Is The Sea Fisheries Amendment Bill Incoherent?

This week the Minister for the Marine, Michael Creed, made a major attack on the British Government, describing its approach to Brexit negotiations as "incoherent."

The Minister was very strong in his comments about the official British attitude. The Government there had "no coherence" around their strategy, he said.

His comments have not been particularly well received in British Government circles. They came at the same time as his policy towards the fishing industry in the context of the Sea Fisheries Bill was described as "unbelievable" as he continues with efforts to try to get it through the Seanad where it is at the Committee Stage.

"It is unreal that this is still going ahead," said the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation.

Could this be an "incoherent" policy approach by the Minister, or is it being forced upon him by his officials?

Those questions are being raised within the fishing industry because of the widespread repercussions which are feared as a result of the content of the Bill which, according to legal advice, could widen considerably access by all EU vessels within the 0-6 miles territorial limits. With British withdrawal from the EU and though the Government maintains that the Bill is an agreement only with Northern Ireland, that could be successfully legally challenged and used to apply to all other EU boats as the Irish Government will have no rights to make separate agreements with the UK and what is now being done in the Bill could be used to demand widen access to Irish waters for all EU fishing vessels.

This week's FISHERIES PODCAST examines the term "incoherent" as it might apply in the context of the Sea Fisheries Amendment Bill.

The Fisheries Podcast

Tom MacSweeney

The new MARINE TIMES Podcast Service
(click on photo to listen)

THE MINISTER FOR THE MARINE, HIS OFFICIALS AND BEING 'INCOHERENT'
Why is Marine Minister Michael Creed still pushing the Sea Fisheries Amendment Bill through the Oireachtas and what does "incoherent" mean in fisheries policy?

THIS ISLAND NATION radio programme is produced with the support of the Marine Times. Listen to the latest programme here.

'The Boys of Killybegs’ herald the contradictions of the Government’s attitude to the fishing industry in the new edition of THIS ISLAND NATION maritime programme which also reports that President Higgins supports island communities in their battles with Government..

As always, plenty to interest you in the maritime world.

The programme is presented here by
Marine Times Deputy Editor, Tom MacSweeney

President Higgins Supports the Island Communities
News from the offshore islands from
Rhoda Twombly,
Secretary Comhdháil Oileán nahEireann

Summer is always a busy time and there is plenty of activity from the smallest to the largest of our Islands. But first off, I'd like to thank President and Mrs Higgins for the wonderful garden party they hosted in June at Áras an Uachtaráin for 400 Islanders.

Works from Dublin Port Communities Exhibit at Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane

More than 30 aspiring artists from Dublin's north and south inner city currently have their art work displayed in Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane as part of an unique Dublin Port Company project. Drawing Clubs were held with five community groups in recent months as part of Port Perspectives, Dublin Port's arts commissioning series for 2017. It is aimed at strengthening the bond between Dublin Port and the City and bringing Dublin Port to new audiences through the arts.

The exhibition will be open to the public on Wednesday, 5th July until 16th July 2017. Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday 9.45am – 6pm; Friday 9.45am – 5pm; Saturday 10am – 5pm; Sunday 11am – 5pm. Closed Mondays. Admission is free of charge.

NUI Galway Scientists Take to the Streets of Galway

International event ‘Soapbox Science’ comes to Galway for the first time featuring participating scientists from NUI Galway, GMIT, Marine Institute and IT Sligo to promote the visibility of women in science. Research scientists will take to their soap boxes, and bring science to the streets of Galway from 11am-2pm at the Spanish Arch on Saturday 15 July, to share their passion for all things science with the public as part of the international event ‘Soapbox Science’.

SeaFest 2017 nets 101,000 visitors

SeaFest sees 68% growth in visitors numbers in one year

Ireland’s national maritime festival SeaFest attracted 101,113 visitors to Galway Harbour during the three day event, generating €6.3 million for the city.

‘Taste the Atlantic- a Seafood Journey’ trail expands to embrace food tourism opportunity on the Wild Atlantic Way

BIM and Fáilte Ireland announce extension of seafood trail to include 22 producers from Donegal to Cork

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency and Fáilte Ireland have today announced that the ‘Taste the Atlantic- a Seafood Journey’ trail, which was piloted in parts of the West of Ireland over the last two years, will now expand to run along the entire Wild Atlantic Way route. The immersive visitor experience will offer a platform to showcase 22 of Ireland’s exceptional seafood producers from the Inishowen Peninsula at the top of Donegal right down to Oysterhaven Bay in Cork. The announcement was made on the closing day of Seafest, Ireland’s national maritime festival, which saw 100,000 people descend on Galway over the last three days.

