EU aware of fears over false fish catch reports

THE European Commission has said it is "aware" that Spanish fishing vessels are believed to be under reporting catches in Irish waters by up to 1,000 per cent.

However, a Commission spokesman has said it is up to the Government to take the necessary action. "Infringements are for national administrations to deal with," the spokesman said.

Seven Spanish vessels have been detained by the Naval Service in the past 10 days, mainly for alleged logbook offences, including misreporting of fish catch. Of the seven, four were UK registered Spanish "flagships" and three were Spanish registered. It brings to 13 the number of detentions recorded this year, according to the Defence Forces press office.

The press office has cited good weather as the main reason for the increased activity. But the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (IS&WFO) has said Spanish flagship skippers are openly flouting the regulations on logbooks.

In some cases, catches are not filled out, unless and until a naval boarding party inspects the vessel in the knowledge that only 5 per cent of the foreign fleet is ever checked at sea, due to a lack of naval ships and personnel.

Mr Tom Hassett, secretary of the IS&WFO, said that the skipper of the UK registered Spanish long liner, Sea Horse, which was detained after a collision with the Irish trawler, Exodus, earlier this month, was filling out his logbook as he steamed into Bantry. In other cases, pencil logbook entries have been changed, and it is estimated that under reporting is running at up to 1,000 per cent.

"When Ireland allowed Spain to have access to the Irish Box, we were promised £12 million towards control and surveillance by the EU," Mr Hassett said yesterday. "We haven't seen a bob or a ship or a man, and Ireland has taken a softly, softly approach to the whole flagship issue.