The FPV Barrule recently took part in a three day deployment in the Irish Sea so that Manx Fisheries Protection Officers, Colin Eastwood and John Summers, could complete their training as British Sea Fisheries officers. Already empowered to enforce Manx Fisheries legislation, they can now also enforce EU Fisheries legislation beyond Manx territorial seas.
Under the experienced scrutiny of Simon McCusker, training officer for the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Colin and John boarded a number of UK and Republic of Ireland fishing vessels at sea, to check that their catches, nets and documents complied with the complexities of EU Fisheries legislation.
Whilst in Whitehaven, the team were asked to assist MMO fisheries officers to inspect fishing vessels landing their catches into the port. This joint activity was made possible because the FPV Barrule could manoeuvre close to port in a way that the larger Royal Navy vessels, responsible for UK enforcement activity, are unable to do.
The versatility of FPV Barrule was further recognised when the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority asked for help to remove an illegal gill net set close to St Bees Head, an important seabird nesting area. The Barrule’s rib was used to locate and remove the net, which thankfully had not killed any birds.
Commenting on the training days, Simon McCusker MMO said: “the presence of the Barrule and the ability of DEFA and MMO officers to enforce fisheries legislation in a joined up manner within the Irish Sea has great benefits to both organisations. The Barrule and the large RIB it carries provide a valuable and versatile platform from which to operate. By working together in the future, we would be able to make more effective use of the Royal Navy and their larger ships, concentrating their patrols in the more exposed offshore locations. This would assist in developing a more all encompassing approach to fisheries enforcement within the Irish Sea. I congratulate the Manx fisheries protection officers for ably demonstrating their skill and knowledge and hope that we can work together more in the future”.
DEFA Minister, Phil Gawne MHK said: “the FPV Barrule was first commissioned in 2000 and has played a vital and active role in Manx fisheries management ever since. Fisheries, and fish, do not recognise national boundaries and I hope that the cooperation with surrounding jurisdictions, demonstrated by exercises such as this, will develop further resulting in a better regulated fishing industry within the whole of the Irish Sea and not just the territorial waters of the Isle of Man”.
Photo - John Summers and Simon McCusker measuring fishing net using an Omega net gauge. The Barrule is close by.
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