Commercial fishing is all about catching wild fish and other sea creatures to sell for food. It’s one of the oldest industries — and still one of the most important for many coastal communities. 

In communities all along Ireland’s coast, sea fishing is an important focus of economic life, providing jobs, income, and investment, while playing a key role in local identity. 

There are many different types of commercial fishing. Smaller boats work close to shore, heading out and returning the same day with fresh catches. Larger vessels, including supertrawlers, can spend days or even weeks at sea. These ships carry large crews with diverse roles—deckhands, engineers, mechanics, and captains—running highly complex, often high-tech operations that demand skill and experience.

Inshore Fishing

• Small boats near the coast.
• Usually 2–3 people on board.
• Catch is fresh and brought in daily.
• A close connection to the food we eat.

Offshore Fishing

• Bigger boats go far out to sea.
• Trips can last days or weeks.
• Crew includes a skipper, mate, engineer, and deckhands.
• Everyone works together to navigate, handle gear, and manage the catch.

Opportunities 

Life on a fishing vessel offers a wide range of employment opportunities including deckhand, steering and lookout duties, and maintenance of fishing gear and on-board equipment. If you enjoy hands-on work, the sea air, the feeling of salt spray on your face, and working outdoors, a career in fishing could be a perfect fit.

Commercial fishing continues to provide important jobs in many of Ireland’s coastal communities, especially in counties like Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Wexford. In total, around 17,000 people are employed across Ireland’s seafood industry, including those working at sea, in seafood processing, and in support roles on land. Sea fishing depends on nature, so it’s often seasonal and closely managed to make sure fish populations stay healthy.

Processing and Coastal Jobs

Once fish are caught, they need to be processed. While some large factory ships process catches at sea, most seafood processing in Ireland happens on shore. This creates even more jobs in handling, processing, and distribution. These activities are especially concentrated along the west and north-west coasts, in counties such as Galway, Kerry, and Donegal. 

Sustainability is essential to the future of fishing. Catching fish at a rate that allows stocks to replenish ensures the industry—and the coastal communities it supports—can thrive for generations to come.

🌊 Did you know?

• In Ireland, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority is responsible for enforcing commercial fishing legislation.
• Any boat used for commercial fishing must be officially registered and have a sea-fishing licence.
• Understanding the age of fish helps scientists measure the health of fish stocks.
• Fish stocks—excluding inshore stocks—are managed by the EU through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP mainly uses Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and is supported by technical measures like effort controls and mesh size regulations.