Spanish fishing master convicted and fined at Irish court

THE MASTER of a locally well-known Spanish owned/German registered gill netter has been fined for having static fishing gear in the water in excess of the 72 hour legal limit.

Angel Ares Esteban, the master of the Pesorsa Dos, had previously pleaded guilty to the charge at Donegal Circuit Criminal Court.

Estaban was fined a total of €49,000 (approx. £40,000).

On Tuesday the court heard how inspectors boarding the vessel in July 2020 discovered fishing gear had been left in the water for up to 50 hours longer than allowed.

The court heard how the time limit has been put in place to protect monkfish stocks.

At the time the value of the catch on board the Pesorsa Dos was estimated to be €44,500.

The court imposed a fine of €14,000 and ordered the sum of €35,000 to be forfeited from the value of the catch and the vessel’s gear.

The court noted that the master had a previous conviction under sea fisheries law in Ireland.

The Pesorsa Dos is well known in local waters after several reported confrontations with local fishing vessels. UK authorities said it was outside their jurisdiction to intervene and investigate.

A spokesperson for the Irish Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) said: “Monkfish fishing, along with other particular fisheries, is subject to specific measures under EU law to ensure stock recovery and sustainable fisheries for future generations.

“The gear soak time limit is a measure which must be strictly adhered to due to the potential damage non-compliance may cause.

“The SFPA commends the Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers of the SFPA and Naval Service, and An Garda Síochána, for their work on this investigation.”