FLAG West Fisheries Local Action Group Strategy announces support for 33 distinctive community projects across Clare & Galway to the tune of €411,099

Seán Kyne T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment with responsibility for Natural Resources, Community Affairs, and Digital Development today, Friday 14th July, travelled to Inis Oírr on the Aran Islands to announce the West Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) support for 33 projects along the Atlantic coastlines of counties Clare, Galway and the Aran Islands.

29 Local Community Projects to Deliver Investment of over €645,000 under EMFF South East Fisheries Local Action Group Programme

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle T.D. announced the latest tranche of funding under the Southeast FLAG, Fisheries Local Action Group programme at a reception in the Arklow Bay Hotel in the coastal fishing town of Arklow in Co Wicklow this morning Monday 10th July.

South West FLAG Strategy - 10 Fisheries Local Action Group Projects to Deliver Investment of €162,000

Newly appointed Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin T.D. announced the South West FLAG, (Fisheries Local Action Group) Strategy at a seafood breakfast in the award winning Jack’s Coastguard Restaurant in Cromane, Killorglin, Kerry.

Ireland’s €1.1 billion Seafood Sector Records Growth of Over 7%

BIM National Seafood Conference Focuses on the Future of Irish Seafood

Ireland’s Seafood Sector grew by 7.4% contributing €1.1 billion in GDP to the Irish economy according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s (BIM) annual ‘Business of Seafood’ report launched today at the National Seafood Conference ‘Winning in a Changing Environment’ in the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Investment & Joined-Up Thinking Key Factors In Ireland's Ocean Economy Growth

Marine Institute Acknowledges Positive Blue Growth Report Published by SEMRU at Our Ocean Wealth Summit

Galway, 30 June 2017: Speaking at the Our Ocean Wealth Summit 2017 in Galway, Marine Institute CEO Dr Peter Heffernan welcomed the positive findings of the Report on Ireland’s Ocean Economy published by NUI Galway’s Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) today (Friday).

BIM - Taste the Atlantic - 2017 from Bord Iascaigh Mhara on Vimeo.

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Francis O'Donnell

Trial by Facebook
The Chief Executive of the IFPO says that relationships between the Producer Organisations are being seriously tested by vested interests.

Art Kavanagh

Losing the PR Battle
RTE did yet another Prime Time feature on the Foreign Workers issue which was disgustingly unbalanced.

We need to talk about super trawlers ...
Liadh Ni Riada, MEP

"In an effort to highlight the seriousness of what may be about to happen as a result of the “so called” public consultation on reviewing our fishing boat licence policy, a number of us fishermen have decided that we can no longer remain silent while PO’s, governments and state agencies continue to mismanage Ireland’s fishing industry for the benefit of a small number of players in return for political advantage."

Rogues Gallery is back - see page 30 of our July 2017 issue to see if you made the cut ;0)
Photo above - crew of Buddy M in Dunmore East courtesy of William Power

“Strength in unity” says Creed at Brexit Fisheries Discussion

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, today (29th June 2017) hosted a Brexit Fisheries Discussion in Galway as part of four days of marine themed events including the BIM National Seafood Conference and Seafest – Ireland’s national maritime festival.

Minister Creed delivered the Discussion’s opening address which was followed by presentations by key European fisheries industry leaders - Niels Wichmann, Chair of the North Sea Advisory Council and Emiel Brouckaert, Chair of the North Western Waters Advisory Councils.

This was followed by a panel discussion focusing on the potential issues arising from Brexit for the seafood sector. This panel comprised of Mr Wichmann and Mr Brouckaert along with representatives of the Irish Fishing Industry; Sean O’Donoghue of the KFO, Patrick Murphy of the IS&WFPO, Hugo Boyle of the ISEFPO and Lorcán Ó Cinnéide of the IFPEA.

Minister Creed said today that “The BIM National Seafood Conference and Seafest are about celebrating our marine resources and all the opportunities that they provide to us. As part of that awareness, we must now also consider what potential impacts Brexit will have on our sea fisheries industry. Today’s discussion was another highly valuable opportunity to engage with our fisheries stakeholders”.

The Minister went on to say that “The discussions today again highlighted the very real concerns of the fishing industry regarding the potential effects of Brexit. I am very grateful to our presenters and panel members who have provided complex information in a very clear way.”

