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The skipper of the German-registered Spanish-owned fishing vessel Pesorsa Dos charged with breaches of fishing regulations in the Irish EEZ. Image: BSU Germany
The skipper of the German-registered Spanish-owned fishing vessel Pesorsa Dos appeared before Bandon District Court today in relation of alleged breaches of fishing regulations in the Irish EEZ.
Juan Pablo Docal Rubio, a 55-year-old fisherman from Coruna in Spain was in charge of the Pesorsa Dos when it was boarded by the LÉ George Bernard Shaw off the southwest coast of Cork on Monday 23 January. The inspection by the Irish officers found the vessel was in breach of fishing regulations and was put under detention and escorted to Castletownbere Harbour, where it remains.
Mr Docal Rubio was arrested today by Gardaí and brought before a special sitting of Bandon District Court.
The skipper is charged with 12 breaches of fishing regulations, which include, that while fishing within the Irish EEZ, he failed to he failed to record the depth of his fleet, between 05 and 09 of January last; that he failed to record accurate soak times – or times for the vessel’s fishing gear to be in the water; and nine counts that he exceeded the permitted soak times of 72 hours for the fishing gear, all of which are alleged to have happened between the 05 January and the 24 of January.
He is also charged with failing to facilitate the safe and effective boarding of the vessel by officials on the 23 January, in that the boarding ladder broke while being used for the purpose of boarding to inspect the vessel.
Garda Geraldine O’Sullivan told the court in Bandon this afternoon that she read all charges to Mr Docal Rubido, through an interpreter, to which he did not make a reply.
She said that she served a book of evidence on the accused and handed it to him.
State solicitor, Jerry Healy said the DPP had consented to a return for trial to the Circuit Court and that there was no State objection to the accused being released on bail.
He asked for an order for the indefinite detention of equipment and the vessel’s catch to be extended, unless and until a bond of €245,000 was paid, and this was granted by Judge Colm Roberts.
Judge Roberts returned the accused for trial to the next sittings of Cork Circuit Criminal Court, starting on Tuesday 31 January next, and warned the accused that if he intends to rely on alibi evidence in his defence that he must inform the State of this within 14 days.
Solicitor for the accused, Dermot Conway, formally applied for bail and this was granted, with the judge setting the defendant’s bond at €5,000. “We have to make sure people realise how serious these matters are,” Judge Roberts said.
The accused did not have to speak during the court hearing and left after signing his bail bond.
