The interests of Ireland’s fishermen, fishing communities, the marine environment and consumers of fish products are supported by being part of the European Union and working together with other Member States to protect our seas and oceans.
Although Ireland is an island nation, the fishing industry is relatively small but it is both economically and socially significant.
The natural, clean waters around the country’s 7,500 km of coastline have provided exceptionally good seafood for thousands of years, but this valuable resource hasn’t always been exploited to its full potential.
Before joining the then EEC in 1973, the Irish fishing industry received little State investment and the fishing fleet was made up of small vessels operating on a modest basis.
A government report from 1970 shows Irish exports of fish and fishery products worth £2.7 million went almost entirely to EU countries and the UK.
Back then, all coastal nations had exclusive fishing rights up to six nautical miles from their coastline but Ireland often didn’t have any available ships to police Irish waters.
The 1973 accession of Ireland, along with the UK and Denmark, significantly expanded the EEC's fishing resources and highlighted the need for a common fishing policy.
When Norway and Iceland declared 200 mile fishing limits in 1977 the EEC reciprocated, and the development of a fishing policy for Europe became urgent.
After lengthy and difficult negotiations the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was finally agreed in 1983, and Ireland was granted funding for four new naval vessels to help patrol its extended Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters.
Being part of the European Union helped Ireland’s fishing industry develop and by 2024 Irish seafood valued at €595 million was being exported to the EU, the UK, and over 40 other countries around the world.
However, the CFP is a contentious issue in Ireland and Brexit has resulted in reduced quotas for Irish fishermen. Despite strong seafood export values the fishing industry has suffered from rising costs and job losses.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)
During the 20th century, overfishing and marine pollution pushed many global fish stocks to near collapse, making sustainable fishing essential for both marine life and coastal communities.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules designed to conserve fish stocks, support fishing communities, and regulate the market for seafood products across the EU. The rules are negotiated and agreed between Member States to give fishing fleets equal access to EU waters and allow them to compete fairly. The CFP also supports measures that protect the marine environment from threats such as overfishing, climate change and the dumping of plastics in our oceans.
Fish stocks are renewable but finite resources. To sustainably manage them, the European Commission proposes annual catch limits—Total Allowable Catches (TACs)—based on scientific advice. These limits aim for Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), allowing stocks to replenish naturally.
Once TACs are finalised they become national quotas which Member States can exchange through quota swaps. The EU also negotiates quotas with non-EU countries like Norway or Iceland. Following Brexit, Ireland’s quota share in UK waters will decrease by 15% by 2026 compared to 2020 levels under the EU–UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
In December 2024, the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council agreed on fishing quotas for 2025, resulting in an overall increase of approximately 4% for Ireland. However, quotas for mackerel and prawns, two of Ireland’s key stocks, were significantly reduced by 16% and 13%, respectively.
The CFP was last reformed in 2013 but the policy and its implementation are continually assessed and updated. In 2023, the Commission presented new measures to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU's fisheries and aquaculture sector and an Action Plan to protect marine ecosystems.
CFP benefits include:
- Phasing out discarding, the practice of throwing unwanted fish overboard either because they are too small or the fisherman has no quota for the catch. A landing obligation ensures all catches are brought ashore and accounted for.
- Positioning Europe as a global leader against illegal fishing through international law enforcement.
- Reducing ocean plastic pollution by improving port waste facilities and incentivising fishers to collect litter.
- Promoting quality seafood products through Common Organisation of Markets (COM), ensuring fair competition regardless of product origin.
Funding for Fisheries
The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is the main financial instrument supporting implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU Maritime Policy, and international ocean governance objectives.
The EMFAF covers the period from 2021 to 2027 and it supports projects promoting sustainable use of marine resources, helping fishers adopt sustainable practices and enabling coastal communities to diversify economically.
The fund is co-managed with Member States, which allocate funding based on national priorities and the size of their fishing sectors.
Ireland’s EMFAF programme totals €258.4 million (€142.4 million from EU funds). It aligns with objectives in the European Green Deal—including Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies—and supports structural reforms necessary following Brexit impacts on fisheries. Additionally, Ireland benefited from €308 million under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).
Under the previous European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which ran from 2014-2020, Ireland had access to funding of €239.2 million.
European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Ireland 2021-2027
Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs)
EMFAF funding supports Irish coastal communities and small-scale fisheries through Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs). Each FLAG has its own development strategy that addresses specific local issues in its area. Funding is allocated by the Irish government and Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), offers guidance and a framework for Irish FLAGs to operate and achieve their goals.
