Buncrana District Court fines Donegal master of Speedwell II, €300 for illegal landing without authorisation at Glengad Pier
A Donegal fishing master has been fined €300 for landing a vessel in an Irish port without prior authorisation, in breach of EU rules on non-EU fishing vessels.
At Buncrana District Court on 16 September 2025, Shaun Crossan, master of the Northern Ireland–registered vessel Speedwell II, pleaded guilty to a charge of landing at Glengad Pier, County Donegal, on 14 August 2023 without providing prior notification or securing authorisation.
The Court heard evidence from an officer of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) that 21 boxes of live crab had been landed illegally. The seafood was subsequently returned to the sea by SFPA officers.
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Legal Requirements
Under EU law, third country fishing vessels are required to provide advance notification of landings and to obtain specific authorisation before entering Irish ports. These measures are designed to ensure full traceability of seafood entering the EU market and to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
SFPA Statement
An SFPA spokesperson said: “The SFPA notes the guilty plea and the decision of the Court. Compliance with the rules for non-EU vessels regarding prior notification of landings, and the prohibition on landing without an authorisation to land, is key to ensuring seafood entering the EU market is traceable and checked for compliance with the rules against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. These rules support consumer confidence in seafood and sustainable fishing. The SFPA commends the officers involved in the investigation.”
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