Fishing and seafood processing representatives have described as ‘positive’ their first meeting with the new Marine Minister and his officials. Seafood Ireland spokesperson Dominic Rihan said there’d been a ‘very constructive exchange of views with Minister Timmy Dooley.
The meeting was attended by all five Seafood Ireland alliance members – the KFO, IFPO, IFPEA, ISWFPO and the ISEFPO. It also included inshore fisheries, seafood processing and aquaculture representatives, says Rihan, who is chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO). “The discussion focused on the developmental challenges faced by the sector arising from Brexit and quota reductions.”
Rihan says the minister signaled his interest in visiting stakeholder groups and being proactive at both national and European level on fishing and seafood sector issues. “He was clearly committed to working with the industry. As a result, we are more optimistic now about the potential for positive change in Europe and here at home.”
Also speaking after the meeting was alliance member, Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South & West Fish Producer’s Organisation (IS&WFPO. Murphy said it now feels like “we are at long last moving towards an alignment of views between the seafood sector, the Department of the marine, and the Government. We are talking about the specifics and identifying deliverable priorities. It’s the start of a journey of planned and ongoing engagement.”
At the meeting, the minister asked each organisation to identify their top five priorities by way of a submission to him. Murphy says these submissions will form the basis for the ongoing engagement. The Minister also told the sector representatives that he was committed to the Programme for Government objectives on fishing and marine.
“Coupled with the planned visit of the EU Fisheries Commissioner to Ireland in May, there are definite signals that our sector’s lobbying efforts are finally being heeded. The ultimate proof will be in the action that is taken now in the months and years ahead.”
Since the meeting with the Minister, the Seafood Ireland alliance members also attended an all-day meeting with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). The meeting covered strategic issues, focussing on succession and growth opportunities. There were a range of presentations from guest speakers, including one on the right policies needed for growth in the sector.
Seafood Ireland was formed in 2024 and is an alliance of five fishing and processing bodies. These are the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish South & West Fish Producer’s Organisation (IS&WFPO), the Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation (IS&EFPO) and the Irish Fish Processors & Exporters Association (IFPEA). The organisations are committed to working together to strengthen the voice of the Irish fishing industry.