Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper covering the Coastal, Fishing and Maritime Communities

In this month’s edition - New Fisheries Minister Asks Industry Organisations for Priorities - Industry Describes Meeting As ‘Positive’

Be careful – avoid explosions! That was the dramatic warning issued by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries to the Norwegian fishing fleet at the end of February after burst fishing gear littered the sea west of Ireland with dead and dying blue whiting; Also .... Fishing and seafood processing representatives have described as ‘positive’ their first meeting with the new Minister for Fisheries and his officials. .... all of this plus so much more in our March issue

Tom MacSweeney's SEASCAPES Podcast March:
On this edition of our maritime programme, SEASCAPES, presented by Tom MacSweeney .......

On the MARCH edition - Fish farming will be a vital supplier of food to future generations; Are whales changing which parts of Ireland they visit? Once Navy – Always Navy’ and the Waterford Estuary harbour which has changed, but not for the better .... Listen to the podcast by clicking on the image above

MARINE TIMES NEWS March 21st:
Public consultation on the Work in Fishing Convention launched

Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, has launched a public consultation on proposals to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention and its implementation in Irish law.

The Work in Fishing Convention was agreed at the International Labour Conference in 2007. It lays down minimum requirements for work on board fishing vessels, including conditions of service, accommodation and food, medical care and health protection, and social security. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS March 14th:
€27.75 million in funding for Fishery Harbour Centres and public marine infrastructure

The allocation of €27.75m for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme has been announced by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, TD.

The investment will modernise and enhance the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres and includes funding for local authorities through a marine infrastructure sub-scheme. The Fishery Harbour Centres are located at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS March 10th:
Aran Islands RNLI celebrates coxswain pass out

Aran Islands RNLI volunteer, Noel Seoighe, completed his final assessment after months of hard work and determination and is now the ready to take command of the David Kirkaldy, all weather lifeboat.

Noel Seoighe has been volunteering with the Aran Islands RNLI for over 15 years. He began his journey with the RNLI as crew and in 2024, he qualified as an all-weather lifeboat navigator. Full story here

Empowering Women in Leadership: Marine and Maritime Event to Inspire Change

A milestone event, dedicated to celebrating and supporting women in the marine and maritime sectors, bringing together key industry leaders, experts, and advocates. Hosted by Irish Lights and MARA, in collaboration with leading maritime and marine organisations, the event featured insightful discussions on leadership, governance, and gender equality within the sector.

(L-R) Patricia Orme, Director of Corporate Services, Marine Institute, Lieutenant Cáit McKeown, Irish Naval Service, Laura Brien, CEO of MARA, Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO of Irish Lights, Caroline Bouquel, CEO of BIM, Deirdre Lane, Harbour Master, Dunmore East, Clodagh O’Reilly, Chair, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Ireland and Gary Joyce, Managing Partner at Genesis, at the event to mark International Women’s Day, at Irish Lights, Dun Laoghaire.

Opening the event, Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO of Irish Lights, emphasised the importance of fostering diversity in the marine and maritime sectors and the importance of building networks of trust to support women on their leadership journey: “Women play an essential role in the marine and maritime sectors. This event is about raising the profile of women in the sector, celebrating leadership, creating opportunities for sharing, and driving meaningful change in an evolving industry. There are many non-linear pathways to leadership, and we must ensure that women are supported and given opportunities at every stage of their journey.” Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS March 4th:
All time high response rate to latest BIM National Seafood Survey for Fisheries

The latest online fisheries National Seafood Survey (NSS) closed at the end of January. With over 1,027 surveys completed by vessel owners, this represents over 80% of the active Irish fleet in 2023.

This return rate is more than double the survey returns from last year and the highest response rate achieved for the fleet yet. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS March 3rd:
Ag foghlaim Gaeilge while saving lives at sea

The Aran Islands Lifeboat has been saving lives at sea for almost 100 years and has been doing so mostly through Gaeilge.

The Aran Islands is known for the love of the Gaeilge and the love of the sea. For a lot of people living on the islands, Irish is still their first language. That goes for a lot of the crew members and staff at the Aran Islands RNLI whether it’s on board their all-weather lifeboat, in the RNLI shop or while fundraising for the local station. Full story here

Tom MacSweeney's SEASCAPES Podcast February:
On this edition of our maritime programme, SEASCAPES, presented by Tom MacSweeney .......

