing in our OWN waters ..
Who’s responsible for this thuggery..?
Unbelievable…..
When are the authorities going to police our waters properly & seize vessels hoovering up everything..?
Someone is not doing there job …
Management of gardai is to blame.bring back the local gardai in the local station.get them back on the street.3 strikes and you do a long stretch inside.a lot of laws need to be changed to bring the balance of law in favor of the honest people not the ones with a string of convictions. Another one is an on the spot fine is not on the spot,if you are caught red-handed you pay on the spot or gaol time until you do.its done in Belgium I believe for things like speeding offenses if you don’t pay on the spot.
Irish people are the bad guys have had it too easy for too long well this is what are overlords in Europe think is time for us to make a stand and push back show the big wigs in Brussels we had enough
25 Gardai and “armed detectives” really. What is this country becoming when the Gardai cannot control the streets yet armed Gardai are sent to confiscate computers.