Calls for reform of Maritime Act as Wexford fishermen end up in court ‘beside murderers and drug traffickers’
Wexford PeopleWexford fishermen are being lined up in court alongside “murderers and drug traffickers” for exceeding their quotas as the industry continues to combat restrictions placed upon it by the European Union.
Calling for a reform of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, local councillor Jim Codd said many of those charged for exceeding quotas had never had “as much as a parking ticket”
“Our trawler skippers are ending up in criminal courts beside murderers and drug traffickers, men who haven’t had as much as a parking ticket are being criminalised daily,” he said. “It’s a very frightening situation they find themselves in.”
Submitting a motion on the issue, Cllr Codd asked that not only should the Maritime Act be reformed, but that fisheries offences be “removed from the Criminal Justice Bill and be replaced by a structured, administrative system of penalty points”.
That motion was seconded by Cllr Frank Staples and will now be forwarded to Marine Minister Martin Heydon for consideration.