EU quota cuts pose an “existential threat” to the future of Ireland’s fishing industry, a Joint Oireachtas Committee has heard.
Aodh O’Donnell, Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO) – Ireland’s longest established representative body for fish producers – appeared before the Committee on Tuesday. He warned that new scientific advice recommending quota cuts of 70% for mackerel, 41% for blue whiting, and 22% for boarfish, could cost the livelihoods of those in coastal communities.
Mackerel is Ireland’s most valuable catch, estimated to be worth €94 million in exports last year to premium European and Asian markets.
The IFPO has described the cuts as a triple blow that couple wipe out Ireland’s offshore fleet, while hitting out at what it says is the EU’s failure to stop “reckless” overfishing in Norway, Iceland and the Faroes, which it says has led directly to the collapse. It now wants to see the government push the EU to impose trade and access sanctions against non-EU states that continue to overfish and threaten shared fish stocks.
According to the IFPO boss, Ireland’s fishing industry could sustain losses of up to €200m over deep cuts for 2026. The EU is expected to make the quota cuts in light of new international advice recommending deep cuts to key pelagic and whitefish fish stocks for 2026.
The committee heard that Ireland has a “proud heritage” in fishing, and we have 12% of EU waters. However, under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) we receive less than 6% of the quotas. The post-Brexit deal has made this imbalance worse, according to the IFPO, with Mr O’Donnell pointing out that 40% of the value of the quota transferred to the UK came from allocations historically belonging to Ireland.
“We are now facing a perfect storm in 2026. Key stocks are at crisis levels— created for the most part by the reckless actions of others. New international scientific advice recommends drastic quota cuts for next year,” Mr O’Donnell said, pointing out that mackerel, Ireland’s highest-value export, is now below safe biological limits.
“This is a direct result of years of unchecked overfishing by non-EU coastal states, including Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Russia,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“We repeatedly highlighted this overfishing to the EU to no avail. Now Irish fishermen and coastal communities are paying the price for the rogue practices of others.
“The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA), representing global seafood buyers and retailers, confirms that over one million tonnes of mackerel have been caught above scientific advice over the past five years. This is not a new problem; it is a failure of enforcement,” he continued.
‘ECONOMIC STAKES ENORMOUS’
“For Ireland, the economic stakes are enormous. Mackerel alone is worth €94 million in annual exports to premium European and Asian markets. A 70% cut could wipe out €66–80 million next year. When combined with reductions in blue whiting, boarfish, and whitefish, total losses across fishing, processing, and logistics could exceed €200 million in 2026.
“The recommended cuts would reduce opportunities for the pelagic sector by almost 50% on average next season. This would devastate the Killybegs-based pelagic fleet, Ireland’s most advanced fishing sector, and undermine an entire regional economy. No vessel can operate viably under simultaneous deep cuts across all major species. For Donegal and other coastal communities, this is not a downturn—it is collapse.”
In his submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Mr O’Donnell said that instead of sanctioning overfishing, the EU has “rewarded these states with access to waters in the west of Ireland” in one recent deal. The deal saw Norway granted 200,000 tonnes of blue whiting in Irish waters, while Ireland received less than 60,000 tonnes—fish worth €50 million to Norway, versus €15 million to Ireland.
UP TO 2,000 JOBS AT RISK
“This EU inaction and diplomatic failure is a critical factor. The European Commission has admitted that continued overfishing could force a zero-catch mackerel quota by 2027, yet its response is limited to calls for “cooperation,” while rogue coastal states continue to set inflated quotas.”
Mr O’Donnell said that Ireland is being “uniquely penalised”for compliance while others are rewarded for overfishing.
“Continued polite, diplomatic, appeals will achieve nothing,” he said, adding: “Only sanctions, trade leverage, and access restrictions will restore balance.
“Ireland remains committed to science-based management. But the EU must finally stand up to those who plunder shared stocks. If decisive action is not taken, Ireland’s pelagic and whitefish sectors—which underpin our coastal economies and heritage—could collapse within a year, risking up to 2,000 jobs.”
The IFPO boss outlined an 8-point plan, calling on the Irish government to defend and invoke the Hague Preferences to protect Ireland’s share of key stocks at EU level. The organisation also wants the government to commission a full BIM economic impact assessment to quantify losses and guide a response plan. It further wants to see the establishment of an emergency support framework for catching and processing sectors tov protect jobs and regional economies.
Mr O’Donnell also called for urgent re-engagement with the UK and Scotland to reinstate Rockall access for the whitefish fleet, as well as for a review of licensing policy across all fleet segments to maintain viability and reduce carbon footprint.
The Irish Fish Producers Organisation wants to see a “coordinated national stance” taken in Brussels, and has urged the government to press for trade measures, sanctions, and market restrictions against non-EU coastal states that overfish shared migratory stocks. In addition to this, it says the government must demand that Brussels blocks access to EU waters for third countries who refuse comprehensive mackerel sharing agreements, particularly for blue whiting.
“Ireland’s fishing communities have been patient, responsible, and sustainable. The time for appeals is over,” Mr O’Donnell added. “Immediate, decisive action is required to protect our stocks, our jobs, and our heritage.”