Sustainability

Environment

Healthy Ecosystems

Reducing carbon footprint 

KFO members are committed to reducing the environmental impact of their fishing operations whilst continuing to provide sustainable, low-carbon footprint, nutrient-rich food. In 2022 and 2023, the KFO undertook full Life Cycle Assessment of the Pelagic, Demersal and Crustacean members’ vessels and fishing operations through the NEPTUNUS project. This established a baseline on which future improvements can be measured. This project is now complete but we continue to work with BIM in order to collect these measurements and monitor improvements. 

Minimising the impact of fishing gear 

Our members remain committed to working with BIM to develop and test improvements to fishing gear and innovative fishing methods which increase fuel efficiency, reduce or eliminate the catch of smaller fish, reduce impact on the seabed and avoid incidental catches of non-target species. Currently, our pelagic members are part of the large EU funded project called CIBBRINA, which aims to minimise the bycatch of Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species from pelagic trawls. 

Learn about BIM fishing gear improvements 
Find out more about CIBBRINA project 

Recycling Fishing Gear and Clean Oceans 

Recognising the need to reduce waste, KFO members have actively participated in BIM funded projects as well as though their own initiatives with local netmakers and other service providers. Collectively, these actions aim to minimise the impact of their sector has on our oceans. These include BIM’s Fishing for Litter and Clean Oceans projects as well as implementing systems for Gear Retirement and Recycling. 

Learn more about BIM’s Fishing for Litter project 
Learn more about BIM’s Clean Oceans project 
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Western Endeavour

Spatial Coexistence

Offshore Renewable
Energy Impact

Increased competition for space in the marine environment has led to the fishing industry experiencing spatial squeeze. Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) is particularly having an increasing impacting on fisheries through the displacement of vessels from traditional fishing grounds. The KFO acknowledges the importance of ORE in contributing to decarbonisation targets, climate change adaptation and energy security, but we can not and should not sacrifice essential food production areas to achieve this objective. With the other Irish POs, the KFO continues to engage with ORE developers and the government to minimise the impact on the fishing industry from ORE in a spirit of co-existence. In parallel, the KFO is pioneering a new approach to coexistence with the ORE industry through a collaborative partnership with ORE developer Hexicon. 

Western Endeavour
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Six Key Principles

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Marine Protection

Marine Protected Areas

Focus on the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is also increasing at national and European levels with a target of protecting 30% of Irish and EU waters by 2030. If developed based on robust science and implemented with full stakeholder participation, MPAs will benefit all while ensuring long-term protection of sensitive marine ecosystems.

Acknowledging the considerable workload before a network of MPAs can be established in Irish waters, the KFO has been engaging with the initial steps in this process in Ireland. The KFO participates in the Marine Spatial Planning Advisory Group as well as contributing to the Ecological Sensitivity Analyses of the Irish and Celtic Seas that support the location of MPAs and ORE developments.

The KFO is also part of the Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) of the EU funded Blue4all project, which aims to create user-friendly Blueprint Platform for creating effective, efficient, and resilient MPAs and networks of MPAs. 

Learn more about the Irish Sea ecological sensitivity analyses
Learn more about the Celtic Sea ecological sensitivity analyses
Learn more about the EU Blue4all project

Our Projects

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