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Curb on large fishing vessels stays in place

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has welcomed a decision by the Court of Appeal that extends a ban on trawling by large fishing vessels in inshore waters within six miles of the Irish coast.

The court’s decision, issued last week, applies until at least 4 October, or until the court delivers a judgment in relation to the stay.

The Government issued the directive in March 2019, which applied from 1 January 2020 to vessels of more than 18 metres in length.

Judicial review

Then-minister Michael Creed said at the time that the measure was aimed at supporting small-scale and island fishermen, and providing wider benefits for the ecosystem.

After a judicial review taken by two fishermen, the High Court declared the directive void in October last year.

The Court of Appeal, however, decided in March this year to reinstate the measure, saying that the balance of justice leaned in favour of the State. It granted a stay on the High Court order until the hearing of the substantive appeal this week.

The substantive hearing before the Court of Appeal was completed last Tuesday and judgment was reserved.