A Louth man must pay a total of €30,000 after pleading guilty to fishing 200 per cent more high-value prawns than quotas allowed and under-reporting the catch. Gerald Sharkey, from Clogherhead, pleaded guilty to the sea-fisheries offences in an area where prawn stocks are vulnerable at Dundalk Circuit Court this week.
SFPA say they found evidence Sharkey recorded large quantities of catch outside the regulated area with lower volumes recorded in FU16 despite evidence the boat spent more time fishing in that area.READ MORE: Top climate body wants government to review transport taxes after emissions riseIt was outlined in court how catch limits are necessary for the "protection of fishery stocks so that there is sustainability for fishing to continue for fishing stocks and for generations to come".