Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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2182. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the potential for pollack quota (TAC) in ICES area 6a south for 2026; how this will benefit those that fish this stock by hook and line in areas such as Arranmore Island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41699/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The advice on fish stocks, including Pollack, published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs).

The ICES advice for Pollack in Areas 6,7 had been for zero catch in 2024 and 2025. Following the conclusion of the EU-UK negotiations on both 2024 and 2025 fishing opportunities for shared stocks, the parties agreed on a limited, by-catch only TAC for Pollack in Areas 6,7 to avoid a "choke" situation which would lead to the premature closure of whitefish fisheries where Pollack is caught as a by-catch. Given the scientific advice for this stock, the need to balance socio-economic considerations with achieving good biological status for stocks, and taking into account the challenges of managing mixed fisheries, setting a by-catch only TAC is the most appropriate approach.

The ICES advice for this stock for 2026 has increased from zero catch due to a change in the assessment method and new reference points following a benchmark process this year. However, the stock is still in a vulnerable state due to low recruitment over the last number of years. The status of the stock is one of the elements to be considered as part of the TAC setting process.

As Pollack is found in both EU and UK waters, both the EU and UK must agree on setting the TAC for this stock. The European Commission has sole competence to negotiate with Third Countries, including the UK, on behalf of the EU on the setting of fishing opportunities.

The bilateral consultations with the UK on setting fishing opportunities for shared fish stocks take place in the autumn. Ahead of this, the Council sets down the Commission's mandate for these negotiations. Ireland inputs into the development of this mandate and throughout the negotiation process, in order to raise our concerns and priorities, including in relation to Pollack.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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2183. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actual number of and extent of surveys that the Marine Institute carried out on sprat stocks for the period 2015 to date in 2025; the scale and extent of each of these surveys, indicating the bays surveyed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41717/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised that the Marine Institute (MI) carries out a number of surveys during which they encounter Sprat and report on the findings.

One such survey is the annual Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey. The primary aim of this survey is to provide data on herring for stock assessment purposes, however the biomass of sprat encountered is also estimated and reported. The survey covers the waters around Ireland's south coast along the coasts of Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Wexford, representing an area of greater than 10,000 square nautical miles, mostly offshore. In some years, certain bays in the south and southwest are included but the coverage of these bays has been much reduced since 2015 due to the changing distribution of herring, the primary target of the survey. Since 2024, this survey - now called the Celtic Sea Pelagic Ecosystem Survey - has been adapted to better estimate the abundance and biomass of Sprat and other small pelagic fish, while still collecting data on the wider ecosystem components.

Other surveys which provide information in relation to Sprat are the Irish Ground Fish Survey, which provides information on Sprat from the waters around Ireland (excluding the Celtic Sea), and the new Irish Coastal Ecosystem Survey, which is more focussed on inshore areas and bays on the southwest, south, southeast and east coast.

Further details are set out in the table below.

As the Deputy is aware, on 22nd July 2025, Minister Heydon and I announced our intention to place certain restrictions on trawling activity by large vessels inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines.

A limited total allowable catch of 2,000 tonnes of Sprat will be permitted for vessels over 18 metres length overall inside the six nautical mile zone and inside baselines from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026 only. Over 18 metre vessels fishing for sprat during that period will require an authorisation to do so. From 1st October 2026, trawling activity (that is the operating of trawl or seine nets) by fishing vessels over 18 metres in length overall inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines will be prohibited.

I am mindful of the opportunity that these measures will provide for our important small-scale fishers, and I am confident that it will help to re-establish links between local fish resources, local fleets and local economies. This Government has committed to maintaining support for our inshore sector in the Programme for Government and this decision helps to deliver on that promise. I also believe that these actions may provide wider ecosystem benefits, including for essential fish habitats.