Fisherman fined €300 for illegally landing a catch of crab and lobster at Glengad Pier

A Malin fisherman who illegally landed boxes of crab and lobster at Glengad Pier two years ago has been fined €300 in court.

Shaun Crossan, of Glentoskert, Malin, pleaded guilty to one charge under Section 14 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, while a second charge was withdrawn by the State.

Sea Fisheries Protection Officer Niamh Dalton gave evidence against Mr Crossan at Carndonagh District Court, including how he failed to provide the legally-required prior notice before landing his catch.

She said officers had been on duty at Glengad on August 14, 2023, when the matter came to light. They were carrying out an inspection of Irish-registered vessels at the pier, and as they were finishing up, they noticed an NI-registered vessel pulling into the pier.

Officer Dalton checked with the Fisheries Monitoring Centre to see if there had been any prior notification or authorisation for this approaching vessel to land.

“The FMC confirmed that they had received no such notification,” she said.

The court heard how fisheries officers then asked the master of the vessel to identify himself and come into the pier. He identified himself as Mr Shaun Crossan.

“We asked him why he hadn’t provided any prior notification to land, and he stated that his agent was away on holiday at the time,” Officer Dalton explained.

“However, I was aware that the agent had already authorised other vessels that same day. He was, in fact, back from holidays for a few days,” she further testified.

“I said this to Mr Crossan, and he stated that he hadn’t contacted him that day – and he should have done so.”

Officer Dalton said Mr Crossan was then cautioned for the offence.

State Solicitor Kieran Dillon asked what had happened with his catch that day.

Officer Dalton said the catch was originally due to go to a seafood processing plant in Carndonagh.

“We followed the catch, and the company decided to reject it, based on the illegality of the catch. The catch was later returned to sea,” she said.

The court heard how the catch, which was still alive, comprised more than 20 boxes of crab and one box of lobster.

Officer Dalton estimated the lost value of the catch to Mr Crossan at approximately €1,300, based on the market value at the time.

She said his vessel was registered to Coleraine and was therefore considered a “third-country vessel”.

Defending the case, solicitor Rory O’Brien said his client had fully engaged with the authorities and had no previous convictions.

He described the incident as a case of misunderstanding, rather than a willful attempt to evade the law.

“This was a misunderstanding more than anything else. He believed the agent had been on holiday, and communication was shown to the officer at the time to confirm that belief.”

“Mr Crossan operated on an incorrect assumption, but everything was laid open to be seen.”

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Mr O’Brien said his client had been fishing on his father’s boat when he was apprehended, and he is no longer involved in the fishing industry.

“He’s now involved in window fitting. He’s a father and he’s married and I’d ask the court to exercise its fullest discretion, given the circumstances,” the solicitor pleaded.

Judge Brendan O’Reilly said he was satisfied that Mr Crossan had dealt with the summons properly.

“It’s very difficult to be a fisherman; it’s a dangerous profession. Apart from trying to make a living, there’s no shortage of red tape,” the judge said, imposing a €300 fine, with six months to pay.