Consultant Kieran Mulvey made the recommendation in a report prepared for Minister of State for Fisheries Timmy Dooley to inform a new five-year strategy for the fisheries sector under the Programme for Government.
Mulvey said discussions across the sector consistently highlighted the need for a dedicated marine department.
"In all my engagements it was clearly evident to me that the establishment of a separate Department of the Marine was fundamental to the survival and success of the seafood sector and all its emanations," he said.
He said such a department would reflect the expanding responsibilities associated with ocean governance, marine spatial planning and Ireland's international marine commitments.
The recommendation follows recent comments by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said he favoured a senior marine ministry. However, he noted that increasing the number of Cabinet ministers beyond the current limit of 15 could require a referendum.
Among a wide-ranging series of recommendations, Mulvey also proposes creating a single national representative body for the fishing and seafood sector, with subcommittees representing different interests.
He argues that a unified organisation would strengthen the sector's influence in negotiations with Government and the European Union while reducing the number of representative groups with which the department must engage.
The report also recommends a review of fisheries legislation to remove outdated regulations and simplify the legal framework through a dedicated high-level working group.
On fisheries enforcement, Mulvey proposes introducing fixed-payment notices for minor infringements. He says this would reduce pressure on the courts, speed up enforcement and improve relations between regulators and the industry.
The report stops short of recommending changes to the allocation of the inshore mackerel quota, currently set at 400 tonnes for the hook-and-line fishery, saying further discussions between the sector and the department are needed.
Other recommendations include a succession scheme to help older vessel owners retire while supporting younger fishers entering the industry, the creation of a central register of EU and non-EU crew to address labour shortages, and additional support for vessel maintenance and onboard technology upgrades.
Mulvey also identifies aquaculture as a sector with significant growth potential, calling for increased investment and reform of what he describes as a complex licensing system.
The report notes that Ireland's seafood sector directly employs almost 10,000 people across fishing, aquaculture and processing, with total direct and indirect employment estimated at almost 17,000.
Looking ahead, Mulvey identifies food security, climate change, offshore renewable energy, marine protected areas and future Common Fisheries Policy negotiations as key challenges for the industry.
He also urges the sector to focus on achievable policy objectives, saying historical grievances over Ireland's EU accession should not distract from future negotiations.
