Sprat trawling row deepens as IWDG calls for coastal fishing ban as fishing representative rejects blame for missing whales off Cork coast
Accusations Fly As Calls Grow For Moratorium On Coastal Sprat Fishery
Irish coastal fishermen face renewed pressure as environmental groups push for strict limits, or a complete moratorium on sprat fishing, within territorial waters, blaming the activity for declining whale numbers off the southwest coast.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has intensified its long-running campaign against the commercial exploitation of sprat, calling it an unregulated, unsustainable practice that removes a critical forage species from already pressured ecosystems. Sprat are a primary food source for whales, dolphins, seabirds, seals, and commercial fish. With no management plan or quota in place for sprat or similar species like sandeels, the IWDG argues that continued large-scale extraction is indefensible.
Speaking after a public meeting in Bantry on 18 May 2025, IWDG said the Government is considering four policy options: maintaining the status quo; banning all pair trawling; banning trawling by vessels over 15 metres; or banning trawling by vessels over 18 metres inside the 6 nautical mile (nml) zone. The IWDG supports the last option as a balance between ecosystem protection and industry impact, but has also advocated for a complete moratorium on sprat fishing within 12nml to allow scientific assessments to catch up.
“We’ve been warning about the consequences of this fishery for over 20 years,” the IWDG said, citing its concern for resident dolphin populations in the Lower River Shannon SAC and the absence of robust local dietary studies. The group claims that sprat landings have “exceeded precautionary ICES advice by many times” and insists a moratorium is the only responsible path until data on fecundity, recruitment and biomass is available.
A recent decision by veteran whale-watching operator Colin Barnes to close his business in west Cork has added to the tension. He cited the near-total absence of whales in recent years as his main reason for quitting, linking their decline to the loss of prey like sprat.
The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (ISWFPO), based in Castletownbere, has rejected the accusations. Chief Executive Patrick Murphy insisted the sprat fishery is being conducted responsibly. “We are not fishing out stock like we’re being accused,” said Murphy. “This species lives four years. It’s been fished for 50 years. That is the definition of sustainability.”
Murphy pointed out that the Marine Institute is currently involved in an ecosystem study to examine sprat biomass. He also said the fishery represents one of the few viable resources left for Irish boats, given that the fleet is only allocated 15% of the fish caught in Irish waters. “If the science says we shouldn’t be fishing, fishermen will act responsibly,” he said, “but we need proper data—not discriminatory restrictions targeting certain vessel sizes.”
Minister of State for the Marine, Timmy Dooley, has said a decision on the 6nml trawling consultation is imminent. Government sources suggest the new rules, if implemented, may face a two-year delay before enforcement to avoid further judicial reviews by industry groups.
The IWDG is calling for bold action, accusing the state of failing to protect critical ecosystem components. “Be bold, Minister. Be ambitious,” the group said, adding that restricting fishing effort on sprat is “an important first step to building a healthier relationship with our seas.”
At the heart of the row is the question of who controls Ireland’s inshore waters, and whether marine policy will be driven by industry, conservation, or science. With tensions rising, the sprat debate has become a litmus test for how Ireland plans to balance food production, biodiversity protection and coastal livelihoods.
Source: Various
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