Forage Fish
Questions for Ministers on the Protection of Sprat
The recent announcement by Government Ministers Martin Heydon TD, Timmy Dooley TD and Christopher O’Sullivan TD in relation to a ban on large industrial trawlers (longer than 18m) within the 6 nautical mile limit (and baselines) was a very welcome move.
Despite being framed in the context of Sprat (thanks in no small part to support in coastal communities around Save Our Sprat), this ban, if implemented effectively, has broader scope, and a much bigger potential impact on conservation of the marine ecosystem, sensitive marine habitats, and the prosperity of coastal communities.
But Sprat,…
No Place for Sprat
This short piece in no way reflects on the SFPA (Sea Fisheries Protection Authority) who have absolutely no hand, act or part in the current Sprat debate. The SFPA’s primary role is the enforcement of fisheries regulations. As the crux of this issue is that there are currently no quotas for this species, the SFPA…
The importance of forage fish
Originally published by Colin Barnes on his Cork Whale Watch “Skippers Log” in October 2019 — this post gives a skippers-eye view of the fate of forage fish off the West Cork coast, from someone who’s been at the business end of the issue for decades, both as a long-time commercial fisherman and one of…
Sprat- The Damage Done, May 2018
Originally published by Colin Barnes on his Cork Whale Watch “Skippers Log” in May 2018 — used here with permission from the original author.
For anyone following the discussion regarding the Irish government’s proposal to exclude large trawlers over 12 mts length fishing within 6 nautical miles of the coast, we hope that this article…
Update on sprat conservation issue in West Cork, Nov. 2014
Originally posted by Whale Watch Skipper and former commercial fisherman Colin Barnes on the Skippers Log section of his Cork Whale Watch website in November 2014
It is now mid-November, and true to the time of year, we have plenty of stormy, wet and disturbed Atlantic weather, making poor conditions for searching for and watching…
Decimation of Irish Sprat Stocks
This article was originally posted to the Cork Whale Watch Skippers Log by Colin Barnes, a long time commercial fisherman and one of Ireland’s most experienced and well respected whale watching operators in January 2014
Last January I wrote to Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, Simon Coveney, TD highlighting the problem of unsustainable inshore…
