One of the highlights of the 2025 Irish Skipper Expo in Limerick was the hosting of the first Irish Fishing Sustainability Awards.
In late 2024 Kevin Flannery from Dingle Oceanworld approached The Skipper with a proposal to highlight the trojan work done by individuals and groups around the country to help protect and sustain our fish & shellfish stock for future generations. To often our industry is portrayed as being destructive and damaging to our natural resources so Kevin felt the time was right to honour those who daily strive to improve their fishing methods to ensure minimal effect on the environment and tailor their practises to ensure sustainability going forward.
Working with The Skipper, Kevin enlisted the Irish Elasmobranch Group and Bord Iascaigh Mhara to help select 5 award winners who represent the industry’s commitment to the future survivability of our fishing communities. New Fisheries Minister, Timmy Dooley, was on hand to present the awards and it is planned to make this an annual event with a nomination process open to all in 2026
The 20025 Award winners are:
Irish Elasmobranch Group (IEG) Special Conservation Award
John & Brendan Lynch – MFV Eblana
The MFV Eblana (D370), skippered by John and Brendan Lynch out of Howth, Co Dublin, specifically target rays in the Central Irish Sea. During 2010 the Eblana began recording morphometric details of vulnerable elasmobranchs incidentally captured during their fishing operations in the Irish and Celtic Seas. Over the last 15 years the Eblana and its crew have tagged and released over 100 vulnerable and/or little known elasmobranch species, including Common Skate, Flapper Skate, Angel Shark, Tope, Porbeagle Shark, Blue Shark, Six-Gill Shark, Electric Ray, and Shagreen Ray.
In doing so, the IEG is very pleased to present its Special Conservation Award to the Eblana for its significant contribution to the biology and conservation status of elasmobranchs in Irish waters. In particular, the Eblana’s recording efforts have clearly demonstrated that the Common Skate, which was declared extinct in the Irish Sea 45 years ago, now appears to be on the road to recovery.
BIM Lobster V-Notching Awards
Coiste Gliomach Chonamara
Coiste Gliomach Chonamara was founded in 1994 by fishermen dedicated to preserving and sustaining Lobster Stocks off the Connemara Coast. The Geographical area covers Cuan Fhir Mhóir to Ceann Léime. Originally the local V-notching scheme was funded by Údaras na Gaeltachta. There are up to 25 members in the group that participate in the Annual BIM V-notching Scheme. To date an estimated 40 Tonnes of female V-notched lobsters have been released in this area.
Peter Lynch – MFV Atlantic Freedom
Peter Lynch started his fishing career almost 30 years ago when he joined his father John on the family-owned trawler MFV John Martin. He completed his Skipper’s Ticket (Certificate of Competency) at BIM National Fisheries College, Castletownbere, in 2000 at the age of 22 and went on to skipper the family-owned trawlers alongside his brothers, John and Brendan. In 2014, Peter bought his first potting vessel, the MFV Atlantic Freedom. From the outset, he recognised that playing his part in the collective v-notching effort was vital to enhancing the sustainability of a fishery that is the cornerstone of the Irish inshore sector. For the last 10 years, Peter has been one of the most prolific v-notchers in the country, regularly topping the table in terms of the volume of lobsters v-notched and released.
Dingle Oceanworld Sustainability Awards
Dennis O’Shea – Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society Ltd
The European Native Oyster is today only harvested and surviving in a few places in Europe , it has been decimated by disease and overfishing and bad management . Ireland has one of the few surviving native oyster beds , that supports fishing for up to 60 vessels and exports over 300 ton annually . This bed in Tralee Bay, once decimated, is now a credit to its society, Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society Ltd and especially one man , its manager of forty years , Dennis O Shea .
The Tralee Bay Oyster fishery is one of the largest self reproducing oyster beds in Western Europe, which is something they work extremely hard at protecting. Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society Ltd was established / registered in 1979 and had an Oyster Fishery Order vested in it in 1981. Tralee Oyster Fishery Society Ltd is a non profit fishermens co op involving 78 boats and over 200 fishers. Their annual catch ranges from 100 to 300 tonnes per year, depending on the settlement level of the spat / juveniles from 4 years previously. Ensuring the protection of this stock is of the highest priority to them, ensuring they have one of the most sustainable seafood products on the market
Damien Turner – MFV Roise Catriona
This Castletownbere fisherman is a true believer in sustainable fishing , Damien has engaged with various agencies to re design his seine net fishing operation and carried out sea trials to improve catches and the release of small and unwanted fish. Damien and his crew on the Roise Catriona continuously carry out trials on the survivability of released sensitive white fish discards. Not only that but this fisherman’s method of fishing is one of the least impactful fishing gear on the sea floor and to top it all he recycles his fishing gear. This fisherman is not only a true believer in sustainable fishing , he practices what he preaches .
The Skipper Contribution To Fishing Sustainability Award
Dr Kevin Flannery
Much to his surprise on the day, Dr Kevin Flannery, was presented with a special award from The Skipper in recognition of his tireless work and efforts over 40 years to promote and support Irish fishermen’s contributions to sustainability and conservation of our marine resources. As a former fishery officer turned marine biologist, Kevin has highlighted many issues nationally affecting our fishing communities and has been instrumental in setting up various endeavours to help our native fish stocks to survive into the future. As a founder member of Dingle Oceanworld, Kevin has used his platforms to educate and inform the public of the true nature of our fishermen and has fought misinformation & propaganda from anti industry groups for many years.
