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, of course, is our focus here at Save Our Sprat West Cork. We believe that these measures (again, with the caveat that they are implemented and managed effectively) will indeed relieve a significant portion of fishing pressure on the beleaguered Sprat population off the West Cork coast: you can read our official response to the measures for more details.
To suggest the measures introduced do nothing for Sprat, or are somehow insignificant in terms of their overall conservation value, is both unhelpful and, on the whole, inaccurate. However, there is much more to do.
So, while we acknowledge and welcome the Government’s measures, and the positive engagement with marine conservation they represent, when it comes to the protection of Sprat, we still have serious concerns.
Through the office of West Cork based Minister for Nature, Biodiversity and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, we have this week submitted a comprehensive list of questions aimed at addressing those concerns. We are seeking clarification from the Ministers responsible on a variety of aspects covering the large trawler ban, the regulation of smaller vessels, monitoring and enforcement, the science around Sprat populations and the exploration of further protective measures focussed specifically on forage fish like Sprat.
Minister O’Sullivan has acknowledged Save Our Sprat West Cork’s concerns, and has assured us he will liaise with his colleagues in government and will respond with clarification on the points raised as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from him, and to ongoing positive engagement with the Government on this issue, as we work to Save Sprat, restore the integrity of our inshore marine ecosystem, and ensure the prosperity of Ireland’s coastal communities for generations to come.
Seeking clarification from Ministers on recent measures to ban inshore industrial trawling, specifically relating to their impact on Sprat
1. Potential legal challenge from trawler owners / fishers
- What steps have the Ministers taken to ensure the measures announced are as robust as possible should a legal challenge be taken to the High Court by fishers as happened in 2018?
- Should such a challenge occur, can the Ministers confirm the measures announced will remain in force while legal proceedings play out?
- Do the Ministers have contingency plans in place to afford Sprat protection from unregulated fishing pressure should such a legal challenge succeed again? If so, can you provide details?
2. Interim restrictions on >18m trawlers for 2025/26 season
- The new measures state that trawlers over 18m will require authorisation to fish for Sprat within the 6nm (and baselines) from 01 October 2025. How will that authorisation process work and which agency(ies) or department(s) will manage it?
- Will there be specific, measurable conditions attached to these authorisations, and will authorisation be revoked if vessels fail to meet those conditions?
- An interim quota of 2,000 tonnes has been set for vessels over 18m from 01 October 2025. How will this quota be monitored/managed?
- Will landings of Sprat by these vessels be subject to the usual checks and measures applied by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for other quota species? Please provide details of how this process will work and how it will be monitored.
- Will Sprat landings now be subject to the same sampling for bycatch as other quota species?
- What provisions have been put in place to ensure state agencies tasked with the implementation and management of these measures are adequately resourced to do so efficiently and effectively?
3 Robust science to establish a Sprat population baseline for sustainable fisheries management
- Has a population study of sprat in Irish coastal waters been commissioned by the Ministers? If not, will the Ministers commit to commissioning such a study immediately?
4. Plans for the sustainable management of the Sprat Fishery for sub-18m trawlers
- With no restrictions in place on smaller boats, there is a significant concern that sub-18m vessels will simply increase fishing effort to maximise returns in the absence of competition from larger vessels. According to SFPA figures, in 2024 sub-18m boats landed 7,800 tonnes of Sprat, which accounted for 46% of total landings. That’s around 350% of the recommended ICES precautionary catch limit of 2,240 tonnes, just by smaller trawlers. What measures do the Ministers have in place to address this should such a scenario come to pass?
- The potential of smaller vessels to place unsustainable fishing pressure on sprat populations should not be underestimated. How will the Ministers monitor and manage this?
- Will the Ministers commit to establishing a properly managed and regulated fishery for Sprat for sub-18m vessels as soon as the data from the science referenced in question 3.1 above becomes available, allowing sustainable quotas to be set?
- While we await the results of these population studies, will the Ministers commit to limiting the fishing pressure smaller vessels can exert on Sprat, particularly during their spawning season (October to February), through a quota based on ICES recommendations or other measures?
- Does the fact that Sprat is now a quota species (with the introduction of an interim quota for >18m vessels) mean that Sprat landings by all vessels, including sub-18m boats, will now be subject to the same rigorous SFPA checks as those applied to other quota species?
- Similarly, will Sprat landings by sub-18m boats now be subject to mandatory SFPA sampling for bycatch? Specifically:
- Sample checks conducted by SFPA on Sprat catches by sub-18m vessels to determine the extent of bycatch of juvenile fish species/protected species.
- Observation of sub-18m vessels at sea to determine the extent of bycatch of protected species/cetaceans/seabirds.
- To facilitate ongoing assessment and monitoring of the fishing pressure applied by sub-18m vessels, will the Ministers commit to providing the following information?
- The number of sub-18m vessels engaged in Sprat fishing in Ireland
- A regional breakdown of sub-18m vessels fishing for Sprat
- A record of total weight of Sprat caught by sub-18m vessels
- A regional breakdown by weight of Sprat caught by sub-18m vessels.
5. Additional measures
- What additional measures are the Ministers considering to augment and enhance protection for Sprat and other forage fish, beyond what has been introduced by these measures?
- Almost all Sprat caught in Ireland is processed into fishmeal for use in animal feed, principally for farmed salmon. Will the Ministers consider banning the processing of forage fish species for fishmeal to financially dis-incentivise the unsustainable targeting of Sprat?
- Have the ministers considered allowing the fishing of Sprat, with appropriate management measures in place to ensure sustainability, for human consumption only?
- Have the Ministers considered protecting Sprat within designated SPAs/SACs where Sprat populations have a demonstrable impact on the welfare of the qualifying interest(s)?
- Will the Ministers consider expanding the scope of current SPAs/SACs and other protected areas, adding new ones and restricting or banning the fishing of Sprat within these designated protected areas?
- Will the Ministers consider expanding the scope of current SPAs/SACs and other protected areas, adding new ones and restricting or banning the fishing of Sprat within these designated protected areas?
Save Our Sprat West Cork: Kinsale to Mizen Head