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The SFPA and Irish Naval Service to Host Joint Seminar on Landing Obligations at the National Maritime College of Ireland
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and Irish Naval Service to Host Joint Seminar on Landing Obligations at the National Maritime College of Ireland
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and Irish Naval Service have come together to organise a seminar on the Landing Obligation, on 15 March 2023, at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Cork.
The seminar is specifically aimed at Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers of the SFPA and the Irish Naval Service. The primary objective of the seminar is to ensure compliance with the Landing Obligation through inspections and control activities, both at sea and on land, as well as cooperation across control agencies. The SFPA has highlighted that in order to promote compliance with the fishing industry, cooperation with other control agencies and stakeholders are vital to achieving these objectives.
The Landing Obligation is a key element of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform of 2013, which mandates the gradual reduction of discards. Since 2015, the Landing Obligation has been gradually implemented across pelagic and demersal fisheries in different regions, leading to its full implementation since 2019, which applies to all species with catch limits.
The Landing Obligation aims to align previous regulations that prohibit high grading and require the recording of all catches with new requirements to retain previously discarded catches of species with catch limits. The use of selective fishing gears is a vital aspect of implementing the Landing Obligation, as it reduces the capture of unwanted catches.
Commenting on the seminar, Paschal Hayes, Executive Chairperson of the SFPA said:
“We are delighted to be co-hosting this seminar with the Irish Naval Service. The SFPA continues to ensure implementation of the landing obligation through inspection, control activities and promotion of compliance through consultation with fishers, other control agencies and various stakeholders.”
Commenting on the seminar, the Irish Naval Service said:
“By working closely with the SFPA, the physical inspection at sea, carried out by the Naval Service through Last Haul Analysis and gear inspections, together with the corroboration and verification of findings ashore by the SFPA ensures greater compliance with the landing obligation.”
To find out more about the landing obligation, please contact a regional office via Contact Us or by email SFPAFood&Fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
Source: Press Release
