Three firms faced suspensions

IN recent years, three fish processing firms have had their operations temporarily suspended by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority amid concerns about irregularities with weighing procedures.

Killybegs processor Norfish Ltd was last year convicted and fined €25,000 for tampering with its weighing scales. Norfish, which is owned and run by the Byrne family from Mountcharles in Co. Donegal, did not respond to queries from the MoS.

Another Killybegs firm – Seán Ward (Fish Exports) Ltd – made headlines when its weighing permit was temporarily suspended in 2015 as gardaí and SFPA inspectors investigated.

The firm – which has not yet been prosecuted for any offence on foot of the closure – did not respond to queries from the MoS. It is understood the case has been directed for indictment by the DPP, but has not yet come to court.

Weighing operations at Dingle firm Ó Catháin Iasc Teo were also suspended in 2015 after the SFPA received a video of fish going over an electronic scales without being weighed.

The owners of the firm declined to answer MoS questions about the temporary closure. It is understood the SFPA did not proceed with this case as a key witness was not available to give evidence, and the authority’s investigation of the premises did not detect evidence of under-weighing of fish.