A ban on supertrawlers from Irish and EU Waters is being sought again after some of the world’s largest vessels were seen operating off the Irish coast.
Three supertrawlers were recorded off the Donegal coast this week “hoovering up massive amounts of fish”, according to Sinn Féin spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn TD expressed his anger over the presence of the trawlers “at a time when dozens more Irish trawlers have to be decommissioned”
He also strongly criticised the presence of the 447ft super trawler and factory ship, the FV Margiris, in waters off the south west of Ireland in recent days.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn is calling for the strictest supervision of the vessels’ fishing activities.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “For anyone within governments or authorities across Europe or Ireland to call this method of fishing sustainable with a straight face is laughable.
“It is highly destructive and it must be stopped. I am reiterating my previous calls that super trawlers be banned from fishing in all European waters as is the case in the waters around Australia.”
