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Killybegs is the largest fishing centre for the Irish Commercial Fishing Industry. Photo: Michael McBride
The Irish Commercial Fishing Industry
The Irish Commercial Fishing Industry has been an important employer and a crucial food resource for coastal communities for hundreds of years.
From Moville on Lough Foyle, Co. Donegal to Omeath on Carlingford Lough in Co. Louth, the Irish coastline is peppered with inlets, piers, and harbours where fishermen launched their boats in order to prosper from the rich seas.
Ireland is a country in north-western Europe and is currently a Member State of the European Union.
Being a Member State of the EU means that the Irish commercial fishing industry is subject to the rules and regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy which dictates an annual quota, tonnage and kilowatts allowed by the fleet.
The Irish Commercial Fishing Industry is worth about €1.22 billion annually to the Irish economy.
The industry employs around 16,000 people in fishing, processing, sales and marketing.
Irish fisheries products are exported all over the world to Nigeria, Japan and China.
Landings to Irish ports have been valued at €275million in 2019 which was an increase of 15% on the previous years.
Landings of high value species including hake, monkfish and megrim resulted in an increase (+15%) in the overall value of landings to Irish ports in 2019 according to the latest BIM Business of Seafood report. Strong demand for Irish mackerel at the beginning of 2019 following a quota decrease also contributed to this increase.
Under the Fisheries and Aquaculture section it reports that in 2019 Irish Seafood exports totalled €577 million.
Major Irish Commercial Fishing Ports
Killybegs, Co Donegal
Castletownbere, Co Cork
Howth, Co Dublin
Clogherhead, Co Louth
Dunmore East, Co Waterford
Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford
Greencastle, Co Donegal
Rossaveel, Co Galway
Dingle, Co Kerry
Skerries Harbour, Co. Dublin on the Irish Sea. Photo: Oliver McBride
Kilmore Quay Harbour, Co Wexford. Photo: Oliver McBride
Oriel Pier, Clogherhead, Co. Louth. Photo: Oliver McBride
Major fish species landed in Ireland’s fishing boat
Pelagic
Mackerel
Herring
Blue Whiting
Horse Mackerel
Sprats
Whitefish
Cod
Haddock
Hake
Monkfish
Whiting
Sole
Plaice
Shellfish
Nephrops (aka Dublin Bay Prawns, Norwegian Lobsters, Prawns)
Crabs
Scallops
Lobster
Major Commercial Sea Fisheries Methods
Pelagic Trawling
Bottom Trawling
Beam Trawling
Dredging
Pot fishing
Gill-netting
Seine-netting
Purse-seine-netting
Ring-netting
Magheragallon Pier, Gweedore, Co. Donegal. Photo: Oliver McBride
MFV ‘Áine’ at Killybegs, Co. Donegal. Photo: Oliver McBride
Irish Fish Producers Organisations
Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO)
Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO)
Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO)
Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation (IS&EFPO)
Government Bodies for the Irish Commercial Fishing Industry
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)
Irish Maritime Volunteer Organisations
Burtonport Harbour, Co. Donegal. Photo: Oliver McBride
Irish Fishermen’s Co-operatives
Malin Head Fishermans Co-Op, Slievebawn. Malin Head, Co. Donegal
Burtonport Fishermans’ Co-operative Society, Burtonport, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Galway & Aran Fishermens Co-operative Society, The Pier, Rossaveal, Co. Galway
Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd, Dinish Island Castletownbere Co. Cork
Dunmore East Fishermen’s Co Operative Society, The Harbour, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
Clogherhead Fishermen’s Co-op, Clogherhead, Co Louth,
Foyle Fishermans Co-op Society Ltd, The Pier, Greencastle, Co Donegal
The BIM National Fisheries College of Ireland based in Greecastle, Co. Donegal has provided invaluble training to young Irish fishermen for over four-decades. Photo: Oliver McBride
The BIM National Fisheries College of Ireland based in Greecastle, Co. Donegal has provided invaluble training to young fishermen in the Irish Commercial Fishing Industry for over four-decades.
