6 Mile Trawling Ban To Be Reintroduced For Over 18mtr Vessels 

Speculation is rife across industry that the Minister is to give legal effect to the Ban in the coming week

All sea-fishing boats over 18m in length overall will be excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines next year

It is rumoured that affected vessels will have a transition period before they must cease targeting sprat and other species they are currently licenced to fish inside 6 miles.

The value of the landings from all sea-fishing boats over 18m in length overall using trawls and seines inside the six nautical mile zone averaged over the period 2018 to 2022 zone is €5.56 Million

Background

Initial Ban Announcement (2018)

In December 2018, the Irish government, under then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed, announced a ban on trawling by fishing vessels over 18 meters in length inside the 6nm zone and the baselines. The decision followed a public consultation process that garnered over 900 responses, with the majority supporting the restriction. Environmental organizations, such as the Irish Wildlife Trust, hailed the move as a significant step towards marine conservation, describing it as “the most positive thing that ever happened for conservation in the ocean”.

Legal Challenges and Court Rulings

Despite the government’s announcement, the implementation of the ban faced legal challenges. In 2021, the Court of Appeal ruled that the policy directive introducing the ban was invalid and of no legal effect. This decision was based on procedural grounds, stating that the Minister did not have the authority to impose such a ban without proper legislative backing.

Following the court’s decision, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine notified stakeholders that the ban on large trawlers (>18m) inside Ireland’s inshore waters was lifted, allowing these vessels to resume trawling with immediate effect.

Public Consultation on Revised Measures (2024)

In response to ongoing concerns over the environmental impacts of trawling in inshore waters, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched a public consultation in early 2024 to gather views on options for restricting trawling activity inside the 6nm zone and the baselines. The consultation presented several options:

• Option 1: No change to the status quo.
• Option 2: All sea-fishing boats excluded from pair trawling inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines.
• Option 3: All sea-fishing boats over 18m in length overall excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines.
• Option 4: All sea-fishing boats over 15m in length overall excluded from trawling inside the six nautical mile zone and baselines .

Environmental organizations advocated for a complete ban on pair trawling within the 6nm zone, citing concerns over the disruption of marine food webs and the risk of bycatch, including marine megafauna like seals and dolphins .

The proposed ban has elicited a range of responses from various stakeholders. Environmental groups have largely supported the restrictions, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. Conversely, some members of the fishing community expressed concerns about the economic implications of such a ban, particularly for larger vessels that rely on access to inshore waters for certain fish stocks .

Effects on the Fishing Industry

The proposed ban has raised concerns within the fishing industry, particularly among operators of larger vessels. Access to inshore waters is crucial for targeting certain fish stocks, and restrictions could necessitate changes in fishing practices or the displacement of fishing efforts to other areas. Such shifts could have economic implications, including increased operational costs and potential conflicts with other marine users.

Conversely, proponents of the ban argued that protecting inshore waters from large-scale trawling will benefit small-scale, artisanal fisheries.