Oireachtas Committee Calls for Stronger Enforcement, SFPA Ombudsman, and Legislative Review

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs has called for stronger enforcement against non-Irish vessels in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), improved consultation between the regulator and industry, and a comprehensive review of sea-fisheries legislation. These recommendations are detailed in its report on sea-fisheries protection, published today.

The committee also recommends establishing a new ombudsman to oversee the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), which regulates Ireland's fishing industry. This follows repeated criticism from fishing groups and politicians regarding the SFPA's role and the 2006 Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act under which it was established.

Among its 14 recommendations, the committee suggests the legislative review should include fishing industry representation. It also proposes allowing the SFPA discretion to apply non-criminal penalties for minor breaches and ending the dual-sanction regime where both criminal and administrative sanctions can be applied for the same offense.

Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine Timmy Dooley is urged to review the enforcement framework for non-Irish vessels in the EEZ. Minister Dooley previously committed to a review of the SFPA and the 2006 Act in the second half of this year. Committee Chair Conor McGuinness and Rapporteur Padraig Mac Lochlainn emphasized the need to amend legislation to reflect two decades of experience and address industry concerns about overregulation and enforcement.