Irish trawler banished from Harris territorial waters

An Irish trawler has been stopped from fishing around Rockall off the Western Isles, because the UK has left the European Union.

Rockall is officially part of Harris. The uninhabited rock lies 230 miles west of the Hebrides.

Restaking their claim, a group of intrepid Hearraich unfurled a Harris flag on the peak of the islet in 2014.

Donegal fishing vessel, FV Northern Celt, said it has been prevented since Monday from trawling around the island by the MPV Jura.

The Scottish Government-operated fishery cruiser departed Leith after Christmas to patrol contested waters around Rockall.

An officer from the Jura apparently told the skipper of the Irish vessel it is illegal to fish in the area any more as a result of Brexit.

Scotland is no longer part of the EU since the UK left on New Year’s Day.

Led by a senior officer, a small squad of crew from the Jura challenged and boarded the Northern Celt.

A three- week temporary licence granted to the Irish trawler states it was not an authorisation to fish within 12 miles of Rockall.

Adrian McClenaghan, skipper of the Northern Celt, told RTÉ News: “We were fishing in Rockall and members of the crew from the Jura boarded us.

“They informed us that we could no longer fish inside the 12-mile limit of Rockall.

“The Scottish navy are continuing to patrol and we're waiting on further instructions from the Department of Foreign Affairs on what their next move will be.”

Both vessels in the stand-off remain around the disputed area.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "One Irish vessel was routinely inspected outside of territorial waters around Rockall.

"The master requested clarification on the access rights granted by his licence to fish in UK waters."

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said it is discussing the issue with the Scottish Government.

Ownership of Rockall - and the surrounding seas and continental shelf - has been disputed over the decades by Ireland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

In 2019, a row erupted between Scotland and Ireland over fishing rights at the outcrop.

That summer the Scottish Government warned Irish trawlers to stay outwith the 12 mile limit or face “enforcement action.”

Official notice of an exclusion zone was then given to Ireland.

However, Ireland rejects UK claims to the uninhabited rock.

At the time, the Irish government maintained Scotland’s fishing ban was unlawful saying its fishing fleet had worked Rockall waters under equal access permitted through the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Irish trawler stopped from entering Harris territorial waters in Brexit clash

6 January 2021

MPV Jura is seen on the “intruder’s” starboard bow