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

In this month’s edition - Political classes must deliver for coastal communities

As this edition of the MARINE TIMES went to print there was no conclusion of on-going political negotiations to form a new Government following the General Election. What is clear is that the fishing industry expects a new Government to focus on the survival of fishing. Also, the Seafood Ireland Alliance says “it is now clear that 2025 will be another difficult year for the fishing industry. 2025 quotas will generate losses of around €20m though this will be offset by some quota increases.” .... all of this plus so much more in our January issue

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 NEWS January 22nd:
Howth and Skerries RNLI crews rescue fisherman from sinking fishing boat

The volunteer lifeboat crews at Howth and Skerries RNLI launched two lifeboats on Monday afternoon to assist a fishing boat off the coast of Rush, North County Dublin, which had hit rocks and was taking on water.

The pagers sounded just after 1pm, and the crew at Howth RNLI launched their All-Weather lifeboat within ten minutes. Due to the urgency of the situation, Dublin Coast Guard also requested Skerries RNLI to launch their lifeboat and for the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 to make their way to the scene. A number of nearby fishing boats offered assistance but were unable to get close to the rocks. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS January 17th:
Learn lifesaving skills at BIM and RNLI’s Man Overboard Challenge

BIM and the RNLI have joined forces again this year to offer two Man Overboard sessions to teach essential lifesaving skills to anyone working in commercial fishing or aquaculture that goes to sea.

The free one-day event is designed to highlight the importance of wearing a correctly fitted Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and to practice Man Overboard recovery strategies that can help save lives in the event of an accident/incident at sea. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS January 16th:
A programme for Government

The future government of Ireland featuring Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and a number of Independent TD’s have published a programme for government which features a ‘roadmap’ of explorations and aspirations for the fisheries, marine and coastal communities.

Photo: John Cunningham

As the late Joey Murrin always said, “It’s all about the fish!” – If we don’t have the fish to catch or be allowed to catch our fair share all the hopes and aspirations are not worth the paper they are written on. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS January 14th:
Galway RNLI’s New Year, New Crew

Nine new volunteer crew with Galway RNLI recently donned their drysuits for the first time and took part in on the water exercises as part of their training to become fully fledged crew.

Nine new Galway RNLI volunteer crew outside the Galway Lifeboat Station. Back row, from left: Eoin Carey, Darragh Heskin, Pierce Purcell, Mark Purcell and Eoghan Donohue. Front row, from left: Erin Killeen, Stuart Deane, Máirtín Folan and Paddy Hennelly.

The new crew joined the Galway Lifeboat Station following a recruitment and selection process in 2023 and commenced training during the autumn that year. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS January 13th:
Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat launched to fishing vessel near Greenore

Clogherhead RNLI volunteers were tasked by the Coast Guard to assess the situation involving a fishing vessel which had lost all power.

The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Michael O'Brien was launched at 4.10pm on Friday 10th January 2025, in calm seas with good visibility. The lifeboat was tasked by the Coast Guard to assess the situation of a 14 metre fishing vessel with three fishermen on board, which had lost all power south-west of the Imogen Buoy near Greenore, County Louth. Full story here

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

MARINE TIMES NEWS December 17th:
Age-old traditional Arrow Ceremony to be re-enacted at Hook Lighthouse on New Year’s Day 2024

An age-old tradition is set to take place on New Year’s Day at the 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse in county Wexford as the archers, both expert and amateur, participate in a traditional “arrow ceremony”.

At 1 pm, the Dunbrody Archers will join Cllr BridÍn Murphy An Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of New Ross Council to participate in the ceremony. The ancient tradition dates back to 1687 when the Mayor and the corporation of New Ross Town Council claimed their authority over the Tower and waters by travelling to the point of the Hook and shooting an arrow into the sea from Hook Head Lighthouse. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS December 13th:
Dublin doctor on call as more RNLI lifesavers prepare to answer the call this Christmas

We continue our focus on the RNLI volunteer crew members who are preparing to spend Christmas on call.

Dr Gabriel Fitzpatrick, HOWTH RNLI

Christmas is a time for family and friends, but the RNLI’s volunteer crews are ready to leave their own celebrations this festive season and answer the call for help. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS December 11th:
Even more RNLI lifesavers prepare to answer the call this Christmas

Continuing from yesterday’s report, as the RNLI comes to the end of its milestone 200th year, the charity is launching its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, we focus on more of the volunteer crew members who are preparing to spend Christmas on call.

Adam and Luka pictured with their Mum Karen Harris

On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period* every year. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews including those at Dunmore East, Tramore and Helvick Head, are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea. These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected. Full story here

MARINE TIMES NEWS December 10th:
RNLI lifesavers prepare to answer the call this Christmas

As the RNLI comes to the end of its milestone 200th year, the charity is launching its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the volunteer crew members who are preparing to spend Christmas on call.

David and Caroline Barry with baby Amelia, Clifden RNLI

On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period every year. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea. These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected. Full story 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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