Fishing leaders first meeting with Taoiseach ahead of crucial EU quota talks

The Seafood Ireland Alliance (SIA) will hold its first formal meeting with the Taoiseach on Wednesday, at a critical time for Ireland’s fishing and seafood sectors.

With the EU December Fisheries Council only days away, the meeting is a key chance to show Ireland’s fishing industry has strong government backing ahead of important quota decisions.

New scientific advice proposes massive cuts for 2026, which could cost Ireland an estimated €94 million, says the SIA. Ireland is set to lose €66 million in pelagic species such as mackerel, €12 million in whitefish, and €21 million in Dublin Bay prawns, warns Aodh O’Donnell of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO). “When processing, logistics, and export value are included, total losses to the wider economy could reach €200 million”.

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“This looming economic shock puts coastal communities and our national seafood supply chain at immediate risk,” O’Donnell says. “Meeting the Taoiseach now is vital to ensure the EU sees Ireland’s united position.”

Brendan Byrne of the Irish Fish Processors & Exporters Association (IFPEA) says EU Fisheries Ministers will hold their December Council meeting on 11th and 12th of the month. He described it as the “most important moment of the year for EU fisheries. It sets the final quotas that determine the future of coastal economies, the viability of vessels, and the health of seafood processing for the year ahead,” he says. “For Ireland, this Council will decide whether the proposed €94 million in cuts are fully imposed or whether a fairer outcome can be achieved.”

The Council is also where mechanisms such as the Hague Preferences can be applied. These rules give Ireland—an island nation heavily dependent on fishing—extra quota when proposed cuts would reduce its share below a protected minimum level.

“These cuts would hit Ireland harder than any other EU member state,” warns Patrick Murphy of the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO). “Ireland has fished sustainably, yet we now face the deepest losses because non-EU states have ignored scientific advice and massively overfished shared stocks.”

The Alliance highlights the threat from Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Russia. “These states have inflated their catches for years, blocked fair access, and pushed mackerel and blue whiting into crisis,” Murphy says. “Their actions created the conditions behind these proposed cuts, leaving Ireland exposed to huge economic damage.”

Aodh O’Donnell stresses the importance of a strong, united message to Brussels. “The Taoiseach’s direct engagement sends a powerful signal: Ireland will defend its fleet, its workers, and its coastal communities. Political unity at home is critical to achieving fairness at the December Council.”

Despite the scale of the challenge, the Alliance sees the meeting as a positive opportunity. “We welcome this first engagement with the Taoiseach,” says Dominic Rihan of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO). “It shows Government understands the urgency and is ready to support a national response. A united front gives Ireland the best chance to protect our seafood industry.”

John Lynch of the Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation (IS&EFPO) adds that the Alliance will press for full application of the Hague Preferences. “This mechanism is essential to shield Ireland from disproportionate cuts caused by irresponsible overfishing by non-EU states,” he says.

“Our message is clear,” the Alliance concludes. “Ireland must not be forced to shoulder the burden created by others. With unity, leadership, and determination, we can defend our coastal communities and secure the future of our island nation’s fishing industry.”

The Seafood Ireland Alliance was formed in 2024 by five fishing and fish processing bodies. These are the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish South & West Fish Producer's Organisation (IS&WFPO), the Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation (IS&EFPO) and the Irish Fish Processors & Exporters Association (IFPEA). The organisations are committed to working together to strengthen the voice of the Irish fishing industry.