Over 20 Fishing Vessel owners have jointly initiated legal proceedings to overturn the 6 Mile Trawling Ban introduced in 2025.
An application seeking leave to commence Judicial Review Proceedings against Police Directive 1 of 2025, signed by Minister Martin Heydon & Minister Timmy Dooley in September 2025, was lodged by the fishermen’s legal team with the High Court on Thursday 18th December with an initial hearing expected in February 2026.
The Skipper understands that the appeal to the ban has been submitted by a large group of vessel owners from both sides of the border in an All Ireland effort to get the ban quashed on several legal arguments. The appeal will highlight the effect the ban will have on all over 18mtr vessels and not just the ones targeting Sprat.
The legal arguments raised are believed to much broader than the ones that led to the quashing of the previous ban in the 2021 Court of Appeal decision.
IS&WFPO CEO, Patrick Murphy told The Skipper “This challenge is from a cross section of over 18mtr vessels from both jurisdictions on this Island Nation. It is regrettable that this action is once again necessary. These vessels and their crews have lost 50% of their possible 2026 income after the December Council Meeting and cannot afford to lose access to historical fishing opportunities based on an ill-informed Program for Government decision that discriminates based solely on vessel size and not on any current verifiable Scientific & Socio- Economic Advice”
A spokesperson for the Department stated to The Skipper:
“The Department understands that papers have been lodged with the High Court Office but no proceedings have yet been served on the Minister or received by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.”
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.
New 6 Mile Ban Introduced
On 30 September 2025, Minister of State with special responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, signed Policy Directive 1 of 2025. This gives legal effect to the measures in the announcement made by Minister Dooley and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, on 22 July last, regarding certain restrictions on trawling activity by larger vessels inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines.
Minister Dooley said: “I am delighted to finally sign this Policy Directive which gives the decision of 22 July last a solid legal footing. This Policy Directive marks the culmination of years of work in reviewing access to our inshore waters. This has been a matter of significant public interest, and I would like to sincerely thank all stakeholders to the public consultation for their immense engagement with this process.”
From 1 October 2026, trawling activity, that is the operating of trawl or seine nets, by fishing vessels over 18 metres in length overall inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines will be prohibited.
The Ministers’ announcement in July also stated that a catch limit 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.
As the introduction of these new measures may affect vessels that are owned and operated in Northern Ireland, the start date for the application of this catch limit has been amended to 11 October to allow a sufficient notification period for the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 496(3) of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
A new Statutory Instrument has also been signed by Minister Dooley to provide for the monitoring of the sprat fishery for sea-fishing boats that are over 18 metres in length overall engaging in trawling activity within the six nautical mile zone and the baselines in the period 11 October 2025 to 30 September 2026. This Statutory Instrument provides that the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority will notify the Minister when 2,000 tonnes of sprat have been taken by these vessels from this zone in this period.
Minister Dooley continued: “I remain satisfied that this decision will help to re-establish links between local fish resources, local fleets and local economies. An inshore fleet with increased access to waters closer to the shore could mean a greater distribution of landings of all available fish stocks across our coastal regions.
This could have positive knock-on effects for local businesses, including those in the hospitality and tourist sectors.”
Minister Heydon added: “Along with Minister Dooley, I am confident that restricting access to our six nautical mile zone to smaller vessels was the right decision and helps to deliver on the promise made by this Government to support our crucial inshore fishing sector, which is the lifeblood of many coastal, and often rural communities all around the country.”
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.
