Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
765. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on removing bottom trawling in Ireland’s existing marine Natura 2000 sites as stipulated in the “EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries” 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71459/25]
View answer766. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarity on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71460/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 765 and 766 together.
It is important to note that Natura 2000 sites can include a variety of habitats and species, each with varying sensitivities, and in respect of introducing measures to manage sea-fisheries, regard must be had to the specific conservation objectives set out for each habitat and species within those sites. I remain very aware of the importance of the Irish fishing industry operating in a sustainable manner so as to protect and maintain such habitats within Natura 2000 sites and for the quality of our marine environment generally which is vital to the sustainability of the fishing sector.
In February 2023, the European Commission published its assessment on the functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) along with a package of measures to improve the sustainability and resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This package included the Marine Action Plan which proposes the use of more selective fishing gears and practices to prevent incidental bycatches of sensitive species and gradually phasing out bottom fishing in all Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030.
I fully support the focus the plan places on working with fishers to develop fishing gears and measures to rebuild fish stocks and protect sensitive species. I wholeheartedly encourage engagement with fishers to make use of their knowledge and experience to identify and introduce environmentally friendly fishing gears and measures that help protect fish stocks and minimise by-catches of other species.
I support the introduction of management measures to achieve the conservation objectives set for MPAs including, where justified, limiting mobile bottom fishing including bottom trawling. I do not, however, support a blanket ban on mobile bottom fishing in all MPAs as there is no objective basis for this type of approach.
Legislation is currently being drafted by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE) to provide a legal basis for the designation and effective management of MPAs and my Department is providing input in respect of relevant seafood related matters.
