In the 19th century, Dingle Bay was rich in fish stocks and Dingle had a competent and efficient workforce. This was largely due to the efforts of the "Society for bettering the condition of the poor of Ireland", and the improvements they made in coastal fisheries in Kerry. The bay was said to abound in pilchard, herring, cod, hake and ling, and the boats often landed exotic fish that were more associated with the Mediterranean region, Portugal and Spain.
