Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities
In this month’s edition - The Government Must Be Clear “The industry needs real help and support which is not happening and that is discouraging…”
The Irish fishing industry is down more than €37m in landings, a huge drop. All sectors of the industry from the pelagic boats to the smallest inshore boats are united in opinion – the industry is in its worst crisis ever and the Government is not doing enough to support the sector .... all of this plus so much more in our September issue
MARINE TIMES PODCAST September:
Does the Government want a fishing industry or does it want to let it continue into terminal decline?
“The Government must be clear --------The industry needs real help…”
Tom MacSweeney interviews Dominic Rihan, Chief Executive ofthe KFO
Our main News story in the September edition reports a fall of more than €37m in landings by the Irish fleet. All sectors of the industry are united in opinion – it is in its worst crisis ever and the Government is not doing enough to support it.
In this month’s Marine Times Podcast the Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, Dominic Rihan, discusses the situation with Marine Times Executive News Editor, Tom MacSweeney. A strategic review is needed of where the industry is going, he says and raises the question - does the Government want a fishing industry or does it want to let it continue into terminal decline?
“That is a stark reality,” says Mr.Rihan, “but it has to be recognised.” Listen to the Podcast here
MARINE TIMES NEWS September 10th:
Kilmore Quay RNLI volunteers recognized for longstanding service
Two of Kilmore Quay RNLI’s dedicated fundraising volunteers were presented with RNLI Certificates of Thanks on Sunday in recognition of their longstanding service to the charity that saves lives at sea.
Presentation of longstanding service certificates of thanks to volunteers was held at Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat station; Johnny Moore, Felicity & John Mc Morris and Pauline McGann.
As an independent charity organisation, the RNLI relies on donations to fund its life saving work. Kilmore Quay lifeboat crew are on call day and night throughout the year. To sustain this service, well-maintained equipment, lifeboats, shore equipment and ongoing training are required. None of this would be possible without the enthusiasm, commitment, and drive of dedicated local fundraisers like Anne McMorris and Johnny Moore. Full story here
Tom MacSweeney's MARITIME PODCAST - SEPTEMBER
On the September edition of Tom MacSweeney's Maritime Podcast, Ireland’s only maritime broadcast:
One of the most respected and experienced men in the fishing industry asks the Government if it wants the Irish fishing industry to continue to exist. He says the Government should be clear – The industry is in terminal decline. It is a sombre warning. Also, the man from Killary Harbour who says cargo will have to be carried by sail because of climate change, the history of 2,000 fish kills in Ireland; 40 years of fighting for the offshore island communities and, when a shipping company got rid of Cork City’s unique time.
MARINE TIMES NEWS September 9th:
Arranmore RNLI opens new state of the art lifeboat station
Arranmore RNLI officially opened its new lifeboat station on the Donegal Island at the weekend. The new boathouse which was built at a cost of €1.4m has been designed to accommodate the lifeboat crew and to house the boarding boats that provide access to the station’s Severn Class Lifeboat.
In a ceremony on Saturday (7 September) lifeboat crew, fundraisers and station management were joined by locals, friends and special guests for the occasion. Recently appointed RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes handed the new boathouse into the care of the lifeboat station, in his first station opening in his new role while Donegal Person of the Year and well-known musician Moya Brennan unveiled a special plaque to commemorate the occasion. Full story here
MARINE TIMES NEWS September 4th:
Clifden RNLI rescue two people on broken down fishing boat
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched at 12.30 yesterday (Tuesday 3rd September) to reports of a broken down fishing vessel in Connemara waters.
Clifden's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was launched under the command of Helm Owen Hayes with John Mullen, Sinead O Sullivan and Shane Conneely as crew. The crew immediately made their way to the location, east of Carraig an Róin island. Full story here
MARINE TIMES PODCAST August:
Do you accept that the fishing industry is in a very serious crisis situation, Minister?
Tom MacSweeney interviews Minister Charlie McConalogue
In the August issue of the Marine Times, Tom MacSweeney interviews Minister McConalogue - challenging him on a number of aspects affecting the fishing industry, asking him questions on why he insists on putting accross the EU oinion to the industry rather than voicing Irish concerns sufficiently, asking him how is it realistic to encourage young people into the Irish fishing industry ....
Listen to the full MARINE TIMES interview with Tom MacSweeney. Listen to the Podcast here
MARINE TIMES NEWS September 3rd:
Shannon Foynes Port’s record investment to enhance Shannon Estuary as major international supply chain centre
Shannon Foynes Port has unveiled a new jetty expansion and logistics park in a key step on the journey propelling Shannon Estuary as a national and international supply chain hub of scale.
