Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities

MARINE TIMES NEWS July 11th:
Mulvey report must not sit on a shelf says Seafood Ireland Alliance

The Seafood Ireland Alliance has given a cautious welcome to the recently released Mulvey report on the issues faced by the Irish seafood sector and commends Minister Dooley for taking this initiative. Meaningful engagement and follow-up by Government on the key challenges the report highlights have never been more needed.

Pictured (l-r) are members of the Seafood Ireland Alliance: Aodh O'Donnell, CEO, Irish Fish Producers Organisation; Brendan Byrne, CEO, Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association; Patrick Murphy, CEO, Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation; John Lynch, CEO, Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation; and Dominic Rihan, CEO, Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation — collectively the Seafood Ireland Alliance, which has engaged regularly with Kieran Mulvey since he began his report on the Irish seafood sector.

The much awaited and anticipated report from Kieran Mulvey to Minister of State Timmy Dooley on the state of the Irish seafood industry was finally released earlier this week following prolonged discussions with Government officials on its content. The report is a product of multiple meetings with industry representatives, fishermen, processors and the various State Agencies held by Mr Mulvey throughout 2025. Mr Mulvey characterises these meetings as being frank, constructive and symptomatic of an industry operating in a challenging environment.

The report makes 14 recommendations many of which are not new but remain at the core of the difficulties facing the sector. It is disappointing that the report somewhat underplays the difficulties in the relationship between industry and Government, as well as the lack of empathy for the sector. Nonetheless, the weaknesses in Government policy that impact on the industry’s ability to operate efficiently and profitably are highlighted.

A spokesperson for the SIA said, “We would like to express our gratitude to Kieran Mulvey for taking the time to listen to the concerns of the Irish seafood industry, which are many and long-standing”. He went onto say, “We trust that this report in combination with the Seafood Vision report being prepared by Michael Berkery, act as a catalyst for real change that everyone in the industry craves”.

In conclusion, the SIA stresses the Government take this report seriously. Entering into constructive dialogue with the industry on how to implement the report’s findings is essential. This cannot become yet another report on the Irish seafood sector that sits on the shelves of Government officials gathering dust.

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