Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

87% of Regular Irish Seafood Eaters Like to Know Fish is Caught Sustainably, SFPA Survey Finds

3rd February 2022
The survey found that most regular consumers of fish (82%), especially in coastal regions, are willing to change their buying habits to reduce their impact on marine resources
The survey found that most regular consumers of fish (82%), especially in coastal regions, are willing to change their buying habits to reduce their impact on marine resources

Some 87 per cent of regular seafood eaters like to know their fish was caught sustainably, a survey by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has found.

While quality is the main priority of Irish consumers (96%), knowing fish and shellfish has been caught legally (85%) and in a sustainable manner (87%) have emerged as major concerns, the State’s sea fisheries and seafood regulator says.

Some 87 per cent also prioritised price, while 92 per cent of those surveyed believe more should be done to safeguard the sustainability of Ireland’s marine resources, the survey found.

The research was conducted online by Amárach Research on a total sample of 1,500 adults from December 8th -21st, 2021.

The SFPA says the survey reported overwhelming support for the reporting of illegal fishing to the authorities (90%) with most (77%) consumers saying that they would not buy fish if they knew it was illegally caught.

Traceability is also a factor, especially amongst younger consumers, the SFPA says.

Almost half (48%) of those aged under 35 said that having greater confidence in the traceability of a product would encourage them to eat more fish regularly.

The survey found that most regular consumers of fish (82%), especially in coastal regions, are willing to change their buying habits to reduce their impact on marine resources.

Almost three quarters (seven out of ten respondents) stated they only want to buy fish in a way that does not adversely impact marine resources.

“Like many other parts of the economy, the sea-fisheries and seafood sector has seen some constriction of activity and sales due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, “SFPA authority member Tim Donovan said.

“The resilience of the sector and the potential for further development of domestic and overseas markets is widely acknowledged,” he said.

Consumer trust in the quality, provenance and safety of Ireland’s seafood produce is critical to achieving these ambitions and cannot be overstated,” he said.

“ It is essential to the reputation and future success of the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors which so many communities around the coast rely on for a living,” he added.

Ireland’s seafood economy is valued at an estimated €1.09bn n per annum with domestic consumption accounting for 37% of this figure, according to the latest figures from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)

Currently, the industry supports over 16,000 livelihoods with over 1,994 Irish-registered vessels, 309 aquaculture production units and 160 seafood processors, BIM states.

The SFPA says that anyone who wishes to report suspected illegal sea-fishing activity can contact its confidential line at 1800 76 76 76, by email at [email protected] or through the SFPA’s website, SFPA.ie/Confidential-Line.

Published in SFPA, Fishing, Aquaculture
Lorna Siggins

About The Author

Lorna Siggins

Email The Author

Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Search and Rescue: True stories of Irish Air-Sea Rescues and the Loss of R116 (2022); Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004); and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010). She is also co-producer with Sarah Blake of the Doc on One "Miracle in Galway Bay" which recently won a Celtic Media Award

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

About the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA)

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority was established on the 1st of January 2007. The SFPA is independent in the exercise of its functions, which are below.

The principal functions of the Authority are:

  1. To secure efficient and effective enforcement of sea-fisheries law and food safety law
  2. To promote compliance with & deter contraventions of sea-fisheries law and food safety law
  3. To detect contraventions of sea-fisheries law and food safety law
  4. To provide information to the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors on sea-fisheries law and food safety law and relevant matters within the remit of the Authority, through the Consultative Committee established under section 48 of the above Act or by any other means it considers appropriate
  5. To advise the Minister in relation to policy on effective implementation of sea-fisheries law and food safety law
  6. To provide assistance and information to the Minister in relation to the remit of the Authority
  7. To collect and report data in relation to sea fisheries and food safety as required by the Minister and under Community law
  8. To represent or assist in the representation of the State at national, Community and international fora as requested by the Minister, and
  9. To engage in any other activities relating to the functions of the Authority as may be approved of by the Minister.