Ireland’s mackerel industry faces crisis as Norway continues to overfish, warns the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO).

Chief executive Aodh O Donnell welcomed Marine Minister Timmy Dooley’s tough stance on the issue at the EU’s Agri Fish Council meeting in Luxembourg this week. “It is refreshing and heartening to hear the Minister speak out firmly for coastal communities,” said O Donnell.

“Our mackerel quota is now approximately half what it was six years ago. Systematic quota grabs and overfishing by Norway and others are decimating Ireland’s pelagic industry,” he added.

The IFPO fears new ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) advice could lead to a fourth annual quota cut or even a zero-catch recommendation.

O Donnell warned of “a point of no return” unless the EU acts swiftly against unilateral overfishing by coastal states. He is calling for the European Commission to implement effective new trade measures against persistent over-quota fishing against the scientific advice.

Speaking in Luxembourg, Minister Dooley, urged the Commission to get tough on Norway’s unsustainable mackerel catches. He welcomed the Council’s review of sustainable fishing but singled out Norway’s hardline approach and refusal to sign a fair sharing deal. O Donnell says the Minister was ‘forceful’ in calling out the ‘unsustainable’ actions by Norway.

EU Fisheries Commissioner, Christos Kadis, appeared to firmly back the Irish position on Norway. The Commissioner said ‘that fishing relations were ‘challenging’ in recent years. Kadis also said that “the lack of comprehensive sharing arrangements threatens the long-term sustainability of the fisheries that depend on them.” He also cautioned that this ‘’puts at risk thousands of jobs in the European Union’’.

O Donnell praised this political support: “There is renewed resolve. Sense and good governance must now prevail.” He cited positive EU engagement in London, where Commission officials showed resilience on mackerel and blue whiting talks.

EU ministers also exchanged early views on 2026 fishing opportunities at the June Agri Fish council meeting. Officials will work on technical stock assessments which will intensify in the autumn, ahead of the Council’s annual quota-setting marathon in December.

O Donnell says Ireland’s priority in 2026 quota talks should be to defend coastal communities. “Our interests form a key element in the Programme for Government, and we feel there is renewed cross party political support, particularly from Minister Dooley.  Europe must continue to listen to our perspectives.”

He said Ireland must push for “a science-based, enforceable sharing arrangement” – even if that means walking away from flawed deals.