Conscious Fishing 

KFO members adjust fishing practices to target species at peak condition, ensuring sustainable resource use and maximising catch quality and efficiency.

What We Catch 

Pelagic Fisheries

Our pelagic members and some of our polyvalent members target pelagic species including mackerel, horse mackerel, herring, blue whiting, boarfish and albacore tuna. These species swim up in the water column and are caught with mid-water trawls that are towed either by one or two vessels (pair trawling). The nets are large and the mouths of the nets have very large-sized mesh, as they are designed to herd the fish into the net. Pelagic trawls do not make contact with the bottom, and the vessels have an array of innovative equipment to help them only catch the target species. 

Demersal Fisheries

KFO’s whitefish and polyvalent members target demersal species such as haddock, monkfish and whiting that live on or close to the seabed. These vessels use bottom trawls designed to match the seabed conditions. The nets do not dig into the seabed and are designed for minimal contact with the bottom. The meshes on the nets are designed to allow undersize and non-target fish to escape. 

Shellfish Fisheries

Our shellfish members can be divided into inshore and offshore fleets. The offshore fleet is made up of large boats that target brown crab off the west and northwest of Ireland and in the North Sea. The inshore fleet is made up of boats less than 10m in length, which fish in inshore waters. These boats target brown crab, lobster, velvet crab and shrimp. The vessels fish with pots that have minimal impact on the seabed and little or no unwanted bycatch. 

Interactive Map

Map symbols:

Map
boarfish

Boarfish

Capros aper 

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boarfish

Boarfish

Capros aper 

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blue whiting

Blue Whiting

Micromesistius poutassou

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blue whiting

Blue Whiting

Micromesistius poutassou

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blue whiting

Blue Whiting

Micromesistius poutassou

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albacore tuna

Albacore Tuna

Thunnus alalunga

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albacore tuna

Albacore Tuna

Thunnus alalunga

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albacore tuna

Albacore Tuna

Thunnus alalunga

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albacore tuna

Albacore Tuna

Thunnus alalunga

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whiting

Whiting

Merlangius merlangus

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whiting

Whiting

Merlangius merlangus

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whiting

Whiting

Merlangius merlangus

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whiting

Whiting

Merlangius merlangus

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anglerfish

Monkfish (Anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorius & Lophius budegassa

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anglerfish

Monkfish (Anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorius & Lophius budegassa

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anglerfish

Monkfish (Anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorius & Lophius budegassa

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anglerfish

Monkfish (Anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorius & Lophius budegassa

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anglerfish

Monkfish (Anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorius & Lophius budegassa

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anglerfish

Monkfish (Anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorius & Lophius budegassa

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haddock

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

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haddock

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

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haddock

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

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haddock

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

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megrim

Megrim

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis

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megrim

Megrim

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis

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megrim

Megrim

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis

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megrim

Megrim

Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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herring

Herring

Clupea harengus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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brown crab

Brown Crab

Trachurus trachurus

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Improving efficiency and reducing impact 

bim logo 2 1

Gear Innovation

Our members regularly participate in gear trials with BIM, involving further gear selectivity testing that helps minimise bottom contact and reduce fuel consumption where possible. 

Learn More
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