Fleet capacity guidelines to support sustainable fishing in Europe
The European Commission has issued a new set of guidelines to help Member States strike the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities.
The guidelines recommend to Member States a set of standardised indicators (biological, economic and vessel-use indicators) to determine if the size of their fishing fleets are in line with the amount of fishing opportunities allocated to them.
Bluefin tuna recreational fishery remains closed for 2014 season
Sea anglers and charter boat skippers are being reminded that the Bluefin Tuna recreational fishery remains closed in 2014.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) have released updated information in relation to the recreational catches of Bluefin tuna in Ireland.
Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums seek members
BIM, Ireland’s sea-fisheries development agency, is seeking members to participate in Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums that will feed into the National Inshore Fisheries Forum established in June.
John Hickey, BIM, working with inshore lobster fishermen
Each RIFF will be linked to one of six nationwide Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) and will comprise a total of 12 members, eight of whom will represent inshore fisheries. The balance of the membership will include stakeholders from marine sectors other than fisheries (e.g. seafood processing/sales, marine leisure, marine tourism, environmental NGOs and community organisations.)
ACRUNET 6th Partner Meeting in Lisbon
Norah Parke
A very successful two-day meeting of the ACRUNET (Atlantic Crab Resource Users Network) was held at the end of June in Lisbon, Portugal. The meeting was hosted by the Portuguese ACRUNET partner ― the Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, (IPMA), at one of its local facilities.
On the morning of Day 1, intensive focus group meetings gave delegates an opportunity catch up on their individual area of interest before proceeding to more integrated business for the next day and a half. ACRUNET is now entering its final year and it was evident from the tone and content of the presentations and discussions that many of the activities are now reaching completion.
ACRUNET partners at the 6th meeting, in Lisbon, June 2014
It was interesting to note that in many cases the tasks undertakenby ACRUNET had themselves opened up new areas for investigation, such as further refinements on live brown crab transport systems and ways to quantify brown crab quality. Managing brown crab fisheries is still high on the ACRUNET agenda.
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).
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.
Fishermen welcome Coveney’s retention of marine brief
The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has welcomed the announcement that Minister Coveney is to keep his existing responsibilities including marine in the Cabinet reshuffle.
Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine speaking at Our Ocean Wealth Conference, Dublin Castle, June 2014. Photo Gillian Mills
"We are pleased that Minister Coveney has retained responsibility for marine and we are confident given his keen interest in the area that he will deal with it personally himself rather than delegating it to a junior minister," remarked Sean O'Donoghue FIF chairman.
New dawn for Ireland’s 2,000 strong inshore fisheries sector
Following previous failed attempts at implementing a management framework for Ireland’s inshore fisheries, marine minister Simon Coveney has launched a dedicated platform and suite of measures for this sector which comprises over 80% of Ireland’s fishing fleet.
The development package consists of three parts: establishment of a National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF); a funding package of €1m in 2014 and conservation measures to support lobster and shrimp stocks.
Ireland secures major increase in EU funding for seafood sector
Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, Ireland’s marine minister Simon Coveney has secured €148m through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (2014-2020) to develop Ireland’s seafood industry and dependant coastal communities.
“This funding is more than double the amount available to Ireland during the last Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and will ensure a strong fishing industry that can grow to meet its potential up to 2020,” Minister Coveney said.
Ireland’s sea fisheries CEO steps down
The Board of Directors (BIM), the Irish Sea Fisheries Board has announced the resignation of their Chief Executive Officer, Jason Whooley, effective from August 30,2014.
The Board praised Mr Whooley for the 'wide-ranging positive changes he has made to the organisation during his tenure' and the 'valuable contribution he has made towards the development of the Irish Seafood Sector'.
Jason Whooley steps down as BIM chief executive end of August
"Since joining BIM, Jason has led the refocusing of the agency into the modern semi-state company that we see today. On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank Jason for his work in BIM. I know that he is leaving BIM with a legacy of change and increased ambition," remarked Kieran Calnan, Chairman of the Board.