There are renewed calls this week for Irish members of the European Parliament to ensure greater scrutiny of supertrawlers operating in sea areas such as off the coast of Donegal.
It follows the arrival of the world’s second-largest trawler to an area about 50 kilometres off the Donegal coast this week.
There is concern about the effect these supertrawlers can have on fish stocks and on wildlife.
Officers from the Irish Naval service boarded and inspected the Lithuanian-registered vessel.
However, the Irish Wildlife Trust is calling for fulltime, independent observers to be placed on board such vessels to monitor their activities.
Padraic Fogarty, the Irish Wildlife Trust’s campaign officer, has been telling Ocean FM News why his organisation is concerned:
