Take action to make sure a ban on trawling by large vessels in our inshore waters is re-introduced. In 2018, this was hailed as one of the most important conservation measures for marine ecosystems and local fishing communities in the state’s history but was overturned on a technicality. Trawling vessels tow a large net through the water, indiscriminately catching fish and crustaceans in their path, as well as unintended species. Large vessels are able to extract huge quantities of marine life, often beyond sustainable limits. Re-introducing the ban is crucial for protecting and restoring our diverse inshore habitats, and vital for securing the food web that is so important for marine life such as whales and puffins.
Now the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) has opened a public consultation on the options for this policy with a deadline for responses for this Friday at 1pm (12 April 2024). Help our marine environment today by adding your name to a groundswell of public support for the ban on trawling by larger vessels over 18m from our inshore waters by making a submission and sharing this campaign.
Or to find out more, including other ways to make a submission, click on the button below.
Note: if the pre-made email does not work with your email system please click on the ‘Find out more’ button to find other ways to make a submission.
Why take this action?
- Our inshore waters, within six nautical miles, are home to crucial diverse habitats, such as reef, coarse sediments, sands, and muds, which support different species, including nurseries for juvenile fish, that need protection from destructive fishing.
- One species fished by large vessels in inshore waters is sprat, which is a vital part of the marine food web, forming a major part of the diet of iconic species found in Irish waters, such as humpback whales and puffins. When fished by large trawlers, sprat is generally sold for fishmeal, rather than human consumption.
- A ban on trawling by vessels over 18m is also supported by many inshore fishers. By restricting inshore areas to smaller vessels, there will be greater stock availability for small-scale fishers.
- Vast public support is needed to help ensure this ban is enacted. Every submission counts.
Or to find out more, including other ways to make a submission, click on the button below.
Note: if the pre-made email does not work with your email system please click on the ‘Find out more’ button to find other ways to make a submission.