2020 was a record year for sprat landings — but this has come at the expense of many other marine wildlife species who depend on the small fish as a food source.
Noteworthy’s investigation of the issue shows that in both 2019 and 2020, the total tonnage of sprat landed by the Irish fishing fleet far exceeded that recommended by scientific advice.
Since sprat is not subject to quotas under the Common Fisheries Policy, no laws have been broken by catches that are worth more than €3 million annually. As of 2021, most is now sold as fishmeal for the aquaculture industry.
But conservation groups are sounding the alarm at the prospect of a significant food source for whales, dolphins and seabirds being taken from Ireland’s inshore waters at an unsustainable rate.
And smaller inshore fishers are also at odds with larger trawlers that have been allowed to catch sprat in enormous quantities within the six-mile zone without restriction.
Noteworthy has much more on the story HERE.