New government policy on sprat fishing is about ensuring smaller fishers get a fairer crack at the whip.
That’s according to Minister of State with special responsibility for fisheries, Timmy Dooley.
It’s after cabinet agreed to proposed restrictions on industrial fishing of the species this week.
Sprat is a small fish which is a vital food source for seabirds, other fish, seals, dolphins and whales.
Campaigners in Kenmare previously called for a ban on inshore fishing by industrial trawlers because it's led to "indiscriminate harvesting" of sprat.
The new restrictions will come into place in October, with a ban on large trawler sprat fishing in inshore waters to come into place in October 2026.
Minister of State Dooley outlines the measure which are coming into effect.
