Ireland's Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has confirmed that seven charges under sea-fisheries law have been brought against the master of the German-registered pelagic trawler Helen Mary.
The master of the fishing vessel was brought before Cork District Court on Wednesday, February 20, where the Book of Evidence was served on him.
The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that charges relating to suspected offences of illegal equipment use, a non-compliant boarding ladder, and non-compliant plans in relation to the vessel be prosecuted on indictment in the Circuit Court.
A summary charge of failing to comply with a direction of a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer of the SFPA was also brought against the vessel master, who was released on bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on April 28, 2025.
The Court also ordered that the vessel be released on the payment of a bond of €425,000 (US$447,000).
On February 16, 2025, officers onboard the European Fisheries Control Agency’s (EFCA) offshore patrol vessel, under a joint deployment plan (JDP), detected suspected infringements of European fisheries legislation involving Helen Mary in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The JDP framework provides the legal basis where the relationships of joint deployment of inspections assets/inspectors are set and are applicable to all assets of the concerned Member States and EFCA.
When operating in EU waters, the EFCA inspectors always have union inspectors from members states on board and they are the leading inspectors.