Paul Murphy: Calls to Reinstate Ban on Large Trawlers

Paul Murphy criticised the lifting of a ban on large trawlers in Ireland's inshore waters after a Court of Appeal judgment and argued the vessels damage coastal environments, fish habitats and the interests of small fishers. He called for the ban to be reinstated and asked the Taoiseach what contingency plans had been put in place.

Court ruling and ban lift

He said the ban was lifted in September following a Court of Appeal judgment. He warned these trawlers are hugely damaging to coastal environments and fish habitats - they damage marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of small fishers.

Sprat overfishing and effects on whales

He emphasised that the massive trawlers had in particular overfished sprat, "killing seven times the level recommended by the International Council for the exploration of the seas" in the year before the ban came into effect. He warned this overfishing has massive knock-on impacts because sprat are an essential food source for whales in the area.

Questions for the Taoiseach

He pressed the Taoiseach directly, saying the government had known for over a year that the ban faced being overturned and asking what contingency plans were prepared to reintroduce it.

Call to protect small fishers and biodiversity

He argued the large trawlers are not a sustainable form of fishing and stated they should be banned, urging action to stop overfishing before it is too late.