Minister Dooley calls for urgent EU action to protect our Mackerel Stock
- Published on: 28 October 2025
- Last updated on: 28 October 2025
- Funding for the Common Agriculture Policy must remain a core EU Priority –
At the October AGRIFISH Council being held in Luxembourg today, Minister of State with special responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, TD, will highlight the urgent need for the EU to take decisive steps to protect its vital fish stocks in the North Atlantic.
Minister Dooley said:
“The recent scientific advice for a 70% cut in Mackerel next year has rocked the Irish seafood sector. The decline in the Mackerel stock is the inevitable outcome of years of unsustainable fishing by some Coastal States. Due to the urgency of this situation, I am raising an AOB point at Council with the support of Spain, Poland and a number of other concerned Member States. The EU must take action now to protect this key fish stock, our fleets and the wider seafood sectors which depend on it.”
Fisheries Ministers will also discuss preparations for the upcoming annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
Minister Dooley added:
“I will take this opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s call for a national Bluefin Tuna quota. The data collected through Ireland’s highly successful Catch-Tag-Release scientific Bluefin Tuna fishery shows clearly the abundance of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters and supports Ireland’s claim for a national share of the EU’s quota for this stock.”
Minister Dooley will also note that the policy debate on the post-2027 CAP proposal on the green architecture is an opportunity to stress the importance of ensuring that the specific requirements of CAP are provided for in the next MFF, and that the CAP is robust and adequately funded.
Minister Dooley said:
“The future of the CAP is vital in safeguarding the continued viability of our farmers and rural communities. While the ring-fenced funding in the current Commission proposal is a good starting point, it cannot be the end point. The CAP must be fully funded to preserve its ability to secure incomes, simplify delivery, and advance our green objectives.”
The agenda for the meeting also includes an exchange of views on the market situation, at which the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine will have the opportunity to address the Council.
Minister Dooley said:
“I look forward to discussing the current market situation for the agri-food sector. I will reiterate Ireland’s unwavering support for Ukraine. We believe that free and fair trade can provide significant mutual benefits to both Ukraine and the EU.
“I will also highlight the urgent need to address challenges facing the tillage sector, given its strategic importance to Ireland. We need targeted action at EU level to address the structural and competitiveness challenges facing the sector.
“In addition, we must not overlook the challenges associated with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and in particular, issues around fertiliser cost and high input costs. Timely publication of key benchmarks will be crucial to reducing uncertainty.”
ENDS