At today’s AGRIFISH Council meeting in Luxembourg, Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, called on the European Union to take decisive action to protect critical North Atlantic fish stocks.

The Minister highlighted recent scientific advice recommending a 70 per cent cut in next year’s mackerel catch, warning that the decline is the result of years of unsustainable fishing by some coastal states. “The recent advice has rocked the Irish seafood sector. The EU must act now to protect this key fish stock, our fleets and the wider seafood sector,” he said.

Dooley also pressed for a national Bluefin Tuna quota, citing Ireland’s Catch-Tag-Release scientific fishery, which demonstrates the abundance of the species in Irish waters. “The data clearly supports Ireland’s claim for a share of the EU quota,” he said.

The Minister used the Council meeting to stress the importance of the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He warned that while the Commission’s proposed ring-fenced funding is a start, CAP must be fully funded to safeguard farmers, rural communities and green objectives.

Discussion at the Council also focused on the agri-food market, with Dooley reaffirming Ireland’s support for Ukraine. He highlighted challenges facing the tillage sector, including structural competitiveness and high input costs, and called for timely publication of benchmarks under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to reduce uncertainty.