Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
802. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter raised in correspondence in relation to the proposed 2026 introduction of a recreational bag limit of three pollack per person per day and its potential impact (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3917/26]
View answerThe advice on fish stocks, including Pollack, published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs).
As Pollack is found in both EU and UK waters, both parties must agree on setting the TAC for this stock. The European Commission has sole competence to negotiate with Third Countries, including the UK, on behalf of the EU on the setting of fishing opportunities.
The ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 (the waters around Ireland) for 2024 and 2025 was for zero catch. Therefore, for these years, the EU and UK agreed on a limited, by-catch only TAC for commercial Pollack fishing in Areas 6-7 to avoid a "choke" situation which would lead to the premature closure of whitefish fisheries where Pollack is caught as a by-catch.
The ICES advice for this stock for 2026 increased from zero catch however, the stock remains in a vulnerable state due to low recruitment over the last number of years.
The ICES advice also highlights that recreational catches account for a significant portion of the fishing mortality for this stock. Therefore, management measures for recreational fishing for Pollack must be considered.
My Department, along with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) - which have responsibility for recreational fishing - worked with the Commission and other Member States on potential management measures for recreational Pollack fishing.
During the bilateral consultations with the UK, both parties recognised the need to introduce limits for recreational fishing to further reduce fishing mortality and support stock recovery. It was agreed that a maximum of three specimen of Pollack could be caught and retained per fisher per day for recreational catches of Pollack in ICES areas 6 and 7.
Operational aspects of the management measures for the recreational fishing of Pollack, including engagement with angling and charter skipper representative groups, is a matter for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and IFI.
