In all the talk and discussion about food security, why is fishing not mentioned? And why does the Government continue to give away Irish fishing rights to other European countries? In its annual Business of Seafood Report, published Friday,. Bord Iascaigh Mhara said that the ‘Irish Seafood Economy’ had grown by 15% to a’Record Value’ of €1.26 billion. Yet the Government is intent on removing 60 vessels from the Irish fleet, decommissioning as it is called. Where will the quotas of fish catches that those boats held go? There are indications that other European countries are casting eyes on these quotas. If the Government does not protect them for remaining Irish boats it will be another major blow to maintaining an Irish fishing industry. These are questions which should be publicly discussed. Why is this not a major issue in Dáil, public and media debates, at a critical time for food security?. As I point out in my monthly diary in the Marine Times, April edition – FISHING PROVIDES SEAFOOD – DOESN’T IT? I refer to The Irish Times which published on the front page of their Weekend Review section, a full page article asking the question – CAN IRELAND FEED ITSELF? In around 1,700 words, with two photographs and a large map of Ireland, populated by cattle, there was not a single mention of the fishing industry. Not once in the article was the word ‘fishing’ used. Not once was the fishing industry mentioned. This highlighted for me the attitude of the national media – print and electronic – towards the fishing industry. There should be much more commitment and public concern, in this island nation, about the fishing industry.
BELL LINES REUNION
An ex-Bell Lines Seafarers Inaugural Reunion is being organised for Saturday, ay 7,in Waterford. “If you know of any ex-Bell Lines Seafarers,it would be appreciated if you can let them know about this event,” says Peter Walter, who is involved in organising the events. Contact: pgjwalter@gmail.com
5 MARITIME STORIES THIS WEEK
5 MARITIME STORIES THIS WEEK
1 – Brittany Ferries signed a deal with Cork Port for a second weekly service to Roscoff, farming 40 years of the connection. The new service will be operated by the Armorique on Wednesdays, in addition to the Saturday service by the Pont Aven. It is also introducing the ‘Galicia’ to their Rosslare – Bilbao route from November this year. The E-Flexer class vessel is one of the newest additions to their. It was launched in December 2020.
2 – Russian ships continue to arrive in Irish ports every week. Two were unloading on the day that the Ukrainian President addressed the Dáil.
3 – Samsung Heavy announced that it will develop floating nuclear power plants. Samsung Heavy Industries OF South Korea and Denmark’s Seaborg signed a partnership agreement to develop floating nuclear power plants based on Seaborg’s compact molten salt reactor (CMSR) technology. The agreement includes development of hydrogen and ammonia production plant.
3 – Inland Fisheries Ireland said it would welcome a review of turbine operations at ESB Ardnacrusha station at peak times for eel migrations. This follows IFI investigation into an eel kill in Lower Shannon last December during Storm Barra. The Irish eel fishery was closed by Government a number of years ago.
4 – Mowi appointed Catherine McManus as Operations Director, Farming (Ireland), effectively taking over at the helm of the company in Ireland. She has been with #Mowi for 30 years, most recently as Technical Manager Ireland.
5 – Offshore wind developer Orsted dought temporary ‘no-sail zones’ at offshore wind farms after a turbine failure at a Danish farm commissioned 2013. Rotor and 3 blades separated at 400 megawatt Anholt Farm and fell into the sea. No injuries were reported.