In his opening address Minister Creed spoke of the two key objectives – the maintenance of existing quota shares and existing rights of access. Minister Creed said that “Any attempts to restrict our existing rights and entitlements will be strenuously resisted and that is why I will be insisting that fisheries must form part of the wider trade negotiations.”

The Minister also spoke of his discussion with the EU Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier who, he said “clearly understands the issues and significance of Brexit for Ireland's fisheries sector.”

Minister Creed also emphasized that “it is vital that we all work together”. He said that “for Ministers to be effective, so that Heads of State and Government and Mr Barnier’s team understand and prioritise fisheries, it will be essential that we have a united fishing industry, both nationally and at European level.

Minister Creed concluded with the seanfhocal, “Ní neart go chur le chéile” – “There is strength in unity”.

Clogherhead RNLI Launches €150K Lifeboat Appeal at Drogheda Maritime Festival

Clogherhead RNLI officially launched the station’s €150,000 Shannon lifeboat appeal on the final day of the Drogheda National Maritime Festival (Sunday 11 June) in the presence of the Mayor of Drogheda Oliver Tully and the Drogheda Harbour Master Captain Martin Donnelly. The Shannon is the latest class of all weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet and the most technologically advanced. It is also the first class of RNLI lifeboat to be named after an Irish river, recognition of the role carried out by lifeboat volunteers in Ireland over the last 190 years.

153 Successful Projects Worth €3.6 million Under EMFF Fisheries Local Action Group Scheme

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D. visited the renowned Ballycotton Harbour today (Thursday 8th June) to announce a range of successful projects that will deliver a total investment of €3.6 million under the innovative and inspiring Fisheries Local Area Action Group (FLAG) Strategy for Ireland’s 7 coastal regions. The FLAG Scheme is co-funded by the Exchequer and the EU under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme 2014-20. Over the duration of the EMFF programme, the FLAG Scheme will deliver €12 million in funding to Ireland’s coastal communities.

Archive - June 2017

Mullion Integrated Personal Floatation Device (PFD) With Integrated Man Over Board Device (MOB)

IFA President welcomes Independent Aquaculture Licence Review

- “Minister Creed Must set out clear implementation strategy” –

Ireland’s First Marine Science Gallery at Galway City Museum Officially Opened

EU Fisheries Controls: More Efforts Needed, say Auditors

New Inshore Representative Organisation Incorporated

Ballycotton RNLI launch in early hours to provide medical assistance to ill fisherman off the Cork coast

Ballycotton RNLI launched in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday 10 May) to assist in the medical evacuation of a fisherman 20 miles south of Ballycotton Lighthouse.

Water users urged to take precautions to limit an outbreak of Crayfish Plague on River Suir downstream of Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir

NUI Galway Marine Scientists Research Cold-water Corals and Sponges off the Irish Continental Shelf

RNLI Drowning Prevention Campaign Respect the Water says ‘Fight Your Instincts, Not the Water’ to Stay Alive

As temperatures look set to soar across Ireland new research commissioned by the RNLI has revealed that 39% of Irish people questioned said they would follow their instincts and fight against the water, if they unexpectedly fell into it. However the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign is asking people to fight those instincts and remember one simple piece of advice – floating – that could save lives from drowning.

Rewards for the capture of tagged Irish Sea cod

Arklow RNLI responds to three consecutive call outs bringing eight people to safety

Archive - May 2017

BIM Host High Level Fisheries Economics Conference to Discuss Socio-Economic Impact of Common Fisheries Policy

Foyle Fishermen Sign up to BIM’s Fishing For Litter Initiative

Liadh Ní Riada appointed as Brexit rapporteur for fisheries

Pringle calls on Government to quash illegal convictions under Inland Fisheries Act 2010

Jim O’Toole Appointed Chief Executive of BIM

SeaFest 2017 expected to attract thousands to Galway

BIM launch Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) for Ireland’s Brown Crab Fishery

Wicklow RNLI's D class lifeboat named Dennis-Audrey to fulfil couple's dream

PwC Supports Ireland’s Blue Growth as Headline Sponsor of ‘Our Ocean Wealth Summit’

Seafood HACCP Workshop in Sligo

Archive - April 2017

EU must stop tacitly supporting supertrawlers - Ní Riada

Marine Minister Accused of Ignoring Fishermen

News that Live Brown Crab Imports from Ireland to China Can Resume Welcomed

BIM urges Fishermen to Register their Safety Equipment with ComReg

EU/Canada trade deal will see immediate effects on Irish fish prices

Donegal Coastal Communities being kept in Limbo over Oyster Farms

Irish Researchers are First in the World to Track Detailed Movements of European Sea Bass