Tag Archives: Ireland
New documentary reveals Scottish Government believe Rockall dispute over fishing rights could be resolved
The sovereignty of the rock has been the source of a long running dispute between Ireland and the UK. The UK authorities claim Rockall is part of its territory lying within its territorial seas – a claim not recognized by Ireland. Ireland has not claimed ownership of the rock and does not recognise the British claim of sovereignty on the basis that uninhabited rocks should not be claimed by any state. The British Navy annexed Rockall in 1955 – hoisting the Union flag and cementing a brass plaque on the summit. It later sought to incorporate it into part of UK law in 1972. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
Storm Kathleen ties up Irish trawlers amid lucrative prawn fishery
It is the first weekend of April and the lucrative prawn fishery on the Porcupine Bank closes in three weeks for Irish trawlers. The bank is 200km off the west coast. Porcupine prawns are a prized catch, a delicacy. Irish trawlers should be flat out, but Storm Kathleen has forced them to tie up in ports like Castletownbere. Around 40 Irish boats fish for prawns on the Porcupine Bank. This weekend, two dozen of those trawlers are tied up in Castletownbere in west Cork. The remainder are taking shelter in other ports along the west coast. Video, Photos, more, >>click to read<< 09:35
Irish MEP Calls for “Use It, or Lose It” Principle for EU Fishing Regulations
Following the announcement by EU Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius that he has ordered a “full evaluation” of the Common Fisheries Policy and reports that 43,000 tonnes of fish were uncaught by Member States, other than Ireland, European fishing regulations under the CFP should have a “Use It, or Lose It” principle according to MEP, Billy Kelleher, whose constituency includes coastal communities in Munster and South Leinster. . more, >>click to read<< 06:52
Expert To Examine Case of Arklow Vessel Which Developed Serious Stability Issues
The European Ombudsman may be asked to examine the case of the Mary Kate, the fishing vessel which developed serious stability issues after it was bought by an Arklow family. An Oireachtas committee has also agreed to appoint an expert to examine information surrounding the case. Representatives of the departments of transport and agriculture, food and marine may then be invited before the committee after the expert report is completed. The Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen has proposed to take these actions after an initial hearing on the case in late February. Arklow fisherman CJ Gaffney was invited to outline his experience, where he was left with debts of 1 million euro. more, >>click to read<< 08:48
Probe sought into conditions of ‘stranded’ migrant fishers whose boat ran aground off Inis Mór
An investigation has been sought into conditions faced by four West African fishermen who were working on a boat that ran aground off the Aran Islands last weekend. The men had to be rescued from the fishing vessel as part of a multi-agency response that included the Coast Guard and RNLI. The Dáil has heard allegations that the men were “bogusly” recruited to work in Ireland, having first thought they would be working in the UK, only to find themselves working in the Atlantic Ocean off the Galway coast. Solidarity TD Mick Barry claimed the men were “put working illegally” on an Irish boat, called ‘Ambitious’, until the vessel ran aground off Inis Mór and the men required rescue last Sunday. Barry further alleged that attempts have been made by the owner “to send the four men back to Ghana in quicktime” before any authorities have an opportunity to hear of the “ordeal” they allegedly suffered. photos, more, >>click to read<< 13:30
Young Donegal Fisherwoman Pleads for Future of Family Business
One of Donegal’s youngest fishers has criticized the Marine Minister for not doing enough to protect the inshore industry. Arranmore islander Muireann Kavanagh, aged 14, fishes pollack with lines alongside her father and uncles. The young fisherwoman was so stunned by a zero-catch scenario recommended to rebuild pollack stock that she wrote a personal letter to Minister Charlie McConalogue. She writes: “I fish and help maintain a boat my grandfather built by himself and his friends on Arranmore Island. This boat has provided a living for my uncles, my grandfather and my grand uncle. Over the last number of years this boat has been denied her heritage. There is no way that this boat or any of the remaining boats on the Island have destroyed the fish stocks.” photos, more, >>click to read<< 11:44
Fishing Vessel Crew rescued by Irish Coast Guard after Grounding on Inis Mór
Five crew members were rescued by the Irish Coast Guard after their fishing vessel ran aground on the northern side of Inis Mór, on the Aran Islands. The emergency call was received by the Valentia Coast Guard shortly before 5am this morning. The 21-metre fishing vessel had five crew members on board who initially abandoned the vessel into a life raft. Shannon-based Coast Guard Helicopter R115, Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat, and North Aran Coast Guard Unit were all immediately dispatched to the scene to assist with the rescue operation. more, >>click to read<< 18:57
Two fishermen have lucky escape after losing consciousness from toxic fumes – from rotting fish
