It’s claimed a proposed ban on large trawlers operating along Clare’s coast will do little to protect marine life or support fishing communities.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has declared its intention to impose restrictions on trawling activity by large vessels inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines.
Ireland’s “six nautical mile zone” is defined as the “area or ‘belt’ of coastal waters” which extend for “six nautical miles out from the Irish baselines”.
The normal baseline is the low water line along the coast as marked on officially recognised large-scale charts.
The Government has announced that from October 1st 2026, trawling activity by fishing vessels over 18 metres in length will be prohibited within inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone.
To allow a “period of adjustment”, vessels over 18 metres will be granted a limited total allowable catch of 2,000 tonnes of sprat inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines from October 1st of this year to September 30th of next year, provided they have secured authorisation.
It’s claimed this will help to “provide for our important small-scale fishers” while re-establishing “links between local fish resources, local fleets and local economies”.
Carrigaholt-based Irish Chartered Skippers Association Chairperson, Luke Aston believes it’s about ensuring the viability of the trade of those operating smaller boats.
Over 5,500 submissions were sent to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine during the public consultation period.
Of these, an astounding 94% indicated that, at a minimum, they would like to see all sea-fishing boats over 18 metres excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile limit and baselines.
Irish South and West Fish Producers CEO Patrick Murphy is opposed to the ban, claiming it won’t protect sprat fish and arguing that as it stands, 47% of sprat are caught by smaller vessels.
He believes the proposed legislation would allow small boats to fish with no restrictions.
