Fishing Boat Licensing
Commercial sea fishing is regulated by the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 2006. Any boat intended to be used for such fishing requires a licence under Section 4 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 (pdf) (as inserted by section 97 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006), and it is an offence to engage in fishing without this authorisation.
Following the enactment of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the licensing authority in relation to sea fishing boats is the Registrar General of Fishing Boats.
Under Section 3(2)(b) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the Minister may give policy directions on sea-fishing boat licensing to the Licensing Authority. Details regarding policy directives issued to date can be found at the foot of this page.
Licensing Authority Annual Reports 2003 - 2010
The Annual Reports for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 of the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats have, pursuant to the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, been submitted to the relevant Minister at the time and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The text of the reports (in both Irish and English) can be viewed here.
- Annual Report 2010 (pdf 273Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2010 (pdf 2,023Kb)
- Annual Report 2009 (pdf 8,378Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2009 (pdf 8,097Kb)
- Annual Report 2008 (pdf 643Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2008 (pdf 643Kb)
- Annual Report 2007 (pdf 164Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2007 (pdf 166Kb)
- Annual Report 2006 (pdf 128Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2006 (pdf 62Kb)
- Annual Report 2005 (pdf 128Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2005 (pdf 125Kb)
- Annual Report 2004 (pdf 839Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2004 (pdf 840Kb)
- Annual Report 2003 (pdf 123Kb) or Udaras Ceadunuchain Tuarasc Bi 2003 (pdf 92Kb)
General Information
- Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (pdf 578Kb)
-
Statutory Independent Appeals Process for Sea-Fishing Boat Licensing (under part 3 of Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003).
Application Forms
- Online Sea Fishing Licence Applications
- Sea Fishing Boat Licence Application Form and notes (doc 53Kb)
- DeRegistration Application Form (doc 31Kb)
- Capacity Assignment Note (doc 27Kb)
Sea-Fishing Boat Licence Applications
- 2003 (xls 57Kb)
- 2004 (xls 50Kb)
- 2005 (xls 900Kb)
- 2006 (xls 61Kb)
- 2007 (xls 95Kb)
- 2008 (xls 90Kb)
- 2009 (xls 59Kb)
- 2010 (xls 58Kb)
- 2011 (xls 64Kb)
- 2012 (xls 44Kb)
Policy Directives under section 3(2)(b) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003
- Policy Directive 1-2003 (doc 25Kb) - this Directive was given by the Minister on 17 November 2003
- Policy Directive 2-2003 (doc 32Kb) - this Directive was given by the Minister on 17 November 2003.
- Policy Directive 1-2004 (doc 26Kb) - this Directive given by the Minister on 22 March 2004 amends section H of Policy Directive 2/2003.
- Policy Directive 2-2004 (doc 24Kb) - this Directive was given by the Minister on 21 June 2004.
- Policy Directive 3-2004 (doc 24Kb) - this Directive was given by the Minister on 21 September 2004.
- Policy Directive 1-2005 (doc 26Kb)
- Policy Directive 2-2005 (doc 23Kb)
- Policy Directive 1-2006 (doc 32Kb)
- Policy Directive 1-2007 (doc 25Kb)
- Policy Directive 1-2008 (pdf 224Kb)
- Policy Directive 1-2011 (pdf 2,045Kb)
- Policy Directive 2-2011 (pdf 474Kb)
Background to National Sea-Fishing Boat Licencing Policy
Press Release of 11 August 2003 from Dermot Ahern, T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources relating to sea-fishing boat licensing policy.
Submissions received in relation to licensing policy proposal.
- Clogherhead Fishermens Organisation submission re licensing policy proposal (doc 20Kb)
- Irish Fishermen's Organisation submission re licensing policy proposal . (doc 33Kb)
- Irish South and East Fishermen's Organisation submission re licensing policy proposal (doc 33Kb)
- Revised policy proposals on sea fishing boat licensing - 22 October 2003 (doc 35Kb)
