Ireland to ban industrial sprat fishing in inshore waters from October 2026
Fishing boats trawling for sprats at dusk on the River Suir, between Waterford and Wexford. File photo
The industrial fishing of sprat, a keystone marine species, is to be banned in inshore waters from October next year.
The move was agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after marine minister Martin Heydon and minister of state for fisheries Timmy Dooley brought a memo to government on proposed restrictions on trawling activity by large vessels inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines.
The restrictions, drafted following public consultation, are being introduced in phases, beginning on October 1, 2025, when vessels over 18 metres fishing for sprat within the six nautical mile zone will require authorisation and will be subject to a quota limit of 2,000 tonnes.
However, from October 1, 2026, all vessels over 18 metres — including those targeting sprat— will be fully excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile zone and inside baselines.
The move is a clear signal that Ireland is serious about protecting our marine life, heritage and nature minister Christopher O’Sullivan said.
“The measures, which amount to a de facto ban on industrial trawling of sprat in our inshore waters, are the result of an extensive public consultation process and careful consideration of the best available scientific advice,” he said.
Mr Heydon said: “I am satisfied that this is the right thing to do for the preservation of sustainable fisheries in our inshore waters.”
Mr Dooley said there is a compelling case for the ban, and the public has spoken.
“All submissions received within the consultation period were analysed by my department, and 94% of those submissions wanted to see a new ban on trawling activity by vessels over 18 metres in the waters inside six nautical miles," he said.
Scientific and economic analysis was provided by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara and published alongside the public consultation paper.
Sprat, a small but vital forage fish, has been described as the lifeblood of Ireland’s marine ecosystem. They are an important food source for larger fish, seabirds, seals, dolphins, and whales.
In May, the highlighted how the species had been fished to the brink of extinction in areas off the south coast, creating what respected skipper and whale watch pioneer Colin Barnes described as lifeless marine deserts, and forcing him to close his whale watching business because the whales are no longer able to find sprat in the area.
The Save Our Sprat group in Bantry Bay said banning large trawlers over 18m from fishing for sprat is not enough, as some 44% of sprat are caught by trawlers under 18m.
But Mr O’Sullivan, who acknowledged the role of the Save Our Sprat community groups in West Cork, the Irish Whale and Dolphin group, the inshore fishing community, community and environmental groups for the campainging, said Tuesday’s decision marks a significant change in the management of Ireland’s inshore fisheries.
“This is a step forward for Ireland’s marine environment and for the future of our marine wildlife,” he said.
“For too long, industrial overfishing of sprat has threatened the very foundation of our marine food web, putting whales, dolphins, and our much-loved seabirds like puffins and kittiwakes at risk."