Two fishermen had a lucky escape after being overcome by toxic fumes created by a combination of rotting fish and seawater on board their fishing vessel shortly after leaving the port of Clogherhead almost 18 months ago, an investigation has revealed. A report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board outlined how the two experienced fishermen lost consciousness after entering a tank on board their trawler. The incident occurred on board F/V Ardent at around 3.15pm on October 31, 2022 shortly after it had departed from Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Co Louth. The first casualty was observed experiencing spasms while lying on the floor of the tank, while waiting for emergency services to arrive with breathing apparatus. more >>click to read<< 08:34
Wicklow TD Calls For Ministers To Compensate Wicklow Fisherman
Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady speaking at the Dáil Petitions Committee following evidence given by Arklow Fisherman CJ Gaffney, has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to intervene directly in the issue of the MV Mary Kate in order to cut through the wall of obfuscation constructed by Ministers Charlie McConalogue and Eamon Ryan. Following years of frustration and false leads and unnecessary roadblocks put in place by government Ministers CJ Gaffney continue with the fight to find justice for their case. more, >>click to read<< 11:46
CJ Gaffney Presents FV Mary Kate Case Before Joint Committee on Petitions
In a significant development, CJ Gaffney is set to appear before the Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsman tomorrow, Thursday 22 February at 1:30 pm to discuss the case of the fishing vessel ‘Mary Kate’ WD-30. This live session will be televised and accessible via the Oireachtas Website Committee Room 1. CJ Gaffney, representing the concerns related to the fishing vessel Mary Kate which he bought from Germany in 2009, will have the opportunity to present the details of his case in person. This marks a crucial moment as the Gaffney family case becomes the sole petitioner scheduled to be heard live during this session. Includes a link to the live broadcast, more, >>click to read<< 12:32
Valentine’s call on Government to prove it loves the Fishing Industry
Patrick Murphy, CEO of Irish South and West Fisheries Producers and Aontú’s Ireland South candidate for the EU elections says that Ireland’s rich marine resources, and those who work in them, deserved to be loved. “The Springtime is the optimum time for our government to roll out an information campaign on the benefits of eating fish. Lighter brighter days not only influence our spirits, but also our eating habits. The Government should tap into this and put some of the huge amounts of money it has to good and practical use”. “Repeated studies show the benefits of eating fish; it is one of the most complete foods we have, full of minerals, vitamins that we need for our bodies and minds, it is easy to cook, it’s versatile, it truly is an incredible food”. more, >>click to read<< 14:23
Irish fishermen fury over ‘unbelievable and outrageous’ secret EU deal talks to give Iceland access to our waters
Irish fishermen are up in arms over secret EU talks to give Iceland access to our fishing waters. Our trawlermen are being allocated an extra 15 million Blue Whiting quota this year on condition that Icelandic crews can fish here. The Irish Government claims the talks are “informal” and nothing has been decided yet. But Aodh O’Donnell of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO) blasted that they must fight for our fishing industry the way other EU member states do. “They are not an EU member. How is this a fair deal? “Are we getting to catch around 15 million of extra fish in Iceland or EU waters for this deal? No. more, >>click to read<< 19:21
MCIB Report Recommends Measures After Fishing Crewman Sustains Crush Injury in Deck Incident Off Cork Coast
The MCIB recommendation is one of a number issued in its report inquiring into a crush injury sustained by a crewman on board a fishing vessel off the Cork coast in November 2021. Recommendations in relation to risk assessments, safety legislation, hazard warnings and training for use of articulated deck cranes are also published in the report. The incident occurred on board the 21 metre-long fishing vessel Aquila which was fishing south of the Kinsale gas rigs on November 7th, 2021. The vessel with five crew onboard had left the fishing port of Union Hall, Co Cork, the night before. Wind at the time was force three, westerly, with a moderate sea. more, >>click to read<< 10:57
Elderly man in hospital after being rescued from Wicklow river by local fisherman
A fisherman on board a trawler moored at Wicklow Harbour dived into the water on Wednesday to rescue an elderly male, who was witnessed floating face down and drifting out to the sea. The alarm was raised shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday after Alan Hegarty, owner of The Fishman located on South Quay in Wicklow town, spotted what appeared to be an elderly male being carried by the currents along the River Vartry at considerable speed. One person almost immediately threw a life-buoy into the water in an attempt to rescue the person, but they were unsuccessful as the man was unresponsive. Another person tried to pull the man’s body out of the water using a large pole but was unsuccessful. As he continued to drift towards the sea, a local fishing boat skipper took action, diving in to retrieve the man, with the help of his crew. more, >>click to read<< 20:33
Danish letter shows Charlie McConalogue was ‘hoodwinked’ in mackerel wars, say fishermen
Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue failed to take up an offer by Denmark to resolve a long-running row with Ireland over mackerel, which could have been worth almost €10m to the Irish fleet over two years. The offer, in a letter from Danish Minister for Fisheries Jacob Jensen, amounted to a transfer of 3,000 tonnes of mackerel to Ireland for two years, “without prejudice” to a long-term solution to the dispute. Instead, at December’s meeting of the Fisheries Council, Ireland appears to have been outmanoeuvred into accepting a permanent deal in Denmark’s favour, with a fraction of the share going to Ireland. more, >>click to read<< 08:14
Fishermen rescued off Cork coast in freezing temperatures and high winds
Three men have been rescued off the East Cork coast after their boat was in danger of washing up against rocks. The 11m boat they were on had been disabled 2.5 miles off Power Head at around 2am on Tuesday. Temperatures were freezing and a bitter north-easterly wind — force 5-6 — created a two-metre swell. Ballycotton RNLI received the request to launch at 2.15am and was told there was a risk of the vessel being washed up against the rocks. The crew boarded The Austin Lidbury all-weather lifeboat and headed west towards Power Head. more, >>click to read<< 07:46
Almost 300 homes on Bere Island without power after sea trawler damages underwater ESB cable
An Island of more than 200 people off west Cork has lost electricity after large fishing trawlers damaged an undersea ESB cable. Bere Island has been without power for its approximately 280 ESB customers since the incident yesterday afternoon. An undersea diver is attempting to locate the damaged cable so restoration work can be carried out. “The outage occurred yesterday afternoon (4 January) as a result of a fishing vessel accidentally coming into contact with a cable running from Castletownbere to Bere Island,” a spokesperson said. more, >>click to read<< 16:00
2,788 incidents coordinated by Coast Guard in 2023
In 2023, the Irish Coast Guard coordinated responses to 2,788 incidents which is the second highest number in 5 years (2,976 in 2021). August was the busiest month with a total of 391 incidents. The incident count covers the range of services provided by the Coast Guard. Services include search and rescue, maritime casualty support and pollution preparedness and response. IRCG also provides air ambulance services to the HSE including day and night aeromedical services to the offshore islands, assists An Garda Síochána with missing person searches, including inland and mountain rescue, as well as provision of other support to the Emergency Services. photos, more, >>click to read<< 09:56
Fisherman’s Challenge to Windfarm Explorations Referred to EU Court
The High Court case is being brought by fisherman Ivan Toole, who says the windfarm developments will have a direct bearing on the Wicklow fishing fleet and will damage all marine life in the area. Mr Toole has asked for a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of an EU direction about the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. His case has been taken against the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority. Judge Humphreys said he would stay the finalisation of Mr Toole’s case, while he referred a number of questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union. more, >>click to read<< 09:33
Inshore Fishermen Seek Aid Package
The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) has warned that its members will be forced to tie up to piers “long term” due to a combination of factors. “It would have been difficult to envisage the dire situation facing inshore fishermen currently could worsen but it did so, culminating in the almost complete loss of yet another fishery so important to our economic viability,” NIFA said in a statement. It was referring to cuts in pollack, with Area vi down 26 per cent and Area vii down by 87 per cent as a result of the EU fisheries council talks in Brussels. more, >>click to read<< 07;40
Body recovered by navy divers in search for fisherman off Louth coast
Navy divers recovered the body of the fisherman, who was aboard the ‘Ben Thomas’, a small fishing boat which got into difficulty and began to sink on Tuesday. Around 8.45am Tuesday, a mayday call was received by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin from the vessel and its two crewmembers in the North Irish Sea. Search and rescue teams were able to retrieve one of the fishermen his crewmate in Tuesday’s search of the Dunany Point to Dundalk Bay area, but the multi-agency operation had to stand down as light faded that evening. more, >>click to read<< 08:23
GoFundMe for Bandon hero hits target in 24 hours
Farid Langens of the trawler Soenkin and Kevin Roos of the trawler De Maria Antonia
A GoFundMe which was set up for a courageous electrician from Bandon who rescued a woman from a sinking car at Kennedy Quay reached its target in under 24 hours. William Ross, alongside two Belgian fishermen, Farid Langens and Kevin Roos, played a crucial role in freeing the woman. The trio acted without hesitation and managed to pull the woman from her car, which had entered the water just after midday on Monday. “We were just finished unloading our catch and we heard some people shouting on the quay. They said, ‘There’s a car in the water!’” Farid told Red FM’s ‘The Neil Prendeville Show’. More, >>click to read<< 14:29
‘Heroic at the highest level’ – Fishermen save woman from sinking car in Cork Harbor
Belgian fisherman Farid Landgens