Community Led Local Development (CLLD) is a key principle of EMFAF support, and it ensures that funding decisions are made at a local level. This allows FLAGs to prioritise projects that directly benefit coastal communities.
The seven Irish FLAGs are South FLAG, (Cork), Southwest (Kerry, Limerick), Southeast (Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow), West (Mayo, Clare), Northwest (Mayo, Sligo), North (Donegal) and North East (Dublin, Louth, Meath).
At a European Level, FAMENET (Fisheries and Aquaculture Monitoring, Evaluation and Local Support Network) provides support for the implementation of the EMFAF and its predecessor, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Irish projects supported by EMFF or EMFAF:
- Seaweed has a deep-rooted tradition in Ireland, but its use has declined in recent years. Recognising its potential as a sustainable food source, The Seaweed Company in Co Donegal used EU funding to establish a seaweed farm and Ireland’s first dedicated seaweed processing facility.
- Locals on Achill Island developed the Achill Experience, Aquarium and Visitor Centre in a disused building, creating six full-time and three part-time jobs for local residents, mostly relatives of fishermen, in the process.
- Supported by the EMFF, the SeaRover project has made ground-breaking discoveries, contributed to ocean conservation efforts and helped Ireland fulfil its national obligation to map vulnerable fisheries resources and the Irish coast.
- Bord Iascaigh Mhara developed the Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC) as part of the European wide #FarmedintheEU campaign. Although the project has been carried out in 10 other EU countries, Ireland was the only one that developed a mobile classroom.
- The Ocean Leaves Southeast FLAG project enabled a small company to expand algae production and develop nationwide supply chains.
- Locals living and working near Galway Bay set up Cuan Beo to reverse a decline in the quality of its famous shellfish producing waters.
The future of fisheries
The EU’s fisheries sector is at a turning point. Climate change, overfishing, and economic pressures are threatening marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
At the same time, shifting consumer demands and technological advances are reshaping the industry. Change is needed to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for fisheries.
The Fishers of the Future study (2023), informed by consultations with over 190 fishers across 22 EU coastal states, explores how fishing roles will evolve by 2050. Its findings will help shape EU policies to attract new generations into fisheries and integrate digitalisation and green technologies.
At the heart of this transformation will be the European Oceans Pact, set to be presented by the European Commission in 2025.
“The ocean offers us many opportunities, but in return we must treat it with care. With the new European Ocean Pact, we are entering into a new era for the EU ocean governance, with the preservation of our blue planet at its heart.”
Costa Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
This initiative will reinforce the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), strengthening sustainability commitments and aligning fisheries management with the EU’s Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy. As well as the latest scientific research, the Pact is being developed through consultations with stakeholders, industry experts, and citizens.
The primary objectives of the European Oceans Pact include:
- Maintaining a healthy, resilient, and productive ocean.
- Promoting a sustainable and competitive blue economy, covering sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture.
- Advancing marine knowledge, research, innovation, and investment.
The future of EU fisheries is shaped not only by policy reforms and funding but also by ongoing dialogue between stakeholders. Events like the annual European Maritime Day (EMD) provide a platform for discussions on sustainable fishing, blue economy innovation, and challenges facing coastal communities. European Maritime Day 2025 will take place in Cork, on May 21-23 and is being organised by the European Commission, Cork City Council and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
Fish facts
- According to Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects Report 2024/25, Irish seafood exports recorded a 9% increase to €595 million.
- Freshwater exports reached €100 million. Pelagic fish exports—including mackerel, herring, and tuna—were valued at €145 million. Shellfish exports rose by 4% to €185 million.
- Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s Business of Seafood report (2024) states that Ireland’s seafood industry employed 15,673 adults directly and indirectly in 2023.
- Nationally, the seafood sector accounts for 6 in every 100 jobs in coastal communities around Ireland, increasing to a rate of 14% in the coastal communities of Co Donegal.
- In 2023, Ireland had 1,988 registered fishing vessels, 282 aquaculture sites and 103 seafood processers.
Latest fisheries news
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €25.6 million Irish scheme to support the fishery sector affected by the effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €7 million Irish scheme to support the fish processing sector affected by the effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
The European Commission has presented a package of measures to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU's fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for Ireland.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an €80 million Irish scheme to support the fishery sector affected by the effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €1 million Irish scheme to support fisheries cooperatives affected by the effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €20 million Irish scheme to support the aquaculture sector affected by the effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
The Commission is proposing a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU for the industries and sectors related to oceans, seas and coasts.