About Us

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Established in 2006, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is Ireland's competent authority for sea-fisheries protection and seafood safety. It is responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation thereby supporting the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resources and ensuring consumers across the world continue to enjoy Irish seafood of the highest quality safely.  

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The SFPA’s scope of work is broad and varied. It includes detecting and deterring illegal fishing, verifying consignments for Ireland’s growing export market as well as carrying out approval inspections and audits of all food businesses within the seafood sector.  The SFPA is the Competent Authority for the classification of shellfish production areas according to water quality in line with European food regulations. It also implements the National Marine Biotoxin Monitoring programme in collaboration with the Marine Institute and Molluscan Shellfish Safety Committee.

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The SFPA Head Office is located in the National Seafood Centre in Clonakilty, the vibrant, seaside town ideally located in West Cork, and within easy reach of Cork City. Named the UK and Ireland’s Best Town 2017 at the Urbanism Awards, Clonakilty is home to some of Ireland’s finest award-winning food producers and restaurants.  It offers a selection of both English speaking and Irish speaking primary and secondary schools and a wide range of sporting activities from rugby and GAA to water sports and golf. Further information can be found here www.clonakilty.ie

 

The SFPA currently employs over 180 people between its headquarters in Clonakilty, Co. Cork and its offices in the major ports around the coast: in Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros a Mhil, Killybegs, Greencastle, Howth and Dunmore East.

 

Contact information and directions to the SFPA Head Office and SFPA Port Offices can here found here

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