Naval Service denies its patrols prefer to pursue Irish vessels

The Naval Service has denied claims it is unfairly targeting Irish fishermen in sea patrols because they are "easier to catch" than foreign-registered vessels.

Commodore Frank Lynch, Naval Service commanding flag officer, told an Oireachtas committee yesterday that it performed its sea fishery protection role "without fear or favour or affection".

He was responding to suggestions from some members of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources that Irish fishermen were being victimised in policing operations.

Denis O'Donovan TD (FF) said fishermen felt they were "soft targets", while Senator Brendan Kenneally (FF) argued the Naval Service should concentrate on "chasing bigger boats" rather than boarding small vessels, which could be monitored by regional fishery officers. "The laws are not being applied fairly," the Senator remarked.

But Cmdr Lynch said "the figures show quite clearly we do not have a bias against Irish vessels." Of 1,780 boardings this year, 42.5 per cent were of Irish vessels and the remainder other nationalities.

Of 94 warnings issued, however, 68 related to Irish vessels. Domestically registered boats also accounted for the majority of this year's 33 detentions by the Naval Service.

Cmdr Lynch said a lot of Irish vessels were penalised for quota offences, and this could explain why they accounted for the majority of warnings and detentions. The Naval Service did not have the means to police other countries' quotas, he pointed out, adding, "we do not engage in a partisan approach."

However, Senator Kenneally replied: "We will have to agree to disagree on that point."

Cmdr Lynch also revealed to the committee that an attempt had been made by a Spanish trawler to sink one of the Naval Service vessels. He said the vessel refused to stop and tried to ram the naval boat, missing it by just 20 feet.

He said the Naval Service was told to break off the chase and the vessel continued back to Spain, where he understood it was subjected to various sanctions.