Up to 40% of Ireland’s offshore fishing fleet for white fish could be destroyed under any new State-funded decommissioning scheme, according to fishing industry representatives. Further talks are being held by the Food Vision Seafood Sector Group tomorrow to discuss ways to help the ailing sea fishing industry. “It’ll be very difficult for any government to introduce another decommissioning scheme so soon after the last one,” he said. “We only have about 140 white fish fishing boats left. The scheme left just over 140 white fish fishing boats in the fleet, and more decommissioning could leave the fleet with around 84.

Source: Irish Examiner March 09, 2026 13:30 UTC