'Claws' for concern in Mayo over lobster fishing
Recreational fishing for lobster and crab continues to be a popular activity in Mayo during the summer months.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, the sea-fisheries regulator, is reminding the public to comply with the regulations and best practice that govern the catching, selling and buying of crabs and lobsters.
They are among a range of conservation measures introduced to support the sustainability of Ireland’s inshore fisheries and guarantee the traceability of the product, which is essential for food safety.
By law, recreational fishers can fish for lobster and crab from May 1 to September 30 every year. However, they can only fish up to six pots, and retain five crabs and one lobster daily. Furthermore, they may not store crabs or lobsters at sea, or sell or offer for sale any of their catches.
There are also regulations about the size of shellfish that can be caught in Irish waters that apply to all fishers – both commercial and recreational.
The minimum size for brown crabs in Irish waters is 130mm while lobsters must measure between 87mm and 127mm along their carapace, which is the largest segment of a lobster. Members of the public who catch a crab or lobster outside these sizes must return it to sea alive. Undersize shellfish cannot be retained on board for any reason including for use as bait.
Lobsters that have been V-notched or have mutilated tails must not be retained on board either. Catching shellfish by means of skin-diving is also prohibited, including using apparatus of any kind, which enables a person to breathe under water.
Dr. Susan Steele, chair of the SFPA, said that the regulations provide a daily allowance that is sufficient for personal consumption. “These regulations are designed to restrict commercial fishing to licensed operators.
“This is important to ensure the long-term viability of an industry on which many coastal communities rely for a living. Illegal fishing also poses a risk to public health as the seafood may not be stored or handled in accordance with food safety regulations, and could potentially damage the excellent reputation Irish seafood enjoys both at home and abroad.”
She encourages anyone, including recreational fishers and members of the public, who has questions or would like the SFPA’s Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers to focus on their local area, to contact their local SFPA port office.
Since early June, the SFPA has undertaken 34 at sea RIB patrols around the coastline as part of a nationwide inshore fisheries patrol programme, which will run until late autumn.
Unlicensed operators are being specifically targeted and the SFPA are advising that anyone found to be non-compliant with sea-fisheries or seafood safety regulations can expect to face prosecution.
This year the SPFA has deployed two 7.5 Metre Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) craft with the capacity to winch lift and inspect lobster pots and keeps (used for holding live crustaceans prior to sale) to facilitate detailed inspections.
Their shore monitoring programme also includes vehicle patrols to small local ports and landing places so SFPA sea-fisheries inspection officers can identify and monitor unlicensed and unregistered vessels, which may be deployed during the summer months. These vessels are targeted for inspection at sea during the subsequent patrols in that area.
Sixty six registered fishing vessels and numerous storage boxes have been inspected to date.
Non-compliances detected include the retention of undersize and v-notched lobster in storage boxes, which the SFPA seized and released.
Several vessels fishing with expired licences were also been observed and instructed to cease fishing and investigations are continuing into the activity of these vessels.
Inspections have also been undertaken on recreational vessels to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation. Further administrative checks have been undertaken on commercial vessels inspected to check that accurate sales records have been maintained to ensure traceability of product.
In addition to the SFPA’s patrols, it has also undertaken joint patrols with the Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Irish Naval service on the Northwest and Southeast coasts. Further joint patrols are planned throughout the summer, as well as the continuation of the SFPA RIB patrols.
More inshore patrols are planned for August and September.