Brexit brings fishing dispute
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it is in contact with UK officials after an Irish trawler was prevented from fishing around Rockall.
RTÉ reports that an Irish trawler, the Greencastle-based Northern Celt, has been prevented from fishing around Rockall. Scottish fisheries patrol vessel, Jura, boarded the trawler on 4th January.
The trawler’s skipper, Adrian McClenaghan said he was told that “we could no longer fish inside the 12-mile limit of Rockall”. He was issued with a temporary UK fishing-licence and told that as an EU vessel he was not authorised to fish within the 12-mile limit.
The rocky outcrop has been disputed territory for decades; the UK claims sovereignty but the Republic does not recognise the claim. However, Irish experts in maritime law have said Scotland is within its rights to assert a 12-mile limit around Rockall as it said it would do when the UK exited the EU.
BREAKING: Fresh dispute over #Rockall after Scottish patrol boat blocks County Donegal fishing vessel from entering its waters, with skipper told it’s result of #Brexit Full story coming up on @rtenews @franmcnulty @seanwhelanRTE @tconnellyRTE pic.twitter.com/UToqjUpGyI
