The EU Regulation on Fishing Opportunities (TAC Regulation) sets how much fish can be caught each year in EU waters and shared stocks. This Regulation is agreed through a layered process that combines scientific advice, international negotiations and EU decision-making. This Regulation sets commercial fishing quotas and also establishes management measures which limits recreational fishing.
The TAC Regulation was agreed at Fisheries Council in December 2025. Article 12 of this Regulation introduces management measures for the recreational fishing of pollack. This consists of a 3-bag limit per angler per day. As these measures arise from an EU Regulation, which is directly binding on all Member States, a national economic assessment was not completed. The Regulation sets out a broad package of fisheries management measures and was agreed following scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), international negotiations between the European Commission and the UK and agreement by EU Fisheries Ministers.
The 2025 advice published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) last June, forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the EU in setting out Total Allowable Catches and recreational limits for the stock. The ICES advice indicates that levels of pollack stock in the ICES Areas 6 and 7 (Celtic Seas area, including waters around Ireland) remain low and that catches should be restricted. As recreational catch accounts for a significant portion of mortalities, management measures for the recreational fishing of pollack were proposed.
Where stocks are shared, as is the case with the Celtic Seas, the EU negotiates with the UK, under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to agree total allowable catches and quota shares. Ahead of and during these negotiations, Ireland (represented by the Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland through a technical working group) inputted into the EU mandate, to raise our concerns and priorities. Initially the initial EU proposal was for a 1-bag limit with no releases, seasonal closures and a minimum conservation size. Through technical discussions, this evolved into a 2-bag limit, with releases permitted and minimum size and seasonal closures. The final position, agreed with the UK, includes a 3-bag limit, with catch and release allowed once that limit is reached.
Due to the poor stock numbers and ICES advice for zero catch, commercial fishing of pollack was effectively closed in 2024/2025. Updated ICES advice in 2026 allowed for a limited catch of just over 3,000 tonnes, with a commercial quota of 2,300 tonnes agreed in the TAC Regulation. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) advised the commercial quota could not be lowered further, making recreational measures the only viable path to total removal reductions.
The Irish Charter Skippers Association (ICSA) have expressed grave concerns regarding the impact on trade for the charter boat sector, which they estimated at 50% for some operators. While Charter Boats operate commercially, the fishing activity they facilitate is recreational. Accordingly, they are subject to the recreational management measures set out in the TAC Regulation rather than the quotas or landing obligations that apply to commercial fishing.
The ICSA are a valuable stakeholder and have demonstrated a willingness to lead conservation actions in the past through the voluntary adoption of a 40 cm size limit since 2024 and participation in IFI’s marine recreational fishing research programme (IMREC). I met with the representatives of the ICSA on 29th April to hear their concerns and engagement between the ICSA and the Department is ongoing. Technical negotiations in 2026 were constrained by the limited availability of scientific and economic data to support Ireland’s position. Preparatory work is underway to close those data gaps in recreational angling (including but not limited to pollack) and strengthen the evidence base for future technical discussions.
At present there are no specific support schemes linked to these measures. However, I recognise that the Regulations present challenges for the sector and for businesses that depend on healthy fish stocks. In recognition of the wider pressures facing this sector, DAFM have established a Food Vision Seafood Sector Group to examine the challenges across the sector and to develop a framework of supports and actions to respond to these issues. This Group has been tasked with identifying both immediate supports and longer-term measures that will assist the sector in adapting to the current pressures and ensuring its sustainability in the future. I have asked my officials to engage with DAFM to ensure the perspectives of the recreational angling and chart boat sectors are brought to the attention of this Group.
For 2027, Inland Fisheries Ireland’s (IFI), Irish Marine Recreational Angling Survey Programme (IMREC) on recreational marine research will have five years of data, which aligns with the 5-year stock assessment approaches typically used for conservation purposes internationally (by ICES and NASCO) and nationally (by TEGOS). The availability of IMREC as a national dataset significantly strengthens its suitability for inclusion in ICES assessments and will reduce uncertainty of recreational removals.
A joint IFI/Marine Institute Socio-Economic Assessment on the Marine Recreational Sector is also underway, with a tender expected to be issued shortly. This assessment will quantify the sector’s economic and social value and will better support proportionality discussions in relation to management measures, enabling a more balanced consideration of the impacts associated with recreational management measures. The assessment will commence in 2026, with the final report expected in 2027.
