IRISH FISHING Drowning in plain sight
Thousands of sharks, skates, seals and dolphins are dying in tangle nets. Critically endangered species are being killed in a rapidly expanding crayfish fishery, and the State has known the risks for decades, writes Pádraic Fogarty. Read his article here on The Journal.ie (March 2026)
Ministers Heydon and Dooley update on trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, today announced their intention to place certain restrictions on trawling activity by large vessels inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. Minister Heydon brought a memo to Cabinet this morning to inform them of the decision. Read more on Gov.ie (July 2025)
What's going on: let's watch
Listen to RTÉ: Regional Reporter, Teresa Mannion reports on the call for a total ban on inshore fishing by industrial trawlers which is becoming an increasingly divisive issue amongst coastal communities in Cork and Kerry. (June 2025)
Sprat meeting sparks lively exchanges
The first meeting in what promises to be a lengthy campaign to ‘save our sprat,’ and protect the biodiversity of Bantry Bay, was attended by about 250 people on Sunday, and among them were fishermen who refuted many of the claims being made. Read this article by Jackie Keogh here on The Southern Star (May 2025)
Seas off Cork a 'marine desert' due to overfishing of sprat, says owner of whale-watching business
Government apathy and inaction towards fish conservation has led to parts of the ocean becoming lifeless marine deserts, a respected whale watching expert has said.
“It’s devastating to see what were once rich fishing grounds become so barren because of the unregulated fishing of keystone species like sprat by just a handful of trawlers,” he said. Read more here on Irish Examiner (May 2025)
What's going on: let's watch
Irish Sprat Near Extinction Due to Unregulated Over Fishing
The conservation status of European sprat - sprattus sprattus - in Irish waters is again a source of grave concern for conservationists and environmentally aware Irish citizens in general, as along with sand eels, krill and zooplankton in general, sprat forms the basis of the marine food web, converting plankton into protein for marine predators including cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). Read more here on Marinetours
Pair trawling for Sprat
The IWDG recently posted on Facebook about two trawlers fishing in the mouth of the Shannon Estuary: "Two pair trawlers seen entering the Shannon Estuary today. They were also observed in Galway Bay over the last week and landed an estimated 400-500 tonnes of sprat (later clarified as 120 tonnes) to be ground into fishmeal in Killybegs. The Shannon Estuary is a protected site for bottlenose dolphins. The IWDG consider removing tonnes of sprat, a potentially important food source for these dolphins, to be in contravention of proper conservation management. Read more by Chief Science Officer Dr Simon Berrow on the page of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group here
Help stop destructive fish trawling in Ireland’s inshore waters by supporting a ban on large trawlers
Ireland currently has the opportunity to enact a previously overturned fisheries policy which was one of the most important conservation measures for marine ecosystems and local fishing communities in the state’s history, and SWAN calls on the public to voice their support. Read more about this issue on Sustainable Water Network SWAN here (April 2024)
Kerry Cllr says pair trawling having a disastrous effect on fishermen, calls for ban
There have been urgent calls for the public to submit their views to a Department of the Marine consultation on trawling near coastlines... read more on Irish Independent (paywall, March 2024)
Overfishing for Sprat threatens marine wildlife
Sprats, small sea fishes, like Sardines, are extremely abundant in Irish waters and are consequently a very important food source for a variety of larger fish, sea birds, whales... Read more of this article by Jim Hurley on Irish Independent here (October 2021, Paywall)
Fears for Ireland’s Sprat Fishery as Record Year of Landings Comes at Expense of Ecosystem, Wildlife Groups Say
2020 was a record year for sprat landings — but this has come at the expense of many other marine wildlife species who depend on the small fish as a food source. Read more on Afloat (December 2021)
Irish boats landing five times recommended catch of fish important to ecosystem
‘An appalling waste of marine life’: Over 60% of sprat landed in 2021 was designated for fishmeal. WILDLIFE ORGANISATIONS ARE concerned about the ongoing large number of sprat being caught – a fish important to the marine ecosystem – off the Irish coast.
“There’s very little food left for the other sea creatures, whether it’s whales, dolphins or seabirds,” according to Pádraic Fogarty of the Irish Wildlife Trust. Read more about this concerning situation by Maria Delaney here on The Journal (December 2021)
Another Life: Humble sprat key to safeguarding inshore ecosystem
Western and southern bays being plundered by ocean-going Irish trawlers • A torrent of little silvery sprats was spilling in panic out of the sea, chased ashore by mackerel, and people were scooping them up with buckets, gleeful and shin-deep at the very edge of the tide. It’s a childhood memory from Brighton beach, the pebbles hot and summery. Read more about the appeal to politicians by Michael Viney on The Irish Times (October 2021)
Irish Wildlife Trust calls for the prohibition of pair trawling in coastal areas
Pair trawling is a fishing practice involving two boats dragging between them a single large net with small meshing. It is an activity which has lately been going on in sheltered inshore bays and estuaries along the west coast – many of which are protected for nature conservation (eg Kenmare Bay). Pair trawling targets sprat which goes on to be processed into fish meal. Read more here on the page of the Irish Wildlife Trust
‘We Have No Whales to Watch’ Says West Cork Business as It Ends Season Early — And Blames Overfishing of Sprat
From modest beginnings, we've grown through unwavering dedication and a commitment to continuous improvement. Each step has reinforced our core belief in the power of collaboration and the importance of integrity. We're passionate about what we do, and we're excited to share our story with you. Read more by MacDara Conroy on Afloat (November 2023)
Public Consultation on Inshore Trawling – Make Your Submission
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has opened a public consultation on trawling activity inside the 6 nautical mile zone and the baselines. Readers may recall that several years ago, following a public consultation, the Minister banned trawlers over 18 metres from trawling inside this area, which would have ended the practice of pair trawling for sprat by large vessels, which has been the subject of much controversy in recent years. Still worthwhile reading on Fishing-in-Ireland (February 2024)
Resumption of sprat trawling in Kenmare Bay 'wiping out marine life'
The resumption of sprat trawling in Kenmare Bay, Co Kerry, a protected marine area, has angered both locals and ecologists, who say it wipes out valuable feed for whales, seals, and other wildlife.
A ban on vessels of larger than 18m fishing inshore in the bay was introduced in 2019 following extensive public consultation and a number of scientific studies. Read about 'wanton destruction' by Anne Lucey on Irish Examiner (November 2023)
The Urgent Call to Protect Our Marine Life: Stand Against Pair Trawling in Irish Waters
In the diverse waters surrounding Ireland, a battle for the future of marine conservation is being waged—a battle that calls for your voice and action. As a leading marine conservation NGO, ORCA Ireland are at the forefront of advocating for the protection of our oceans and the incredible life they harbor. Today, we stand united with other leading organisations around the country against a grave threat: pair trawling within the 6 nautical mile zone, a practice that endangers the rich biodiversity of our coastal waters. Read more on ORCA here (April 2024)
Fishing Inside 6nm Consultation
The IWDG Position And A Call For Submissions
The controversial practice of pair trawling by large boats for sprat and other forage fish in our bays and inshore waters may now at last be managed in a way which would conserve the stocks for whales, dolphins, fish and birds, and also give a welcome boost to the inshore fishing sector. Read more by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group here (April 2024)