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Minister Dooley announces Public Consultation on effort management measures in respect of Brown Crab and Spider crab in the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) for vessels over 10 metres
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Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley TD, has launched a consultation process on effort management measures in respect of brown crab and spider crab in the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) for vessels over 10 metres.
The Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation (ISWFPO) submitted a proposal to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the management of brown crab in the BSA for vessels over 10 metres.
Minister Dooley said:
“I have carefully considered the request from the ISWFPO and I am satisfied that a review of the current fishery management arrangements is warranted.”
The BSA is an area of the waters around the south and west of Ireland. Ireland’s maximum effort in respect of edible (brown) crab and spider crab in the BSA is 63,198 kilowatt days per year. Currently, the level of uptake of effort is monitored each month by the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC).
Minister Dooley continued:
“This is an important stock for our fishermen and women, and I want to consider how to manage the BSA Crab fishing effort in the most efficient and effective way. To facilitate the consultation, my Department has prepared a consultation paper setting out the background and some possible options. I encourage stakeholders, and particularly those involved in fishery over recent years, to take part in this consultation process and submit their views. Following the consultation, I will consider the issues involved and the feedback received before making a decision on whether amendments to the current regime is justified.”
The Public Consultation opened on July 3 2026 and closes at 5pm on August 5 2026.
Further Information is available on the Department’s Website.
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
- The ‘Western Waters Regulation’ (Council Regulation (EC) No.1415/2004) sets out a limit in the form of “kilowatt days” on the fishing effort that Member States, including Ireland, can employ annually to catch brown crab and spider crab, scallops and demersal fish stocks in waters around Ireland (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas 5, 6 and 7).
- Effort is calculated based on kilowatt (kW) days, which is the number of days (or part of a day) fishing for the specified species in the relevant area multiplied by the engine power of the vessel (measured in kW).
- Other than monitoring uptake, there are currently no specific measures relating to management of fishing effort in place.
- The management measures currently in place for the Irish brown crab fishery are:
- Landing size: A Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) of 140mm which applies to brown crab taken by Irish sea-fishing boats in ICES Areas 6 and 7.
- Restrictions on landing claws: There is no limit on the amount of brown crab that can be landed into Ireland, but EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241) restricts the volume of detached crab claws that can be landed for conservation reasons.