ANNONCER
aIreland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has sent a powerful message to the country’s fishing industry, setting out unequivocally that fisheries must be part of Brexit trade negotiations.
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has responded to the approved Brexit guidelines adopted in Brussels as a “vindication of everything we have done since June 23rd, 2016 and the culmination of an extensive programme of high-end political engagement and lobbying.” Like its EUFA colleagues, KFO has, at all times, recognised the importance of Brexit negotiations for the future of Irish fisheries.
Ireland’s seafood sector recorded its third consecutive year of growth in 2017, with its value up 6.4% on the previous year, to contribute €1.15 billion to Ireland’s GDP. This strong growth was driven by a 12% increase in net exports (€331m), a 4% increase in domestic consumption (€429m) and significant investment both private and public (€386m) leading to the value of trade surpassing €1 billion for the first time.
The Brexit draft guidelines that specifically cite requirement for fisheries to be included in a Free Trade Agreement have been welcomed by the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO).
The busy fishing port of Dunmore East in County Waterford is now the 9th fishing port to participate in the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Fishing for Litter programme.
According to Donegal independent TD Thomas Pringle, Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed is to sign a new Statutory Instrument introducing a penalty points system for fishing offences to replace the existing system.
Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), in partnership with Failte Ireland, has launched a new visitor attraction on the ‘Taste the Atlantic – a Seafood Journey’ trail to celebrate Ireland’s rope mussel industry.
The success of Donegal’s oyster industry, now valued at over €11 million, is celebrated with the opening of an oyster exhibition at the Doagh Famine Museum as part of the ‘Taste the Atlantic- a Seafood Journey’ trail. From an industry decimated through overfishing in the 1800’s, and almost non-existent 30 years ago, Donegal has developed a successful and sustainable oyster industry employing 317 people and producing 2,475 tonnes of Irish rock and native oysters each year.
Ireland’s Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring joined BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara) and the North West Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) to announce over €500,000 in total investment for 22 distinctive coastal community based projects across the counties of Mayo and Sligo.
Working in partnership with industry stakeholders from the inshore and processing sectors, BIM has announced that it is to officially launch a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) for Ireland’s brown crab fishery. The aim is to improve sustainable operations within a fishery and to work towards MSC certification over a 3-5 year period.
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