THE MARITIME PODCAST WEEKLY NEWS AND COMMENT
There are over 2 million Podcasts now available worldwide, I am told. My monthly maritime podcast is one of them, perhaps a small ‘outlier’ in the context of that magnitude of broadcasts. However, it is Ireland’s only regular maritime programme broadcast and I’m adding the memory of SEASCAPES to it, which I devised, designed and presented on RTE Radio 1 for over 20 years, regrettably no longer in existence, but fondly remembered by very many listeners. So join me on my monthly Podcast at: https://tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie
THE HISTORY OF FISH AS A FOOD
This will be a major topic on the October edition of my Podcast which will be issued on Friday, October 4. The first Friday of each month is the release date and the Podcast can be sent to your Email address on request to: tommacsweeneypodcast@gmail.com
Did you know that the Franciscans were the first to import fish into Ireland? Or that they built churches from the shells of fish they caught? That and a lot more on the October edition.
Image from new book to be discussed on the ‘Podcast – Irish Food History – A Companion’
IS GOVERNMENT IGNORING BASIC IRISH INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF FASCINATION WITH MULTINAIONALS?
Two of the Government’s State agencies have accepted that the fishing industry is experiencing seriously “challenging” times of declining catches, landings, earnings and profitability which are affecting the entire seafood sector. Five major producer and exporter organisations have warned that the industry is in “freefall, on a downward trajectory.” So the Government can be in no doubt about the problems. Bord Iascaigh Mhara in its ‘Business of Seafood Report for 2023 says there was “a 2.9% decline in GDP from 2022 to a total value of €1.2 billion.” This followed the SFPA’s “Protecting Seafood Trade Report 2023” which showed a loss of €37m., according to the industry. But no indication of Government response or to the major industry representative organisations. Is the Government’s fascination with the multinational sector ignoring this island nation’s maritime food industry? I will be reporting in more detail about this in the October edition of the MARINE TIMES newspaper, out in print and online next week.
WORLD MARITIME DAY IGNORED
World Maritime Day on Thursday (September 26) was ignored by the Government, ignored by the national media, ignored by Irish politicians and the public…. an island nation mentally landlocked, it would seem and despite Ireland being a member of the United Nations agency for the sea, the International Maritime Organisation, which arranged World Maritime Day. More ignorance of the importance of the sea and even more of a Government/State failure when the focus of the Day was to highlight the importance of safety at sea in an era of significant transformations and new risks. (IMO image). There was one exception of State neglect, thanks to the National Museum which re-shared a talk by Curator Noel Campbell, about his engagement with local communities in preparation for a new gallery showcasing Traditional Irish boats.
(National Museum image)
BRITTANY FERRIES GOES HYBRID
Brittany Ferries new LNG-electric hybrid vessel Saint-Malo has been on sea trials this week in the Far East, ahead of going into service from Portsmouth UK to Saint Malo France on February 12 next year when she will replace the Bretagne. launched in 1989 and now the ‘grande dame’ of the Brittany fleet, which will sail for the final time on
November 3. “Saint-Malo is the fourth new vessel to join the fleet, part of the biggest fleet renewal project in our company’s 52-year history,” says Christophe Mathieu CEO Brittany Ferries. “This vessel and sister-ship Guillaume de Normandie are significant steps on our journey to a more sustainable future with these new hybrids.
95 TONNES OF LITTER REMOVED FROM BEACHES
A record number of 600 beach clean-ups were organised by volunteers who removed over 95 tonnes of litter nationwide during the ’Big Beach Clean Weekend’ making it the largest clean-up event yet according to the organisers, An Taisce, Clean Coasts Programme, which was supported by Kia Ireland. 15,000 people across Ireland took part.
Be Part of the Community of the Sea
Get involved in the maritime sector Send me your comments. Email: tommacsweeneypodcast@gmail.com
My Seascapes Maritime Podcast on website: https://tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie
Also on all major Podcast sites and Ireland’s Community Radio Stations network
