A looming crisis faces Ireland’s fishing industry as catastrophic quota cuts that threaten the survival of its pelagic fleet, warns The Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO).
The industry is backing the call by Ireland’s Marine Minister Timmy Dooley for urgent EU intervention following ICES advice recommending a 70% cut in mackerel and a 41% cut in blue whiting for 2026.
‘We are backing the Minister’s call because these cuts punish Ireland for fishing sustainably,’ said IFPO CEO Aodh O’Donnell.
‘They will hit Ireland harder than any other EU state. Parts of our fleet could collapse, devastating coastal communities and leading to and up to 2600 job losses. The cause is clear: non-EU states have ignored scientific advice for years, inflating quotas up to 40% above sustainable levels and pushing shared stocks into crisis. Ireland and the EU have played by the rules – others have not.’
The IFPO points the finger squarely at Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Russia, accusing these non-EU states of unilaterally increasing catches of shared mackerel stocks, blocking EU access to their waters, and refusing fair sharing arrangements.
‘These rogue actions have stalled negotiations at the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), destabilising the management of mackerel, blue whiting, and herring. The EU has the legal tools to halt this reckless behaviour, including targeted trade measures, and it must use them,’ he said.
European trade organisations, including the European Association of Producer Organisations (EAPO) and Europêche, have also raised alarms. They have issued warnings that non-EU states are undermining responsible fisheries management, while the EU hesitates to act decisively.
‘This behaviour has gone unchecked for too long,’ Aodh O’Donnell said.
‘Without firm EU action, Ireland faces the sharpest quota losses. Norway, in particular, continues to exploit our shared stocks. They are landing up to seven times Ireland’s blue whiting quota, but they only catch 3% of this massive quota in their own waters.’
The IFPO strongly supports Minister Dooley’s call for decisive action at the December Fisheries Council to protect stocks, coastal communities, and the industry. It also urges the full application of Hague Preferences to shield Ireland from the harshest cuts, and a meaningful financial support framework to underpin the resilience of both fleet and shore-based enterprises.
‘We must deny free access to Norwegian super trawlers in Irish waters. We must challenge EU proposals to transfer 17% of the meagre Irish blue whiting quota to Norway. This arrangement that disproportionately benefits other Member States while exploiting Ireland,’ he said, commenting that there’s a huge amount at stake – a 70% cut in mackerel could cost Ireland €84 million in export earnings in a single year.
‘This is about fairness, sustainability, and the future of Irish coastal communities,’ Aodh O’Donnell said.
‘Ireland must not pay for the recklessness of others. The EU must back Minister Dooley, defend Ireland, and stop Norway and other non-EU states from continuing this reckless overfishing. The pelagic industry cannot survive otherwise.’
