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Ireland’s fisheries resources
Waters around Ireland include some of the most productive and biologically diverse fishing grounds in the North Atlantic and European Union. Sea fisheries are a wild natural resource of significant economic and ecological importance.
Fisheries landings in 2024
- Mackerel — approximately €81 million
- Anglerfish — approximately €74 million
- Nephrops (Dublin Bay prawn) — approximately €67 million
- Hake — approximately €49 million
- Blue whiting — approximately €48 million
Fisheries management framework
The CFP’s principal management tool is the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) system, which sets catch limits for different stocks. Technical measures, including fishing-gear regulations such as mesh size and effort controls, also support fisheries management.
A strong base of scientific evidence is central to the CFP. Timely and accurate advice on stock status is critical to sustainable fisheries management.
Core elements of fisheries work
Fishery management and advisory work in Ireland combines data collection, stock assessment, and advice at national and international levels.
Data collection
Ireland’s Data Collection Programme gathers biological, environmental, and fishery data for CFP implementation. The programme is supported by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. The Marine Institute also works with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to support nationally managed inshore fisheries, including whelk and cockle fisheries.
Stock assessment
National assessments examine inshore stocks. International assessments are conducted with partners through the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. These assessments evaluate stock health and inform sustainable catch limits.
Advisory and reporting
The Marine Institute contributes to fishery advice at national and international levels. Publications communicate stock assessments, management information, economic analysis, and fishing-activity data.
References: data platforms and interactive tools
Use these online applications to explore biological information, shellfish fisheries, and results from Ireland’s groundfish survey programme.
Explore biological species data
Analyse length, weight, and age distributions for species in Irish waters, with variations by year, sex, fishing area, and gear type.
Review shellfish fishery information
Access stock information, fishery-activity data, and management advice for selected shellfish stocks in Ireland.
Explore groundfish survey results
View summary indicators, trends, and species-specific results from Ireland’s groundfish survey programme.
The Stock Book 2025
- up-to-date stock-status assessments
- scientific advice for over 60 fish stocks exploited by the Irish fleet
- an interactive Digital Stock Book with a forecasting tool for exploring different fishing scenarios
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References: fisheries publications and spatial analyses
Open the fisheries guidance, reviews, atlases, and spatial analyses referenced on this page.
View all documentsTotal Allowable Catch (TAC)
Information on the catch-limit system used as the principal fisheries management tool under the Common Fisheries Policy.
The Stock Book
Scientific advice and status reviews for internationally managed fish stocks.
The Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review
An overview of shellfish legislation, management, economic value, and stock assessments in Ireland.
Ireland's Marine Atlas
Marine information that includes fishing activity in inshore waters up to 10 miles from the coast.
Atlas of Commercial Fisheries Around Ireland, 4th edition
An updated spatial overview of fishing activity and fisheries resources in Irish waters.
Atlas of Commercial Fisheries for Shellfish around Ireland
Spatial information about fishing activity by vessels under 12 metres within territorial and coastal waters.
Atlas of Irish Fish Trawl Surveys - Supporting Fish Stock Assessment and New Ecosystem Advice
Results from the annual Irish groundfish survey programme and the deepwater survey programme conducted from 2006 to 2009.
Atlas of Demersal Discarding – Scientific Observations and Potential Solutions
Analysis of spatial and species-specific discard patterns, technical mitigation measures, and case studies from Irish demersal fleets.
North Western Waters Atlas 3rd Edition
A regional resource covering oceanographic features, habitats, biodiversity, fishing activity, and other human uses of the marine environment.
Marine biodiversity
The Marine Biodiversity Scheme supports the conservation of this biodiversity. The Irish Government and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021–2027 co-fund the scheme under Ireland’s EMFAF Programme.
The scheme provides scientific research and evidence to support sustainable seafood production while protecting and restoring marine ecosystems. The Marine Institute, Ireland’s state agency for marine research and development, implements the biodiversity programme under the EMFAF.
Fisheries research and funding
Find information on past and ongoing work in the Research Database. Information on possible funding opportunities is available on the Funding pages.