The “insane” treatment of Ireland’s fishermen is discussed on the February edition of the Podcast, highlighting the way the Irish fishing industry is treated about Bluefin Tuna. John Shine, a leading figure for 20 years in the marketing and selling of Irish fish, highlights the way that Irish fishermen are prevented from catching Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters, while other nations are allowed to do so. He says that proper management of the industry is lacking and, unless its demise is stopped and the industry sustained, he is doubtful and concerned about its future. .... Listen to the podcast by clicking on the image above

MARINE TIMES NEWS February 20th:
Master of German Registered Fishing Vessel Charged with Seven Fisheries Offences in Cork District Court

The Sea-Fisheries protection Authority (SFPA) confirms that seven charges under sea-fisheries law have been brought against the master of the German registered pelagic fishing trawler, the MFV, Helen Mary. The Master of the fishing vessel was brought before Cork District Court this morning, the 20th February, where the Book of Evidence was served on him.

The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that charges relating to suspected offences of illegal equipment use, a non-compliant boarding ladder, and non-compliant plans in relation to the vessel be prosecuted on indictment in the Circuit Court. A summary charge of failing to comply with a direction of a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer of the SFPA was also brought against the vessel master. The master was released on bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the 28th of April 2025. The Court ordered that the vessel be released on the payment of a bond of €425,000. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS February 18th:
Thirty-nine participants from the Seafood Industry Take up Man Overboard Challenge

Thirty-nine participants from the seafood sector undertook the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)/ RNLI Man Overboard challenge at the National Fisheries College of Ireland in Greencastle, Co. Donegal and the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork over two days.

Each participant jumped into the challenging water conditions of the sea survival pools with no Personal Floatation Device (PFD) to experience the harsh reality of trying to survive with no lifejacket. They then replicated this with a correctly fitted PFD, to experience first-hand the significant difference a PFD could make to their chance of survival in a real situation. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS February 14th:
Fall in Love with the Coast this Valentine’s Day with the Love Your Coast Photography Competition

The Love Your Coast Photography Competition opens for entries on 14th February 2025

John Hooton came first place in the 'Coastal Landscape' category as part of the 2024 Clean Coasts Love Your Coast Photography Competition with "Fog on the 3 sisters" taken at Clogher Head, Dingle, Co. Kerry; his image captures the fog over the distinctive three sisters in the background.

This Valentine's Day, An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme invites Irish photographers to fall in love with the coast with the return of the Love Your Coast photography competition for 2025. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS February 5th:
20 Dips in December raises over €7500 in aid of Kilmore Quay RNLI

Kilmore Quay RNLI Volunteers were delighted this week to meet those who took part in 20 Dips in December raising a record €7535.25 this year for their local lifeboat station.

Now in its fourth year, the event has gone from strength to strength each year. Organised by local ladies Gráinne O’Brien, Melinda Kehoe and Simmi Duffin, the fundraising event challenges participants to take 20 dips in the sea during the month of December culminating in a community swim in Kilmore Quay on December 31st. Full story here

Tom MacSweeney's SEASCAPES Podcast January:
On this first edition of our maritime programme, SEASCAPES, presented by Tom MacSweeney .......

The Polish solo sailor who is Ireland’s only representative in what is being described as “a world first event, never attempted before …” explains why he intends to spend over a year sailing 26,000 miles alone around the world on a 19-foot plywood boat which he has built himself….. The Managing Director of a Valentia Island boatyard discusses how it has built the first Naval vessel in Ireland for forty years…. and a sailmaker explains why he built a maritime cannon .... Listen to the podcast by clicking on the image above

MARINE TIMES PODCAST December:
New government must end naivety towards fishing

Tom MacSweeney talks to Brendan Byrne, Chief Executive of the IFPEA

The Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association says there has been naivete amongst policymakers who thought that the fishing industry would reconfigure itself, despite the losses caused by Brexit.

The entire sector, catching and processing, is in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis, according to CEO Brendan Byrne. He also challenges the rigour of controls enforcement on Irish fishing by the SFPA, at a level which does not happen in other Member States, he says in this Podcast interview with Marine Times Executive Editor / News, Tom MacSweeney. Listen to the Podcast here

Tom MacSweeney's MARITIME PODCAST - DECEMBER

On the December edition of Tom MacSweeney's Maritime Podcast, Ireland’s only maritime broadcast:
Why does Ireland, an island nation, not have a traditional fish dish for Christmas? Other nations do, so why not Ireland? Appropriately, this month being Christmastime, that question is raised in the December edition of my Podcast by historian Antoin O’Callaghan. While other nations make fish a Christmas dish, he wonders why Ireland does not and suggests The Feast of the Seven Fishes. But, will Ireland have enough fish to meet its needs? Perhaps not. The Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters, Brendan Byrne, says this has been a very bad year for processors. That’s all on the December edition, with a look back at storylines from previous editions.

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 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

PODCAST 3rd July:
Government and EU must deal with how offshore wind campaigners and biodiversity campaigners are squeezing the fishing industry says leading fisheries CEO

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

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