National Inshore Fisheries Forum autumn launch

Agreement has been reached betweeen Ireland’s six Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the terms of reference for the new National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) that will give a voice to fishermen using fishing boats of less than 12m in length).

NIFF

 John Hickey BIM (centre) checks the size of landed lobsters

NIFF and Regional Inshore Forums  (RIF) will be established this autumn with an aim to provide the inshore sector with effective opportunities to develop and implement policies and initiatives relating to sustainable management of inshore fisheries within six nautical miles, consistent with national and EU policies concerning fisheries management, sustainable development and protection of the marine environment. The forums will also implement measures to enable local fishermen to contribute to inshore fisheries management policies.

How does it work?

The NIFF which will comprise two delegates from each of the RIFs and a chair, will provide a national platform under which the RIF can interact with each other, the department and the marine agencies (BIM, SFPA and the Marine Institute).

The RIFs will be established by the existing six coastal community FLAGs. Each RIF will have a maximum 12 members and at least one fisheries and one environmental representative. Each RIF will select its own chair and vice chair, both of whom will act as delegates to the NIFF.

Selection process

Members of the RIF will be appointed by the corresponding FLAG on the basis of:

  • ability to represent the views of the inshore sector
  • knowledge of inshore fisheries, fish stocks, and fishing methods
  • capacity to engage on fisheries management issue

“The forums will give the inshore sector a voice and an opportunity to contribute to how this important fishery is managed and developed,” remarked Michael Keatinge, BIM’s Director of Fisheries & Training Development.

He stressed that the inshore sector was too fragmented and was the reason why the agency was now putting in place a more structured approach to community-led development, using the existing infrastructure of the FLAGs. 

“We have learnt a great deal from this programme and our experience in this area will greatly benefit the inshore forums. This is a real and genuine attempt at bottom-up cooperative management.”

Full details on the ToR are available on www.bim.ie

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