Three extra Irish ports have been designated by Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue for landings by Northern Irish-registered fishing vessels.
Malin Head, Glengad and Bunagee in Co Donegal have all been approved and will come under the remit of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in Greencastle.
The SFPA’s port office in Greencastle was also opened on Friday by McConalogue.
Under regulations designed to deter illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, the designated ports in Ireland for all non-EU vessels are limited to Castletownbere, Co Cork and Killybegs, Co Donegal.
However, vessels registered in Northern Ireland may have access to the ports of Greencastle, Rathmullan, Burtonport, Ros an Mhíl, and Howth.
Malin Head, Glengad and Bunagee have now been added to that list.
“ Designated ports are a critical component in an overall framework that seeks to ensure effective fisheries management and minimise the risk of IUU fishing,” the SFPA says.
It says the establishment of a permanent SFPA port office in Greencastle “formed an important part of the measures undertaken … to ensure regulatory preparedness and compliance with EU sea-fisheries legislation and fisheries conservation control” after Britain left the EU.
