Rose Conway-Walsh warns 2026 could be worst year for fishermen
Rose Conway-Walsh warned that 2026 could be the worst year for Irish fishermen after drastic reductions to fish quotas and cuts to key stocks, urging immediate measures to protect the industry. She pressed the Taoiseach for direct representation of regional inshore fisheries forums on the new fisheries task force and for proper labelling of imported fish.
Warnings on 2026 outlook
Rose Conway-Walsh told the chamber that the industry faces an imminent existential threat, citing steep cuts across stocks. She highlighted a reported 70% reduction in pelagic quotas and significant reductions in other species, saying the impact will be devastating and persist for a number of years.
Task force representation request
She welcomed the government’s announcement of a fisheries task force and asked that regional inshore fisheries forums (RIFs) be directly represented on the new fisheries C4 task force chaired by Michael Berkley. Conway-Walsh argued that each RIF member would represent approximately 300 vessels and that such equity is vital for inshore fishing communities around the country.
Calls for state support and international engagement
Conway-Walsh said the state will need to put in place a state aid or support programme to help fishers through the difficult period caused by quota cuts. She also urged stronger European Union engagement with Norway, the Fair Islands, and Iceland over what she described as overfishing of stocks.
Imported fish labelling concerns
She raised concerns about labelling of imported fish, saying consumers are often misled into thinking they are eating Irish fish when the product has been imported and is days old. Conway-Walsh called for proper labelling to ensure transparency for coastal communities and consumers.
Meetings and next steps
She reported meeting fishing representative bodies and speaking with the ministers responsible for fisheries and marine matters. Conway-Walsh said she will press the Taoiseach and speak further with the ministers about RIF representation and urged clear government action to support fishers.
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I want to speak on behalf of the fishermen of this Ireland who are warning that 2026 will be the worst year it has ever faced after drastic reductions to fish quotas and cuts to the key stocks. The industry is facing an imminent existential threat. Your government really recently announced the establishment of a task force to support the industry and coastal communities, and I certainly welcome that. What I'm asking you today, Taoiseach, is that the regional inshore fisheries forums are directly represented onto the new fisheries C4 task force that's chaired by Michael Berkley. This equity is vital for all inshore fishing communities all around the country. Each RIF member would be representing approximately 300 vessels from their local region. I want to ask you as well, Taoiseach, that we have proper labelling minister for imported fish. People here think that they're eating Irish fish when they're eating fish that is days old coming from all parts. First of all, it is going to be a very, very difficult year, a number of years actually. And I've met with the fishing authorities along with, or the fishing bodies, representative bodies along with Minister Hayden and Minister Timmy Dooley, sort of Marine. Larger because of the research that came in terms of into the stocks, which everybody accepts, generally that has always been a consistent position. 70% reduction in pelagic, shocking, really will be devastating. Our challenge is, as you said, a task force to establish, but also, and I hear the call of the inshore fishermen in terms of representation on that. I will talk to the ministers in respect of that. But also, more importantly then, there will have to be a state aid program or a support program from the government to support fishers through this very difficult period. Because it's not just in the pelagic, there's also significant reductions in other species as well, which makes for a very, very difficult scenario. And also, the European Union then has to get more robust in terms of its engagement with the Norway, Fair Islands, and Iceland in terms of the overfishing of fishing stocks. Thank you, Tisha. Deputy Barry Heenan. Deputy Barry Heenan.
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