The Friends of the Irish Environment has welcomed a decision by Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney to turn down a request to permit commercial catching of sea bass in the Celtic Sea.
Sea bass have been protected since 1990, but only permanently since 2006.
There is a complete ban on commercial exploitation and anglers are only permitted to keep two fish of more than 40cm in length in any 24-hour period.
A number of sea angling associations have opposed a proposal by the Federation of Irish Fishermen to permit commercial catching of the species in the Celtic Sea area.