Published on Wednesday14thMay2014
Coveney Announces Inshore Fisheries Structures, Development and Conservation Package
Timmy Murphy (Skipper and owner of 'Dawn Hunter' boat, inshore fisherman with Minister Simon Coveney & Jason Whooley (CEO BIM).
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney today announced a package of measures to develop the inshore fisheries sector. The package consists of three parts including:
(1) The establishment of a National Inshore Fisheries Forum, supported by a network of Regional Inshore Forums in each of the FLAG regions,
(2) A funding programme worth up to €1m for the inshore sector, and
(3) Conservation measures to support lobster and shrimp stocks.
Announcing the establishment of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum the Minister said:
“Ireland’s inshore fishermen are poorly represented by current structures and need a dedicated platform where they can discuss and develop common initiatives. I hope that inshore fishermen will embrace this opportunity created by the new structures to have a coherent voice which can be heard clearly.”
The NIFF is being set up to encourage inshore fishermen using small fishing boats to participate in the management of fisheries within 6 nautical miles. A network of Regional Inshore Forums (RIF’s), based on and linked to the community-led Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) around the Irish coast, will nominate delegates to bring forward regional proposals to the NIFF for wider industry discussion. The structures will also provide a new opportunity for future consultation with the inshore fishing sector.