Inspectors from the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), supported by a team from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), are continuing their inspection of a German-registered factory supertrawler detained off the south west coast of Ireland for suspected fishing infringements at the weekend.
Gardaí have confirmed that man in his 40s is being detained for alleged fishery breaches on board the vessel under the provisions of the Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006.
The 116m Helen Mary, with its crew of 50, arrived in the Port of Cork yesterday morning after it was detained on Sunday by the EFCA patrol vessel, Ocean Protector, for allegedly having a defective ladder in breach of EU fishing regulations.
It was escorted to the Port of Cork's Tivoli berth by two tugs and tied up just before 11am yesterday morning.
The vessel, which has a fishholding capacity of 6,900m3, had been fishing for scad or horse mackerel, 60 nautical miles south of the Fastnet, when it was detained.
Court order obtained by gardaí
Yesterday afternoon, gardaí were granted a court order allowing them to detain the vessel for up to 48 hours for alleged breaches of EU fishing regulations after which the vessel has to be either charged in relation to the alleged breaches or released.
The EFCA in a statement confirmed that an inspection of the Helen Mary took place at sea and a suspected infringement was found.
"The vessel was directed to port by Irish authorities and following the procedure, the Ocean Protector received a written request to follow the vessel to the port of Cork. A full inspection is foreseen with the support of inspectors from Clonakilty.
"The vessel was inspected in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with an international inspection team composed of an Irish inspector, two Dutch inspectors and an EFCA Liaison On Board Officer.
The Ocean Protector, which is currently moored off Cobh in Cork Harbour, is one of three inspection platforms chartered by the EFCA, and is charged with ensuring that the EU's common fisheries policy is applied properly in EU territorial waters.
