DAERA seeks views on fisheries management proposals for protected offshore marine areas
DAERA has today launched a consultation on the development of fisheries management measures to protect conservation areas offshore.
The NI fishing industry has already been under further pressures from high fuel costs, visa and immigration issues for crews, high crew costs, and other jurisdictions imposing regulations and extending their waters.
The consultation is aimed at organisations, groups, and people engaged in activities, or have a general interest in the marine area beyond 12 nautical miles of the coast.
Launching the consultation, Minister Muir said: “Our seas support livelihoods, communities and a vital fishing industry, and it is essential that we are proactive in taking action that protects ecosystems and fish stocks for future generations.
“I recognise the challenges that fishing businesses are facing on a daily basis, from rising fuel costs and visa restrictions to the increasing uncertainty created by proposals for offshore renewable energy and the impacts of climate change on fish stocks.
“I acknowledge these realities and recognise the essential role the fishing industry plays in our coastal economy, cultural heritage and food security.
“At the same time, action is needed to ensure healthy, productive marine ecosystems that can continue to support fisheries and wider societal benefits over the long term.
“Evidence increasingly shows that well‑designed and effectively managed protective measures can allow damaged habitats to recover, increase resilience to climate change, and support the replenishment of fish stocks beyond protected areas.”
The introduction of fisheries management measures is intended to support fishing at sustainable levels while protecting the marine environment.
There have been signs of recovery in marine habitats in the inshore region after regulatory measures were introduced, so a similar approach is being proposed for three offshore MPAs where most of the protected habitats are in ‘unfavourable’ condition.
These are the Pisces Reef Complex SAC; South Rigg MCZ and Queenie Corner MCZ. They are located in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, spanning 298km2.
In these areas, the main target fishery is Norway Lobster (also known as the Dublin Bay prawn or Nephrops). Fisheries management measures are proposed where bottom trawling for these prawns occurs.
The proposed measures have been developed using a co-design approach with the stakeholder group Co-Fish: Fisheries and Conservation Partnership, which was formed in 2023.
Minister Muir added: “The proposals outlined in the consultation recognise the unfavourable conservation status of these protected habitats and aim to help these sites achieve their conservation objectives. They also reinforce Northern Ireland’s continued support for international obligations for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse seas.
“Our shared aim is thriving seas that continue to sustain both marine life and the communities that rely upon them. I recognise the importance of your input, whether as individuals or organisations and I am keen to hear your views to help inform these fisheries management measures.”
The consultation will remain open for 12 weeks and will close for responses on 24 August 2026.
