Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1580. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline any sustainable fishing advocacy groups he is aware of in County Louth including local regional branches. [42395/21]
View answerIn responding to the Deputy I can advise that the coastal zone of County Louth comes under the area covered by the North East Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum (RIFF), which also includes the coastal zones of counties Meath and Dublin. The North East RIFF is part of the network of six Regional Forums around the coast that support the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF). The National and Regional Forums are consultative bodies, established to foster industry-led development of proposals for the management of non-quota stocks within six nautical miles of the Irish shore. 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 fishers, environmental interests, marine leisure, marine tourism and other marine stakeholders. A dedicated website provides information on the work of the Forums: www.inshoreforums.ie.
In addition, the Irish fishing industry has several Producer Organisations, including the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (ISWFPO), the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation (ISEFPO) and the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO). Seafood processors are represented by the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association (IFPEA). All of these are national groups and cover, as appropriate, operators in County Louth. The Clogherhead Fishermen’s Co-operative also is based in County Louth.
