Wildlife Trust Welcomes Trawler Ban

The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) has welcomed the announcement of a long-awaited ban on trawling by large vessels within six nautical miles of Ireland’s coastline, calling it a significant step toward protecting marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems.

Under the new measures, vessels over 18 metres in length will be prohibited from using trawl or seine nets within the six nautical mile zone from October 1st, 2026. From October 2025, these vessels will require authorisation to fish for sprat in the same zone, and will be subject to a new catch limit of 2,000 tonnes.

Grace Carr, Marine Advocacy Officer with the IWT, said the move was long overdue and urged the Government to back the ban with stronger monitoring and enforcement measures.

“It is vital that there are effective resources available to record catches of sprat,” she said. “Unfortunately, current monitoring of landings falls below what is needed to ensure sustainable fisheries. If the Government is serious about listening to the public and putting in effective measures around the sprat fishery, they need to have more people on the ground monitoring the situation.”

Carr also warned against any future attempts to reverse the decision and said that while the announcement is encouraging, further action is needed to protect Ireland’s inshore waters.

“We are happy to see that there is movement in the right direction on this issue and hope that this ban will not be overturned again. Aside from the ban, there needs to be effective management plans put in place for inshore fisheries, including sprat, to ensure a thriving marine environment and a sustainable livelihood for fishing communities.”

The IWT has campaigned for years to have large trawlers excluded from Ireland’s inshore zone, which serves as a crucial nursery area for many fish species and supports a wide range of marine life.