Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has questioned Minister Eamon Ryan over the actions of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) against Killybegs fish processors.
The SPFA suspended in-factory weigh permits for two Killybegs fish processors, after a recent fish catch came via Foyle Port in Derry. The catch was landed at the Derry port by a Norwegian vessel whose Master sought to save the catch from SFPA’s weighing system that would render the fish unfit for human consumption.
The SFPA moved to punish the Killybegs processors involved, citing “that the landing took place outside of Ireland.”
Pearse Doherty asked Minister Ryan today: “Minister, do you regard Derry as outside of Ireland? Are you going to allow the SFPA to put a hard border on the island of Ireland? Are you going to allow the SFPA to punish our fishermen and fish producers for daring to challenge this madness?”
The Donegal TD said: “There has been widespread outrage at the actions of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in Killybegs over the last number of weeks. Their actions will cost the local fishing community a huge amount of income and many workers have lost their livelihoods.
“They have forced some vessels to turn away from Killybegs never to return and others have had to turn fish for human consumption into fishmeal. Two fishing vessels were also forced to land in Derry only to then have their catch transported to Killybegs for processing.
“If that wasn’t bad enough, the SFPA have now removed the in-factory weighing permits from the two fish factories in Killybegs on the basis, and I quote, ‘that the landings took place outside of Ireland’.”
