Marine Times Newspaper

MARINE TIMES NEWSPAPER

The only publication dedicated entirely to Irish fishing and coastal community interests - make sure you get your copy!

Regular news and views from Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper. The printed July edition will be in all good shops shops later in the week but is available online now exclusively as a digital download, covering all the major developments as reported by Ireland’s leading maritime newspaper. Click on image above to purchase your annual subscription!

MARINE TIMES RADIO

AN INDUSTRY IN CRISIS

The August edition of MARINE TIMES RADIO focuses, as does the paper itself, on the crisis in the fishing industry and asks - What is the real attitude of the Government and the Department of the Marine towards the fishing industry and when did you last hear any of the three party leaders in Coalition speak supportively about the industry? Click on banner above to listen

MARITIME IRELAND RADIO SHOW & PODCAST

The crisis in the fishing industry raises the question which is discussed on the August edition of the MARITIME IRELAND RADIO SHOW – what is the real attitude of the Government and the Department of the Marine towards the fishing industry? The eighth edition of the maritime programme also hears how the people of Killaloe in County Clare are going to honour their maritime tradition, discusses the ‘spatial squeeze’ on coastal communities by wind farms development, hears about an international campaign to get a United Nations Declaration of Rights for the Oceans, the decline of the species of shark --- - and the story of a virgin sailor and an eccentric Irish skipper .... All on the August edition of the MARITIME IRELAND RADIO SHOW presented by Tom MacSweeney.

News 15th August:
Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Station Marking 175 Years of Service

This summer marks 175 years since a lifeboat service was first established in Kilmore Quay. The occasion will be celebrated with an exhibition curated by local author and historian, John Power, over the weekend August 26-28 in the Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay.

In 1846 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was asked by Inspector General Dombraine to provide a lifeboat for Kilmore Quay. The Institution sent a lifeboat on the 28 July 1847. It was put under the care of the Coastguards stationed in Kilmore Quay at the time and so began 175 years of voluntary service to save lives at sea. Full story here

News 12th August:
New Directive on Fishing Vessel Safety Expected

A new EU Directive on the safety of fishing vessels is being drafted because of an increase in incidents involving vessels of all sizes.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board says it has seen an increase in incidents involving fishing vessels of all sizes. Full story here

Public Consultation on Draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development 2030

Stakeholders are being invited to make submissions on a draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development 2030 (Plan). The Plan provides a strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture in Ireland over the next decade and has been developed using a ‘food systems’ approach in line with Food Vision 2030.

It envisages an increasing partnership between the public and private sector to achieve the four overarching objectives as established by the new EU Strategic Guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030. Full story here

News 5th August:
New Claddagh Records Book and CD Collection Celebrating The Blasket Islands Launched by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D.

Beauty An Oileáin is available now from claddaghrecords.com

At an event at the newly refurbished and reopened Blasket Centre at Dunquin, Co. Kerry, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. officially launched Beauty An Oileáin - a new book and CD collection released via Claddagh Records that celebrates the stories, songs and heritage of The Blasket Islands.

This new collection brings to light never-before-published information and stories that offers an enthralling voyage into the traditional music and song of former islanders and their descendants. Featuring 26 wonderful tracks with extensive sleeve notes in both English and Irish by renowned Irish folklorist and Director of the National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin, Ríonach uí Ógáin. Full story here

News 29th July:
Fishing Decommissioning scheme is a shafting exercise by the government of our coastal communities

This governmental scheme represents outright robbery, betrayal and neglect of coastal communities, allowing large foreign fleets to hoover up 85 per cent of the fishing quota off our coast according to Rural Independent TD for Cork South-West, Michael Collins, who has described the European Commission’s approval of an €80 million decommissioning scheme, intended to reduce the Irish fishing fleet by a further 60 vessels, as another shafting exercise of the fishing sector, which is being treated deplorably by the current government.

Speaking today (Friday 29th July), from his Cork South-West constituency, Deputy Collins, said: “This scheme represents nothing short of a blatant attack on the human rights of Irish fishermen and women. It also represents another full-scale offensive on rural and coastal communities, affecting the size of the offshore fleet - over 18 metres – by slashing it to about one-third of what it was in 2006 (280 down to 100).” Full story here

News 28th July:
Decommissioning scheme is another tragedy for Irish fishing

The European Commission has today approved an €80 million decommissioning scheme to reduce the size of the Irish fishing fleet by another 60 vessels. This will take the size of the offshore fleet over 18 metres to about one third of what it was in 2006 (280 down to 100).

