Press release

Ministers Heydon and Dooley update on trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone

From: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on: 22 July 2025
Last updated on: 22 July 2025

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, today announced their intention to place certain restrictions on trawling activity by large vessels inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines. Minister Heydon brought a memo to Cabinet this morning to inform them of the decision.

From 1 October 2026, trawling activity (that is the operating of trawl or seine nets) by fishing vessels over 18 metres in length overall inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines will be prohibited. A limited total allowable catch of 2,000 tonnes of sprat will be permitted for vessels over 18 metres length overall inside the six nautical mile zone and inside baselines from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026 only. Over 18 metre vessels fishing for sprat during that period will require an authorisation to do so.

Referring to the decision, Minister Heydon said:

“This is a matter of significant public interest, and the decision has been preceded by an extensive public consultation which has been considered carefully. I am satisfied that this is the right thing to do for the preservation of sustainable fisheries in our inshore waters.”

Minister Dooley said:

“I am mindful of the opportunity that these measures will provide for our important small-scale fishers, and I am confident that it will help to re-establish links between local fish resources, local fleets and local economies. This government has committed to maintaining support for our inshore sector in the Programme for Government and this decision helps to deliver on that promise. I also believe that these actions may provide wider ecosystem benefits, including for essential fish habitats.”

He continued:

“There is a compelling case for excluding trawling by large vessels in coastal waters inside six nautical miles and the public have spoken. All submissions received within the consultation period were analysed by my department, and 94% of those submissions wanted to see a new ban on trawling activity by vessels over 18 metres in the waters inside six nautical miles.”

Scientific and economic analysis on the matter was provided by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara respectively and published alongside the public consultation paper. Additional up-to-date analysis was compiled by these agencies more recently and will also be published on the department’s website.

The 2025 Programme for Government commits to ‘Maintain support for the inshore fishing sector’ and ‘promote the sustainability of fish stocks, while ensuring sufficient supply of species to allow fishers into the future derive a fair return.’

Minister Dooley continued:

“78% of submissions chose for an introduction of measures to take place in full effect once a decision has been made and 7% on a phased basis. I am also acutely aware that fishing vessel owners will have planned their fishing activities for the rest of the year and indeed into 2026 also. For that reason, a transition period of one year for all vessels over 18 metres will be permitted from 1 October. This will allow a period of adjustment for all affected vessels who have planned fishing activities inside the six nautical mile zone during the period. I am asking BIM to offer affected vessel owners technical assistance to adjust their trawling activity away from the six nautical mile zone by the end of the transition process.”

Minister Dooley concluded:

“I also see this new policy as an important reflection of Ireland’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 14, life below water, Target 14. B of which relates to access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources. Our inshore fleet is a vital part of our coastal and often rural communities and depends on fishing resources within the six nautical mile zone. To reiterate, this decision helps deliver on the Programme for Government commitments and supports families in these coastal communities.”

Notes

What Ireland’s ‘six nautical mile zone’ and the baselines are

Ireland’s ‘six nautical mile zone’ is the area or ‘belt’ of coastal waters extends for six nautical miles out from the Irish baselines (0 – 6 nm zone).

The normal baseline is the low water line along the coast as marked on officially recognised large-scale charts. Where there are deep indents in a coastline or fringes of islands, baselines join headlands and may run to the low-water mark of islands. Baselines can also be established across the mouth of a bay. The Maritime Jurisdiction (Straight Baselines) Order 2016 (S.I. No. 22 of 2016) and the Maritime Jurisdiction (Bay Closing Lines) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 155 of 2019) define straight baselines and bay closing lines, respectively. The Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021 provides that each of the following is the baseline for the purposes of the Act:

(a) the low-water mark on the coast of the mainland or of an island;

(b) the low-water mark on any low-tide elevation situated wholly or partly at a distance not exceeding 12 nautical miles from the mainland or an island;

(c) the straight line across the mouth of a river between the most seaward point at the low-water 7 mark on each bank of the river, where that river flows directly into the sea.

The Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021 also provides that the internal or inland waters of the State extend to all sea areas which lie on the landward side of the baseline. The internal waters include, therefore, estuaries, rivers, and bays. The Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021 makes provision for Ireland’s maritime jurisdiction in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which was adopted in 1982 and sets out the maritime limits that can be applied by sovereign states. Fisheries legislation and agreements also delineate maritime limits for fishing purposes. Examples include the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the London Fisheries Convention.

2020 Programme for Government

The 2020 Programme for Government (programme-for-government-our-shared-future-c0e5f2fe-ebb0-4430-9a42-68b34be57a16.pdf), at page 69, commits to:

‘secure a sustainable future for the fisheries sector, while supporting coastal communities’ and that ‘inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and recreational fishers and that pair trawling will be prohibited inside the six-mile limit’

2025 Programme for Government

The 2025 Programme for Government (programme-for-government-securing-irelands-future.pdf), at page 28, commits to:

‘Maintain support for the inshore fishing sector’ and ‘promote the sustainability of fish stocks, while ensuring sufficient supply of species to allow fishers into the future derive a fair return.’

Breakdown of submission analysis

5,574 submissions were received to the public consultation, including from industry representative bodies, state agencies, environmental NGOs and the public.

5,482 submissions were received before the consultation deadline and were analysed.

94% (5,169) indicated that, at a minimum, their preferred option was that all sea-fishing boats over 18 metres should be excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile limit and baselines
78% (4,302) expressed a preference for the introduction of potential measures to come in full effect once a decision has been made. 7% (357) identified a phased introduction as their preferred implementation method. 15% (823) did not express a preference on a timeline

The 92 submissions received after the deadline were not analysed.

Marine agencies

Marine Institute

The Marine Institute (MI) (Home | Marine Institute) is the State agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. It carries out environmental, fisheries, and aquaculture surveys and monitoring programmes to meet Ireland’s national and international legal requirements. The MI provide scientific and technical advice to Government to help inform policy and to support the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource.

The MI was set up under the Marine Institute Act 1991 “to undertake, to coordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to research and development, that in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment and protect the marine environment.”

BIM

An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) (BIM - Supporting the Irish Seafood Industry), was established under the Irish Sea Fisheries Act in 1952, and is a semi-state, non-commercial agency responsible for developing the Irish seafood industry. BIM’s vision is to lead the Irish seafood sector through effective support and deep expertise so that Ireland becomes the international leader in high value differentiated products that satisfy the growing demand for healthy, safe, responsibly and sustainably produced seafood.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Goal 14 of the UN SDGs is ‘Life Below Water’ and focuses on the conservation and sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Target 14. b, in particular, relates to access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.