An Cosantóir

30 FMC on information regarding fishing vessels, owners, skippers, registrations, authorisations, boarding's, infringements, detentions, effort reports, fishing vessel positions and catch data. Each Naval Service asset has its own integrated Lirguard computer onboard that replicates, in real time, the core system within FMC. This allows ship's crews to add surveillance and boarding reports at sea which can be immediately communicated to internal and external stakeholders within the industry. FGS (Fishery Geographical System) The FGS is integrated with the FIS, thus giving the operator a visual representation of fishing vessel within the Exclusive Economic Zone on an electronic chart display. As the Naval Service is Ireland's primary sea-going agency with responsibility for Fishery protection, policing this vast area requires such a tool so that Command onboard can plan and execute targeted inspections of high-risk fishing vessels operating within Irish waters. FLS (Fishery Legislative System) The Naval Service requires its sea-going personnel to have the most up-to-date European and Irish fishery legislation on hand. The FLS system records and stores a legislative bank from which onboard Fisheries Officers can consult the necessary legislation prior to or during a at sea inspections. The FPS is a fluid component at the heart of FMC. Fishing vessel registrations, modifications, owner details, sightings, boarding's and detentions are constantly being recorded and updates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. It is also important to acknowledge the significant technical support required from our colleagues in the Naval Computer Centre (NCC), whom contribute greatly behind the scenes. OIC Admin (HQ) Support Section S/Lt Ayden Clarke is OIC HQ Support Section in the FMC. This section sits in the HQ cell within the FMC and is responsible for ensuring that various databases and reports are maintained and generated for distribution to internal and external stakeholders. OIC Admin gathers and consolidates operational information received from Fishery Protection Assets and Air surveillance assets and maintains accurate databases which are used for briefings to command, the General Staff and to the European Fisheries Control Agency. As FMC is nestled within the INT Cell in the Naval Service, OIC Admin is also responsible for ensuring Op Sec of the FMC and the control of documents and the passing of confidential information. OIC Training Cell S/Lt Robert Kelly is OIC Training Cell in the FMC. The role of the Training Cell is provide all elements of fishery protection related training within the Naval Service, encompassing both internal FMC personnel and ship based sea-fishery protection officers (SFPOs). OIC Training Cell provides introductory and refresher training to all ranks and branches, from delivering the entry level Assistant Sea Fishery Protection Officer course to Cadets and Potential NCOS, up to more advanced courses on legislation and court procedures with Senior NCOs. We also run a number of technical skills courses including net measuring, fish identification and legal skills which can be requested by ships to reduce skill fade and keep their own personnel up to date with best practice, as legislation changes. We also maintain and calibrate the equipment SFPOs require to measure nets, weigh boxes and dip tanks at sea. Internally within FMC we coordinate the training of new personnel with other sections. Over the last few months we have seen a significant training requirement with the increase of personnel and the new legislation and procedures that have arisen from Brexit. As the Naval Service upgrades its Fishery Protection software the Training Cell will be central to its roll out across the Service. The following aspects of Training and Standards are provided by the FMC to NS Command and ships: Legal skills training Net inspection courses Assistant Sea Fishery Protection Officers courses and Sea Fishery Protection Officer courses. Ship's Fishery Officer courses Boarding Equipment training FORST Fishery Inspections Fisheries IT systems training Expansion Of The FMC & Increase In Staffing Towards the end of 2020, the Fisheries Monitoring Centre was at risk of not meeting its mandated legal obligations, as we did not have the level of staff required to deal with the impact of BREXIT. BREXIT resulted in a 'volumetric explosion' on the workload of the FMC. The resources available in the FMC did not allow for this increase in staff, therefore, the reconfiguring of existing office space as a short-term measure was progressed and additional office spaces off site was secured. The structure of user station in the FMC was reconfigured in line with COVID-19 and a high level of user station agility was required enabling a combination of 'hot desking', remote working and watch systems to ensure the operation on Ireland FMC on a 24/7 basis. v A boarding team pictured here returning from a fishing vessel in August 2019

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