Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021
253. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the National Inland Fisheries Forum; when it last met; his plans to reconvene the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16106/21]
View answerThe National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) is a consultative body, established to foster industry-led development of proposals for the management of non-quota stocks within six nautical miles of the Irish shore. The NIFF is supported by a network of six Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs) that cover the Irish coast. Since their inception, the Forums have developed initiatives seeking to protect the future of the inshore sector, which is extremely important for Irish coastal communities. The Forums involve representation from inshore fishermen, environmental interests, marine leisure, marine tourism and other marine stakeholders. A dedicated website provides information on the work of the Forums: www.inshoreforums.ie.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which provides administrative support to the Forums, has advised my Department that the NIFF held its most recent meeting on 11th February. I was pleased to have my first meeting with the NIFF on 9th December, along with representatives from the Marine Institute, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and BIM. At our meeting, industry representatives outlined the challenges facing the inshore sector.
The Programme for Government strongly commits to supporting the inshore community and the wider seafood sector in achieving its potential. I look forward to my next meeting with the NIFF, at the earliest mutually convenient opportunity, to continue working on how we can do this together.
The National Inland Fisheries Forum and any other matters relating to Inland Fisheries come under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.
