Fish worth €100,000 seized in raid

The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has defended its handling of an investigation in southwest Cork last Thursday.

A raid by gardaí and staff of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority on a premises in Union Hall has been described as "heavy-handed" by industry representatives, who have raised the issue with Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Mary Coughlan.

The monitoring authority was set up last January and is based in Clonakilty, Co Cork. It said it had seized fish worth more than €100,000 as part of a "continuing" investigation.

It said "industry personnel" were assisting its staff and the Garda with inquiries.

A deputy manager who was on duty at the time was taken away for questioning and computer equipment was removed.

The business in question, which has not been named, is a significant employer in the west Cork port.

Gerry O'Flynn of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation questioned the manner in which the raid had been carried out.

"At a time when the fishing industry is going through a very difficult period of change, is this the way to manage it?" he asked.

Mr O'Flynn said he was happy with the Minister's response to the issue when he raised it with her in Galway on Friday.

The new agency is independent of the Minister but ultimately responsible to her, Mr O'Flynn added.

A spokeswoman for the defended its actions, and said that "the investigation at Union Hall is a very serious case".

"There is a likelihood that a file will be sent to the Attorney General and as in all cases our staff behaves in a professional, courteous and proportional manner," the spokeswoman said.

The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority conducted the investigation under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, a controversial piece of legislation when first introduced.

It prompted opposition from Fianna Fáil members of the Oireachtas committee and from industry representatives who said it would "criminalise the entire fishing industry".