The record €32m investment, which is co-funded by Shannon Foynes Port and the EU’s ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF), is a key enabler of the company’s Vison 2041 masterplan that targets the Estuary’s establishment as a global floating offshore wind hub and a freight logistics cluster that will, in particular, decongest the Irish supply chain network. Full story here
MARINE TIMES NEWS August 28th:
Fishing Chief Challenges Protection Authority Statistics
The Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation has challenged the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority about its media release stating that Irish vessels accounted for over 95 per cent of landings into Irish ports and harbours in 2023.
The figures show, says Aodh O’Donnell, “the downward trend in landings “ by Irish vessels.
“Whilst we welcome the provision of data, we must treat the 95 percent indicator with caution as this draws on data based on sales notes. Depending on the profile of its resale after landing, one landing may have several sales notes associated with it. Therefore, this statistic is not a true indicator of the actual level of individual landings.”
“The hard data relating to the trend in the value of fish landed is relevant and timely in objectively assessing the downward trend in landings.” Full report in our September issue
MARINE TIMES NEWS August 26th:
RNLI 200 scroll continues its journey around Ireland
During the month of August, RNLI lifeboat stations and shops around Ireland are taking part in the next stage of the RNLI’s ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style event – one of the ways in which the charity is marking its 200th anniversary in 2024.
The event sees a scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, being passed through RNLI communities – lifeboat stations, shops, lifeguard units and fundraising branches – around Ireland and the UK to be signed by representatives at each location on its route. Full story here
MARINE TIMES NEWS August 19th:
Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat called to medical emergency to rescue fisherman
Clogherhead RNLI volunteers were tasked by the Coast Guard on Sunday 18 August to come to the aid of a fisherman onboard a fishing vessel who was in need of medical care.
At 2.55 a.m. Clogherhead lifeboat received a request by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the aid of a fisherman in need of medical care aboard a fishing vessel which couldn’t access Port Oriel, Clogherhead at low tide. Full story here
MARINE TIMES NEWS August 15th:
Seablind Politicians
"Our politicians are so sea blind that in the rush to get three members on the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee they cut the cord on our coastal communities. The lack of respect is deplorable."
Read the Editorial in the Marine Times August issue out now.
MARINE TIMES NEWS August 13th: On a bright Tuesday morning in early July. Arklow RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager John Bermingham & some of the crew got to see their new lifeboat for the first time.
Arklow RNLI’s volunteers were invited to attend the bell ringing ceremony for their new vessel, this ceremony is carried out for every new vessel entering the fleet. The ceremony is a long standing tradition and took place at RNLI’s headquarters and Lifeboat Training College in Poole in Dorset.
Full story here News 8th August: Inland Fisheries Ireland has recorded the capture and tagging of the first Atlantic bluefin tuna of 2024. The giant fish, measuring 1.68 metres, was caught, measured, tagged and released at Donegal Bay.
Skipper Adrian Molloy caught and released the first bluefin on Monday, July 29th and landed a second on the following day.
Full story here News 2nd August: On the first day of August, the long-sought and long-awaited support for the inshore sector was announced. Minister for the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said he was “putting a new scheme in place specifically to support and enable the economic development of the inshore fishing fleet.”
The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association welcomed the announcement of what it said was “direct financial assistance to the under pressure Inshore sector.”
PODCAST 3rd July: The Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation has warned of potential conflict between fishermen as traditional marine users and the new users of the blue economy.
In the front page leading story of the July edition of the MARINE TIMES, Aodh O’Donnell says there is an impending serious ‘spatial squeeze’ on Ireland’s fishing industry due to the way offshore renewable energy strategy is being implemented nationally, because there has been a failure to co-ordinate the roll-out of ORE and biodiversity strategies with the need to protect the fishing industry and its traditional fishing grounds..
He says that “the fishing sector fully supports the need for climate change measures, but there is a need for balanced thinking and understanding that fishing is a source of food security.
In this MARINE TIMES interview he outlined fishermen’s concerns to Tom MacSweeney.
Listen to the Podcast here Copyright © 2024 - All Rights Reserved - Marine Times Newspaper published by Marine Media Ltd
Full Editorial available on our digital issue
ARKLOW RNLI volunteers attend first Launch of New Lifeboat
First Tagging of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna for 2024 Recorded Off Donegal
Minister Gives Support to Inshore Sector
Government and EU must deal with how offshore wind campaigners and biodiversity campaigners are squeezing the fishing industry says leading fisheries CEO