Three fishermen are being hailed as heroes after pulling a woman from a sinking car in Cork city this afternoon. The dramatic rescue happened on Kennedy Quay after a car entered the water shortly after midday today. Fishermen unloading the day’s catch from two boats on the quay jumped in the water and smashed in the two windows to save the woman before the car sank. Cork City Fire Brigade Second Officer Victor Shine described the fisherman’s actions as “heroic at the highest level”. >>click to read<< 07:38
Dunmore East RNLI leads multi-agency rescue of 3 fisherman
The Dunmore East RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew successfully coordinated a multi-agency rescue operation yesterday morning (25 November) for a fishing vessel in distress. The 12m vessel, with 3 persons on board, got into difficulty less than 0.5 nautical miles west of Dunmore East Harbour. It was reported to be taking on a significant amount of water when the RNLI crew was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard at 07.33am. RNLI volunteers responded to a pager alert and the all-weather lifeboat, William and Agnes Wray was launched and quickly located the vessel.>>click to read<< 07:10
Inshore Fishermen Tell Minister They ‘Urgently Need Help’
The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association has made a request to the Minister for the Marine for “immediate financial support” in order to survive the winter. Processors have reduced the price paid for shellfish, NIFA said, in a letter delivered to the Minister’s office in Donegal. Many fishermen will not be able to maintain themselves during the winter months, according to NIFA, “which leaves an uncertainty to the once lucrative Christmas season when fishermen would normally receive the highest prices of the year.” >>click t<o read<< 12:53
EU review gives Wicklow skipper CJ Gaffney hope as home support wanes
After being shown a glimmer of hope in his ongoing quest for justice via an EU safety review, Arklow skipper CJ Gaffney has slammed the support he has received from Irish representatives, saying: “When the EU is helping you but your own reps aren’t, something is seriously wrong”.In 2007, CJ purchased the Dutch trawler ‘Mary Kate’ and subsequently found she had serious stability issues, which made the boat uninsurable. After trying to take legal action in Holland and Germany (as she was German registered) without success, he took out a loan to cover the considerable cost of fixing the boat. Despite finishing the repairs in 2012, CJ had been unable to earn a living fishing the boat for so long that he was now forced to sell. A UK buyer was found, but due to the boat’s history, she could not be registered with the UK fishing fleet. >>click to read<< 09:47
Ireland’s Regulator in Eye of Storm Over Weighing System
An Irish parliamentary committee may summon the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) before it to explain its weighing system, reports Lorna Siggins. This follows a recent parliamentary (Oireachtas) agriculture, food and marine committee debate when Independent TD for Cork South-West Michael Collins called for an independent review of the current system run by the SFPA. Collins referred to a “crisis” in the system and quoted from an Irish Examiner newspaper report, which claimed that a recording system initiated by the SFPA in December 2022 may be flawed and that 40% of by-catch sampling could be out by as much as 80%. >>click to read<< 09:21
Monster crab measuring over nine feet hauled up in fishing nets of Kerry trawler
A monster box crab measuring over nine feet has been hauled up in the fishing nets of a Kerry trawler. Normally found in the depths of the Porcupine Bank, the spider-like creature is thought to have gone off course when she wandered into the nets of the Kerry skipper, Niall Flannery, in recent days. Marine biologist, Dr Kevin Flannery, said the gigantic species is an extremely rare catch in Irish waters. “She’s huge. At first they thought it was a spider crab, they knew it was completely different from what they were targeting. They photographed it and sent it on to me. Photos, >>click to read<< 11:52
Killybegs Looking for Alternatives to Diesel for Fishing Boats
On-going efforts by fishermen to reduce their environmental impact, increase their efficiency and contribute to scientific data collection are continuing to enhance the sustainability credentials of seafood, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has claimed. The major Donegal-based fishing group is also looking for “ways and means of weaning the vessels off diesel.” “While the fishing industry sometimes struggles to get the recognition it deserves for its importance to the Irish economy or as producers of highly nutritious low impact food, this is proof positive of the sustained work which KFO members are investing into long-term sustainability,” the Organisation’s Chief Scientific and Sustainability Officer, Dr Edward Farrell, has said. >>click to read<< 08:26
Staff at Irish Aquarium Baffled as Rare Albino Lobster Turns Blue!
The rare albino lobster has been living at the community-run Achill Experience Aquarium in Co Mayo since he was discovered off the nearby coast six years ago and has become a huge attraction for tourists. He is affectionately called Charlie after the fisherman Charlie O’Malley who caught him off the Achill coast in 2017. It is estimated that only one in 100 million lobsters are white or albino. “Every time he moults (changes shell) in order to grow, which is every 12 to 14 months, we see the blue colour which is gradually getting stronger. >>click to read<< 07:34<<
