Minister O’Sullivan welcomes immediate action to safeguard Ireland’s marine biodiversity and coastal communities
- Published on: 22 July 2025
- Last updated on: 22 July 2025
The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, has today welcomed the government’s decision to implement a new Policy Directive that will support marine wildlife reliant on the forage fish sprat in Ireland’s inshore waters.
Minister O’Sullivan stated:
“This is a step forward for Ireland’s marine environment and for the future of our marine wildlife. 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. This is something I have been working on in conjunction with Minister Dooley and An Taoiseach and crucially the passionate voices of coastal communities over the past number of months. The measures agreed today, 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.”
Sprat, a small but vital forage fish, is the lifeblood of Ireland’s marine ecosystem. The collapse of sprat stocks would have devastating consequences for everything from humpback whales to puffins, razorbills, and terns—many of which are already in steep decline due to food shortages and habitat loss. The new measures are a clear signal that Ireland is serious about protecting our marine life.
Decision details
Under the new directive, from 1 October 2025, 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. From 1 October 2026, all vessels over 18 metres in length overall—including those targeting sprat—will be fully excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile zone and inside baselines. This marks a significant change in the management of Ireland’s inshore fisheries, with the aim of protecting sensitive marine habitats and supporting the sustainability of key species, including sprat.
Minister O’Sullivan concluded:
“This decision marks a positive step forward for the protection of our marine environment and ensures that inshore waters are protected for smaller fishing vessels and recreational fishers. My thanks to Minister Dooley, and I want to acknowledge the role of the Save Our Sprat community groups out of West Cork, Irish Whale and Dolphin group, inshore fishing community, community activists and environmental groups who have campaigned tirelessly for greater protections for our marine life. I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders as we move to implement these measures.”