Inland Fisheries Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resource, operating under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Its core functions include fisheries protection and enforcement, scientific research and stock assessment, habitat restoration, licensing, and development of angling tourism and infrastructure. Procurement activity spans **environmental and fisheries equipment**, **specialist scientific and monitoring systems**, **construction and civil works for fisheries infrastructure**, and **general IT and professional services** to support operations. Contract values in professional services tenders typically fall in the €100k–€500k band, with a median contract value around €64k, indicating a mix of mid-sized projects rather than very large single awards.[1][2]

Strategic Context

Recent tender and award notices show active investment in operational capability through equipment such as telescopic handlers, fish counters and associated systems, and consumables like trout feed, supporting fisheries management and monitoring activities.[3][4][5][7] IFI also continues to channel funding into habitat and stock enhancement through grant schemes, for example a €729k funding round for 16 new salmon and sea trout projects, signalling ongoing capital and programme spending on conservation and angling development rather than major one-off megaprojects.[6] Overall, this points to steady, programme-led spending across gear, scientific/monitoring technology, and small-to-medium capital works aligned with fisheries protection and enhancement objectives.[3][4][6]

Typical Suppliers

Specialist aquaculture and feed manufacturers supplying trout and other fish feed for hatcheries and stocking programmes (e.g. the €320k Supply and Delivery of Trout Feed contract).[5][7]
Environmental and fisheries technology providers delivering fish counters, monitoring devices and associated equipment under single-supplier framework contracts.[4]
Plant and equipment suppliers providing telescopic handlers and other material-handling or field operations equipment.[3]
Consultancies in ecology, fisheries science, environmental management and professional services, typically winning mid-sized service contracts in the €100k–€500k band.[1][2]
Construction and civil engineering firms for small-to-medium fisheries infrastructure, habitat works, and angling access improvements, often funded under IFI conservation and development grant programmes.[6]

Supplier Tips

Demonstrate strong technical credentials in fisheries, aquatic ecology, or environmental monitoring and reference similar contracts with IFI or other Irish environmental agencies; mid-sized tenders often emphasise proven sector-specific expertise and the ability to deliver across dispersed geographic sites.[1][2][4]
Monitor eTenders and EU-Supply closely for IFI notices and framework opportunities, particularly for equipment frameworks (e.g. fish counters and field machinery) and consumables like feed, as these can provide recurring call-off business once awarded.[3][4][5]
Align proposals with IFI’s conservation and angling development objectives by highlighting how your solutions support stock assessment, habitat improvement, safe operations in the field, and value for money in programme-based spending, which is central to recent grants and capital activities.[3][4][6]

Updated 5 July 2026