The world’s second-largest factory trawler – a giant floating fish processing vessel – has been seen fishing off the Irish coast and attracting criticism from politicians.

The giant FV Margiris is equal in length to 14 regular-sized trawlers and drags vast nets stretching the distance of six football pitches. It has been called, by critics, a “floating Death Star” and a “threat to fishing communities and their seas”. The nets are dragged at mid-depth level and fish are pumped aboard using a vacuum system, Belfast Live reported.

The Lithuanian-registered, Dutch-owned and operated Factory Trawler is capable of catching and freezing up to 250 tonnes of fish a day, using ‘mid-water’ nets that target species such as horse mackerel and pilchards.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD, has strongly criticised the presence of the 447ft super trawler.  He has repeated his call for super trawlers to be banned from fishing in Irish and EU waters.

As reported in Fishing Daily, Teachta Mac Lochlainn said:

“The presence of this vessel in Irish waters is a kick in the teeth for an Irish fishing industry on its knees and facing further quota cuts, tie-up schemes and decommissioning of vessels.

“For anyone within governments or authorities across Europe or Ireland to call this method of fishing sustainable with a straight face is laughable.”

The same ship was in the news a year ago when it spilled100,000 dead fish off French coast.

The mass discharge was caused by a tear in the vessel’s net, according to an industry group, but campaign group Sea Shepherd France believes it was done on purpose.