The Naval Service Vessel LE Niamh has detained a French registered fishing vessel approximately 75 nautical miles off the coast of Loop Head, Co. Clare this afternoon.
The detention was in relation to an alleged breach of technical fishing regulations.
The vessel is currently under escort by the LE Niamh to Castletownbere and is expected to arrive alongside at 11.30pm tonight; the vessel will then be handed over to the gardaí.
The Naval Service have carried out 784 boardings, issued 30 warnings and detained 10 vessels so far in 2012 and carried out 1,313 boardings and 9 detentions of vessels off the Irish Coast in 2011.