Following the announcement, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD said: “Today’s announcement is another tragic blow to our fishing and coastal communities. The intentional and managed collapse of our fishing industry is truly shocking for an island nation that should be maximising the immense and precious resource for our people from the seas around us. Reducing the size of the Irish fishing fleet to one third of what it was 15 years ago is a damning indictment of successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael led Irish Governments that have allowed our precious fishing resource to be taken from our people”. Full story here

€80 Million Scheme to Scrap Fleet Approved by EU

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a € 80 million Irish scheme to support the fishery sector affected by the effects of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

The aim of the scheme is to incentivise vessel owners to cease commercial fishing activities by scrapping their vessels. The scheme will run until 31 December 2023. Under the scheme, aid will be granted to Irish-registered vessels owners in the form of a direct grant to compensate them for ceasing their fishing activities. Full story here

News 15th July:
Making a Splash for Cromane Seafest 2022

On Wednesday July 13th, Cromane Seafest hosted their official re launch party for their upcoming Kerry Maritime Festival on September 16th to 18th at Jacks Coastguard Restaurant, Cromane.

Some of the Cromane Seafest Committee launching one of the best festivals on the Kerry Calendar at Cromane Beach on Wednesday evening. Back row (l-r): Margaret O’Shea, Sandra, Healy, Helena Joy, Patie O'Sullivan. Front: Nuala Hurley.

Cromane’s own, Tomás Hayes, opened the launch. He spoke about living near the sea ‘The sea kept us going during the worst of COVID where taking a walk along the seashore, paddling in the sea or swimming was a great escape and continues to be so! Full story here

European Commission approves €20 million Irish scheme for aquaculture sector in the context of Brexit

IFA Aquaculture welcome the announcement of the approval by the EU Commission of a €20m scheme for Irish Aquaculture. This scheme, funded by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund, is long overdue and needs to be administered as soon as possible.

The Aquaculture sector is the only food producing sector without direct grant widely available currently, and this €20m funded scheme needs to be opened to allow Aquaculture producers to make plans for future investment. Given the input costs crisis and rising inflation over the past few months, investment opportunities are becoming ever more difficult and those who are willing to take on investment projects must be supported. Full story here

News 12th July:
Researchers discover deep sea coral with novel drug potential

Researchers at NUI Galway have discovered a coral in the Atlantic Ocean which contains a potential wonder drug chemical compound that acts against the virus responsible for Covid-19.

The cauliflower coral, so named due to its colour, shape and structure, was found on the seabed about half a mile below the surface on the edge of Ireland’s continental shelf. It contains a previously unknown chemical compound. Full story here

News 8th July:
Irish Seafood Sector Demands Immediate Action on Fuel Crisis
Minister McConalogue Must Announce National Scheme Without Delay

Fishing and seafood organisations say they are shocked and disappointed at the Minister for the Marine’s failure to address the fuel crisis facing the sector. They are calling on Charlie McConalogue and the Irish Government to set up a national scheme, and drawdown existing EU funds to cover extra fuel costs.

A joint statement from eight bodies follows what they describe as a lengthy but inconclusive meeting with the Minister earlier this week. At this meeting, they demanded immediate action to mitigate the huge increase in additional costs, such as fuel and energy, due to the Ukraine war. Full story here

News 4th July:
RNLI lifeboat crew take to the pitch at Croke Park to promote water safety partnership with the GAA

Lifeboat crew from around the island of Ireland, took to the pitch during Sunday’s (3 July) All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final at Croke Park, to promote the charity’s partnership with the GAA on water safety. Before Limerick and Galway battled it out for a place in the final and in front of a packed stadium and TV audience, RNLI volunteers, dressed in their full kit, unfurled a giant flag showing an all-weather lifeboat in action. Full story here

Food Security Threat as Seafood Sector Faces Shutdown
Traditional Fish and Chips may not be on Irish Restaurants Summer Menus

Rising fuel prices are crippling the Irish Seafood sector, including fishermen, aquaculture producers and fish processors. That’s according to Aodh O Donnell, chief executive of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), who says the crisis is a threat to food security.

