Overfishing by third countries, political mismanagement, years of inconclusive coastal states negotiations and increasing effort in international waters has driven the Irish fishing industry to a place where the mackerel fishery is effectively over in a matter of days.
Blink and you might miss it. One trip and one haul, that’s the sad reality of the 2026 mackerel season for most of the Irish fleet.
#mackerel #irishfishingindustry
So, while the EU has taken the high moral ground and fished according to their historic quota share, others have simply taken the fish!
#mackerel #UnsustainableFishing #SeafoodFromNorway #seafoodfromiceland #greenland #faroeislands #ukseafood
Norway and the Faroes have disregarded sharing agreements and awarded themselves inflated, unilateral quotas, part of which have been traded to the UK in return for access to Scottish waters. Through these ill-gotten gains the UK are complicit in the #overfishing of the stock.
There has been a huge expansion of the summer fishery in international waters by Icelandic, Faroese, Russian and Greenlandic vessels. catch for 2025, Russia, Iceland and Greenland significantly increased their catches this year relative to 2024.
Where have all the mackerel gone?
The scientific advice for a 70% cut in mackerel catches was not surprising given the consistent warnings from the scientists. So why has management failed so badly when the science was so clear on what the outcome would be? Two reasons stand out
Skipper of the Vigilant, Marc Gallagher, was delighted to have St Catherines transition year student, Matthew Curran, out on a blue whiting trip this week for his work experience. Great to see the next generation taking an interest in the industry.
#killybegs #irishfishingindustry #transitionyear
Resolution in sight for KFO’s objection to scientifically unsupported designation of offshore SACs
kfo.ie/kfo-sac-appe...
Eileen kept the family business going and today their son Martin skippers the vessel whilst their daughter Annette is the business manager. The Neptune’s crew includes Martin’s son John, Annette’s husband Owenie and James McGonagle who has fished with the family for over 50 years.
Moving west to Owey Island and Kincasslagh, this week we feature the Neptune. The family business was started by the late John Oglesby, who tragically died on board the Neptune on 12 February 1988.
#irishfishingindustry #killybegs
Learn more
kfo.ie/member/neptu...
The Brendelen welcomed a Marine Institute observer onboard for a blue whiting trip last week. Pictured with crewman Michael Doherty, Patrick Oliver was catch sampling and verifying there was no #bycatch. Great to have independent monitoring and to collect data for the @cibbrina.bsky.social project.
This week we feature the Father McKee, owned by Greencastle's Michael Cavanagh who started fishing in the 1970’s and is well-known both afloat and ashore. These days his son Philip skippers the family vessel, which is crewed by family and friends from the local area.
kfo.ie/member/fathe...
This week we feature Greencastle's Northern Celt, owned by Adrian McClenaghan whose family have a long history of fishing. These days Adrian’s son, Shaun, and brother, Hugh, skipper the family vessel with the local crew including family and life-long friends.
Read their story
kfo.ie/member/north...
KFO members and their family businesses are part of the fabric of the coastal communities in which they live and work. Starting with our chairman Ciaran Doherty’s family from Cruit Island, we’ll share their stories and the generational commitment they have made to fishing.
kfo.ie/member/aine/
The KFO also initiated the genetic study on the Northwest herring in 2015, which developed a ground breaking method to distinguish the herring stocks spawning in Irish and Scottish waters. This work was the foundation of the new assessment and the reopening of the fishery in 2023.
In 2010 the KFO initiated a project on the developing boarfish fishery and has worked closely with the @MarineInst since to ensure that the required science was available to set sustainable catch limits. The boarfish stock has grown c.400% since 2019.
This began in 1986 with the KFO organising and undertaking an extension of the international mackerel egg survey on the Emer Marie to prove to ICES scientists that the assessment was underestimating mackerel spawning. This led to future extension of the main survey.
KFO members have a long history of contributing to the science that underpins sustainable management, demonstrating the value of industry knowledge and involvement in scientific data collection and stock assessment.
#sutainablefisheries #scienceindustrypartnership
kfo.ie/sustainabili...
We support fishermen around the coast of #donegal from #greencastle and #downings to #cruitisland and #killybegs and along the west coast to #mayo, #galway, and #cork. Members operate in #pelagic, #whitefish and #crab fisheries.
kfo.ie/members/
We're delighted to announce that the new KFO website is now live. Click on the link below to learn more about who we are and what we do.
#irishfishingindustry #sustainablefishing #pelagic #whitefish #crab
www.kfo.ie
As we finalise the new website its interesting to look back at the Making Waves documentary, filmed during the KFO's 25th anniversary. Some familiar, though younger faces, some of who are sadly no longer with us and some issues that still ring true today.
youtu.be/C8Gf-MZ_JZw?...
A new year, a new outlook and a new KFO website coming soon. In the meantime, take a moment to get to know more about the KFO and our members. #killybegs #irishfishingindustry
youtu.be/DSMgY5YCC8c?...
