Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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96. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason no quota was introduced for boats under 18-metres fishing for sprat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55040/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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On the 30th September, I signed Policy Directive 1 of 2025 to give legal effect to the decision that Minister Heydon and I announced on 22nd July last to place certain restrictions on trawling activity by larger vessels, that is, vessels over 18 metres in length overall, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines.

From 1 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.

In addition, a catch limit of 2,000 tonnes of sprat will be permitted for vessels over 18 metres in length overall inside the six nautical mile zone and inside the baselines from 11 October 2025 to 30 September 2026 only.

At this time, there is no proposal from the European Commission for a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quota management arrangement for sprat in the waters around Ireland. Ireland will, of course, have regard for a possible TAC and quota regime or other appropriate conservation measures going forward if recommended in the scientific advice to support the sustainable management of sprat.

This Government has committed to maintaining support for our inshore sector in the Programme for Government, and I have no plans at this time to introduce a sprat quota limit for vessels under 18 metres. The new restrictions apply to larger vessels only. I am confident that restricting trawling access to the six nautical mile zone to smaller vessels was the right decision and helps to deliver on the promise made by this Government to support our crucial inshore fishing sector. I am mindful of the opportunity that these measures will provide for our important small-scale fishers, and I am confident that these measures will help to re-establish links between local fish resources, local fleets and local economies.