Conor D McGuinness: Warns on SFPA Risk Profiling Transparency
Conor D McGuinness criticised the lack of transparency and oversight in the SFPA's risk profiling. He argued that without clear oversight, agencies or people within agencies can select risk profiles and skew enforcement priorities.
Transparency concerns
McGuinness said it is concerning that there does not seem to be a level of transparency or oversight in the SFPA's risk profiling. He stated that when the transparency piece is missing it enables arbitrary selection of risk profiles by those operating within an agency.
Risk of selective enforcement
He warned this lack of oversight can lead to selecting "low-hanging fruit" for enforcement - targets that are easiest to board. McGuinness highlighted the risk that officers might choose vessels that cost less in resources to inspect, rather than those that present the highest risk.
Operational and administrative incentives
McGuinness pointed to practical incentives that could bias profiling choices, such as vessels fishing closer to shore requiring fewer resources to board. He also noted administrative burdens that might influence decisions, including translation of documents and engagement with other fisheries protection bodies.
Call for caution
He concluded that the system needs careful scrutiny to prevent profiling choices being driven by convenience or resource savings rather than objective risk assessment. McGuinness urged greater care around how risk profiling is carried out to ensure fair and effective enforcement.
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It is concerning that there doesn't seem to be a level of transparency or oversight as far as I can see it in terms of the risk profiling by the SFPA, because when there isn't that transparency piece, it does allow any agency or people operating within an agency to select a risk profile. That might be a matter of low-hanging fruit. It might be, well, we'll board them because they're easiest to board. It costs us less resources to board those because perhaps they're fishing closer to shore. There is less need for administrative work to take place, be it translation of documents, be it engagement with other fisheries protection. So I just think we need to be careful on that.
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