Save Our Sprat West Cork - SOS

22/05/2026

More info on from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group -- hope to see you at the Cloghna Head watch if you're in West Cork 👍.

22/05/2026

Save Our Sprat West Cork members will be heading for Cloghna Head on our stretch of the on Saturday evening for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's annual event.

If you're within striking distance, please come along to this free, informal event to learn more about whale and dolphin's around our coast, how to spot them, and how your sightings can add to the body of data that informs the IWDG's continued efforts to conserve these iconic species in Irish waters.

And of course... a vital part of that work involves looking after what these animals are here to feed on.

If you're not in West Cork, you'll find similar events going on simultaneously right around the island of Ireland -- so get to one if you can, and show your support for in Ireland.

Save our Sprat Bantry Bay, Nature Network Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland BirdWatch Ireland

WhaleWatch Ireland in Co Clare this Saturday

On Saturday 23 May the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG) in association with Inis, invites you to join us at a local headland for Whale Watch Ireland 2026, between 5:00-7:00 PM. This annual event, now in its 24th year, comprises free and guided watches at local headlands and vantage points, as part of All-Ireland whale watch day.

Of the 19 sites around the island of Ireland, two are in Co Clare: Loop Head in the southwest and Black Head in the north.

This year’s event is once again being held to coincide with National Biodiversity Week Ireland which runs between May 15th-24th. It is also hoped that moving it from late summer, will improve our odds of hosting this outdoor event in better weather conditions, as in recent years late August has simply become too unreliable with strong winds and rain. These simultaneous land-based watches at the 18 sites listed below from around the Irish coast provide IWDG researchers, whale enthusiasts and Citizen Scientists alike with a unique overview of whale and dolphin activity on the day and you can play an important part.

This event is suitable for all ages and is aimed at everyone from the novice wildlife enthusiast to more experienced naturalist, with a keen interest in marine wildlife and biological recording. In the event of unsuitable weather your watch leader may need to cancel your local event at short notice; so, if in doubt, please check in with them using the contact details below or on www.iwdg.ie/events. But don’t hesitate to contact them, or the event’s organiser, if you’ve any further questions in the lead up to your event.

01/05/2026

There's a lot of misinformation, obfuscation and inaccuracy doing the rounds on various public platforms surrounding the life-cycle of Sprat in Irish Waters. We thought it was time to set the record straight with this graphical representation of the REAL Sprat life cycle, based on the best available scientific information, and reviewed and endorsed by independent experts in the field.

PLEASE SHARE!

Read more on the website:

https://westcorksprat.net/sprat-the-circle-of-life/



Irish Wildlife Trust Irish Whale and Dolphin Group An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland BirdWatch Ireland Save our Sprat Bantry Bay

Christopher O'Sullivan TD Timmy Dooley Martin Heydon

Holly Cairns TD

04/03/2026

With a judicial review underway through the High Court challenging the Government's ban on trawlers over 18m in Irish inshore waters, a lot of people are wondering where things stand.

In our latest update we outline the current position and what comes next. We're calling on ministers Martin Heydon and Timmy Dooley at the Department of Food and The Marine to back their public commitment to meet any legal challenge "head on" with decisive action. We're also calling on minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan TD to lend his department's full support.

We will be watching closely as things unfold and will, of course keep you posted.

Be sure to like and follow the page to stay up to date.

Save our Sprat Bantry Bay Irish Examiner Irish Independent The Irish Times Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Irish Wildlife Trust BirdWatch Ireland Taisce The National Trust for Ireland

On Thursday 23 October 2025, less than a fortnight after an interim quota for the 2025/2026 Sprat Fishery came into force, large Irish pair trawlers had already landed their allocated 2,000 tonnes of Sprat and Minister for State Timmy Dooley signed a policy directive closing the Sprat Fishery. That....

14/02/2026

Wishing all our followers a very happy Valentine's Day. Show a little love today for our coastal marine ecosystems and follow Save Our Sprat here, on Facebook on Instagram and over on X to stay up to date with our campaign to Save Sprat, save marine wildlife and save coastal communities.

10/02/2026

And so it begins....

The High Court has granted the owners of large Irish trawlers leave to proceed to a Judicial Review challenging the legal basis of the Government's introduction of a ban on vessels larger than 18m from trawling within 6nm of the Irish coast and baselines.

