A German supertrawler captain is facing seven charges after his ship was detained in Cork for suspected fishing violations.
The ‘Helen Mary’ is a German fishing trawler. The captain faced seven charges, under sea laws. He appeared in Cork District Court today. The court served him the Book of Evidence. The Director of Public Prosecutions made a request. He wants charges tried in Circuit Court.
Illegal gear, a bad ladder, and faulty plans are involved. One minor charge was also brought against the captain. He allegedly ignored a fisheries officer’s orders. The officer worked for the SFPA.
The court released him on bail. He must return to court April 28, 2025. They released the ship after a €425,000 bond payment.
The ship was spotted Monday. It traveled inside Ireland’s economic zone. This zone is 320km off our coast. Ireland controls all resources there.
EFCA officers saw the ‘Helen Mary’. Their patrol boat detected suspected violations. These actions broke European fishing laws. They told the captain to go to shore. They escorted the ship to Cork Harbour.
The large trawler is still at Tivoli. Each day in port costs the owners a lot. Lost productivity is costing them tens of thousands of euros.