The entire Irish Seafood Sector are calling on the Government to act now to claim available EU funds to compensate the seafood sector and get the situation under control. Full story here

News 26th June:
Floating offshore wind project proposed for the North West
Fishing industry and Hexicon unveil historic collaboration

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) and Sinbad Marine Services have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with global floating offshore wind developer and technology provider, Hexicon AB. The innovative and historic partnership is predicated on a ‘new approach’ which sees local fishermen engaged and influencing the development process from the onset.

Key decisions, including site selection, cable routing, and land fall, will be collectively analysed and agreed. Similarly, other stakeholders, including environmental organisations will also be given input at an early stage in shaping the location and design of the floating wind farms. In parallel, long-established port operator and marine service provider, Sinbad Marine, will ensure the floating offshore wind project maximises its engagement with local industry and leverages local infrastructure. Full story here

News 9th June:
Fishing Industry Demands Fair Share of Fish from Our Own Waters

Irish Fish Producers have called for a fairer share of the rights to fish in the waters of our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). “Other nations catch about €250m worth of fish a year in our waters - almost twice as much as the Irish fleet catches,” says IFPO chief executive, Aodh O’Donnell.

He says the quotas allocated by the EU to the Irish fishing fleet amount to “a paltry 18% of the volume of fish in our 200-mile Zone every year. Other nations take the balance of the fish, but bizarrely some EU States are unable to catch their annual quota allocations in this EU zone.”

“So, we are calling on the EU to – at the very least – enable reallocation of annual ‘uncaught’ quotas in Ireland’s EEZ to Irish vessels, to give us a more equitable share.” Full story here

News 6th June:
Baltimore RNLI on a 9hr callout to provide assistance to a yacht in difficulty with four people

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide assistance to a yacht with four people onboard that got into difficulty 52 miles off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork, yesterday (Sunday 5 June).

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat just before 1pm, following requests from the Irish Coast Guard and the UK Coastguard to go to the assistance of a 36 foot motor yacht, with four people on board, which had encountered difficulties and was 52 miles south of Baltimore. Full story here

First call out for Clifden RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat

The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI joined Aran Islands RNLI and Shannon-based Rescue 115 helicopter to carry out a search of the waters around Bunowen Bay on Friday night (3rd June).

A member of the public reported seeing a distress flare in the area around Bunowen, west of Ballyconeely at midnight on Friday 03 June. Shortly afterwards the crew launched the new Shannon class all weather lifeboat St. Christopher, her first call on service since being brought to Clifden three weeks ago. Full story here

News 27th May:
Legacy from British actor funds Fenit RNLI’s new inshore lifeboat ‘Lizzie’

A legacy from a popular British actor has helped to fund Fenit RNLI’s new inshore lifeboat. The lifeboat is being named Lizzie in memory of Liz Frazer this Sunday (29 May), in a ceremony at the Fenit Lifeboat Station with the public being invited to attend. The lifeboat is being named by Jan Bolt, the station’s admin officer and wife to the late station mechanic Bob Bolt.

Liz Fraser, who was born in Southwark in 1930 was a well-known and much-loved British actor, starring in roles on stage and screen over a career spanning decades. From her early TV work in Dixon of Dock Green, and Hancock’s Half Hour to four Carry On films to a final performance at the age of 87, in a role on the popular English crime drama, Midsomer Murders, Liz’s work was loved and seen by many. Her wish to fund a lifeboat in her name will now see a Kerry lifeboat station become the permanent home for her kind legacy. Full story here

News 23rd May:
Achill Island RNLI rescue lone sailor in 14 hour overnight operation to broken down yacht 40 miles west of Achill

Achill Island RNLI were involved in a 14 hour rescue overnight, (Sunday/Monday 22/23 May), to a lone sailor onboard a yacht which had lost power almost 40 nautical miles west of Achill Island.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard to assist the sailor and their racing yacht which was in difficulty almost 40 miles off the west coast, having lost all power. The loss of power meant that the sailor onboard had no means of communication. A fixed wing aircraft located the yacht’s position which was then provided to Achill Island RNLI to assist with planning what became an overnight passage. Full story here

Marine Times