The ban, which is set to take full effect from the start of October 2026, has far reaching implications not just for Sprat, but for the recovery of coastal marine ecosystems and sustainable inshore fisheries right around the Irish coast.

This is the first step in a potentially lengthy Judicial Review process, where the Government will now have the opportunity to defend their position.

The Government, through ministers Timmy Dooley and Martin Heydon , has repeatedly confirmed their belief that the legislation is legally "robust" and as watertight as possible (that was the reason they gave for such a lengthy delay in its implementation). They have made multiple commitments in public forums to "vigorously defend" any attempt to overturn this legislation through the courts, using any and all means at their disposal. Now it's time for them to step up and back up those convictions.

We'll be watching closely!

https://theskipper.ie/high-court-grants-fishermen-leave-to-seek-proceedings-to-overturn-6-mile-ban/

Christopher O'Sullivan TD Micheál Martin Save our Sprat Bantry Bay Irish Wildlife Trust Irish Environmental Network Irish Whale and Dolphin Group BirdWatch Ireland

Fishing Vessel owners granted leave by the High Court to challenge the introduction of the 6 Mile Ban through Judicial Review.

26/01/2026

Great to see the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group flying the flag for Sprat and reiterating the vital role forage fish play in healthy marine ecosystems.

The sprat issue in Ireland is very important and increasingly divisive one. Sprat are an important forage fish - an essential link between primary productivity (zooplankton) and higher trophic levels, including commercial fish species. It is important to ensure the debate is kept honest and based on good information and not just opinion.

This weekend, IWDG contributed to a piece on Countrywide on RTÉ Radio 1. Countrywide is a much listened to and interesting weekly programme on Saturday morning that explores issues in rural Ireland, predominately with respect to agriculture. However they are increasingly covering marine issues to bring them to the attention of their listeners.

A ban on trawling by vessels >18m came into force on 1 October 2025, with a transitional quota of 2000 tonnes, which is set at zero from 1 October 2026. Around 20 vessels have appealed this decision which is to be heard in mid-February. The IWDG support this ban, but are concerned that sprat will still be fished with no controls by vessels less than 18m.

During 2024 these vessels accounted for around 40% of the total catch landed. If fishing on sprat is to continue, it is important that the stock is put through International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) stock assessment rigour and a quota is set. This assessment should account for the requirements of predators other than humans, including whales, dolphins and porpoises.

The IWDG have written to the Minister expressing these concerns and presented a six-point plan (https://iwdg.ie/iwdg-welcome-sprat-fisheries-management-measures-but-require-additional-work/) but our understanding is that no more measures are planned to manage extraction of this very important forage fish. IWDG contend that this is not the basis of sustainable management nor consistent with an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.

You can listen to the interview here:

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22578251/

Photo credit: Pádraig Whooley - a minke whale lunge-feeding #

16/12/2025

Please check out this post by our friends over at Save our Sprat Bantry Bay. The farmed salmon industry is a key driver to the overexploitation of Sprat in Irish waters, and expansion of this industry is really bad news for Sprat.

Almost all of the Sprat caught in our coastal waters is destined for factories that pulp it into fishmeal, most of which is exported to be turned into pellets, that are in turn fed to farmed salmon.

Read the post and, if you'd like to help follow the instructions to register your opposition with the relevant authorities -- BUT HURRY -- the consultation period closes TOMORROW, Wednesday 17 December!

Urgent Deadline: December 17th!! This issue is so deeply connected to sprat fishing. Murphys and MOWI want to double their farmed salmon operations at Gearhies, which would see an increase to 12 cages (from three to six cages on each side)in our very own Bantry Bay. One of the main sources of feed for farmed salmon is fishmeal made from sprat. It is our belief that sprat should be fished sustainably for human consumption or be left for foraging by the marine life that depend on it. We cannot support the granting of this new licence. If you feel the same please go to our website www.saveoursprat.ie to find a template email and letter to help you register your opposition. While you are there, please sign our petition to save our sprat. Thank you.

03/12/2025

These vessels in Bantry Bay are likely fishing for sprat. Nothing illegal, but as pointed out by our colleagues Save our Sprat Bantry Bay, there are questions to be answered.

Christopher O'Sullivan TD Timmy Dooley Martin Heydon