News & Updates
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,…
Save Our Sprat West Cork responds to Government measures to protect Sprat
Save our Sprat West Cork: Kinsale to Mizen Head welcomes the recent announcement by the Irish Government on measures to protect Sprat in Ireland’s inshore waters.
While it falls short of the moratorium on Sprat called for by our campaign, we are cautiously optimistic that, if implemented effectively, the measures outlined…
David Puttnam adds his voice in support of Save Our Sprat
Renowned Film Producer and Educator, David Puttnam, speaks about the tradition of a sustainable inshore fishing industry in Ireland and his deep concern that we’ve lost sight of that heritage.
We are now “in danger of ruining everything” he says, through the relentless over-exploitation of our seas as highlighted by his long-time friend Sir…
Press Release: Campaign to save Sprat steps up a gear as new group formed
West Cork, Ireland, 08 July 2025 — For Immediate Release
c. 950 words
A highly publicised campaign to stop the unregulated exploitation of Sprat off the Irish coast is gaining momentum with the formation of a new Save Our Sprat group to cover inshore waters from Kinsale to Mizen Head.
The industrial overfishing of Sprat…
Noteworthy, Dec 2021: Irish Boats landing five times recommended limit of Sprat
This article from online investigative journalism platform Noteworthy(now The Journal Investigates) in late 2021 gives a good summary of the situation around the overfishing of Sprat in Irish waters, and why it needs to stop.
An appalling waste of marine life… we shouldn’t be catching fish to be churned up to…
Sprat: heading the way of the Dodo unless we act!
Large pair-trawler operators targeting Sprat on Ireland’s South Coast are on public record stating that they’ll willingly follow scientific advice — yet they routinely flout the best scientific advice currently available.
ICES (the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea), a scientific body that provides advice to governments and regulatory bodies on managing…
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…
West Cork’s whales in decline, but why?
We read with interest the interview with pelagic fisherman Ger Sheehy on the Southern Star in early June 2025 and wish to respond to some important issues raised in it.
The article suggests that observations of year-on-year declines in sprat by stakeholders such as local whale watch operations, anglers and inshore fishermen, whose livelihoods all…
Listen in: RTÈ’s Claire Byrne talks Sprat with Colin Barnes and Ken O’Sullivan
Sprat made the national airwaves in late May, when former Whale Watching Skipper Colin Barnes and leading Underwater Cameraman and Documentary Film-maker Ken-O’Sullivan Joined Claire Byrne on her mid-morning current-affairs show to discuss the staggering decline in marine wildlife off the West Cork coast, and the importance of Sprat in maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem.
…
Save Our Sprat Humpback Fun
A bit of Humpback Humour to highlight the #SaveOurSprat campaign — courtesy of West Cork artist and Wildlife Illustrator William Helps.
We’ll be publishing these lighthearted but thought provoking sprat-related cartoons periodically on the site and on our social media channels — so stay tuned and follow for more….
Taoiseach can make good on promise to prioritise marine protection by saving Sprat!
A post by Ireland’s Wildlife founder and West Cork based Wildlife and Birding Guide Calvin Jones highlighting the huge gulf between our Government’s positive international rhetoric on ocean conservation, the patent lack of action at home, and how the simple act of protecting Sprat would be a great start in redressing the balance.
Speaking…
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…
