Irish Mackerel Quota Faces Devastating 70% Cut Following ICES Advice

“Just 5 years ago, Ireland’s mackerel quota was over 75,000 tonnes.  Under the post-Brexit deal, the EU reduced that by roughly 26 %. This was followed by two years of quota reductions.  Now, a further 70 % cut will be devastating for the industry and lead to job losses.”

“The rogue players of the North, mainly Norway, the Faroes and Russia, have fished as much as they liked of our shared migratory stock of mackerel.  They did so against scientific advice and with impunity because they believed the EU would never apply sanctions to them. In fact, the EU inadvertently approved this overfishing by trading access to EU fishing waters with Norway, for other species, such as blue whiting.”

Double Blow: Blue Whiting Also Hit

ICES also recommends a 41 % cut in blue whiting. This species spawns predominately in waters within and west of Irelands EEZ (European Economic Zone). Yet EU deals in recent years have repeatedly allocated Norway more blue whiting here than they give to the Irish fishing fleet.

For example, says the IFPO, one recent EU access deal let Norway catch nearly 200,000 tonnes of blue whiting in the waters to the west of Ireland, while our catch was limited to less than 60,000 tonnes. “Norway’s quota was worth around €50m, compared to just €15m for the Irish fleet — and we gained almost nothing from that deal,” says O’Donnell.

The Quota System & Ireland’s Historic Disadvantage

Within the EU framework, quotas are allocated via the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP sets a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for each stock. This is then divided among Member States using a method of allocating quotas called Relative Stability. This gives each country the same percentage share each year based on historic reference levels.

The IFPO say problem with this system for Ireland is that from the start, we have never received our fair share of EU quotas. “We have 12% of EU waters but less than 6% of the quota. The EU has consistently failed to address this basic injustice, driving the Irish fishing and processing industry into deeper decline while so many others thrive and grow.”

Collapse Looms — Unless EU Acts

The IFPO is calling for a new, enforceable sharing regime. They say quotas should be based on fairness and sustainability, not inflated self-declared claims. “Ireland must also insist on full application of historical protections and agreements at the December EU Fisheries Council,” says O Donnell.

“The EU must confront non-EU coastal states and make access conditional on fair, enforceable sharing. If Brussels fails to act, Ireland’s pelagic (offshore) industry, which is worth hundreds of millions, could vanish,” O’Donnell warns.

“Talks will resume in October once the full ICES-recommended cuts are known. The coming months are critical — our industry, coastal towns, and heritage all hang in the balance.