Good news – there is a sustained trend towards improvement in fish stocks in Irish waters, the Marine Institute’s new chief executive, Dr Rick Officer says.

Speaking to Wavelengths, he says “huge credit” is due to Irish fishers for weathering hard decisions taken some time ago, which have paid off with this increased sustainability.

It’s a trend, he emphasises, and it dates back to 2012. “There is no incentive for fishers to destroy the resource that they rely on,” he pointed out.

In his interview, Dr Officer, who has come from a senior post at the Atlantic Technological University, discussed whether responsibility for marine leisure should return to the institute.

He also spoke about the “spatial squeeze” posed by offshore wind farms and designation of marine protected areas, and climate change impacts.

As an “Aussie”, he says the size of Ireland’s offshore area makes for more of an “opportunity” than a problem in relation to sharing that space.

The institute is “well positioned to be the trusted advisor of data that supports good decision-making”, he says.

Listen to his interview with Wavelengths below