#rnli – The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat completed its tow of the 33 ft–Fishing Vessel 'Michelle' back to the pier in Courtmacsherry after earlier today going to its rescue 31 miles offshore near the Kinsale Head Gas Fields.

The four hour tow was conducted in good conditions and both the two crewmembers and stricken boat are now docked at village pier.

On board the Courtmscsherry RNLI Lifeboat on today's Callout were Coxswain Sean O Farrell , Mechanic Stewart Russell and crew Ciaran Hurley, Ken Cashman, Gary Barrett, Kieran Boyle and Orla Cronin.

#RNLI - Arklow RNLI’s volunteers were alerted by pager at 9.22am yesterday morning (Wednesday 20 August) and launched the lifeboat Ger Tigchleaar within minutes to a call for help from a local fishing vessel with engine problems.

In a moderate sea, the lifeboat crew – coxswain Ned Dillon, mechanic Michael Fitzgerald, Roger Tyrell, John Bermingham, Andy O'Loughlin and Jimmy Myler – proceeded to scene.

After locating the casualty vessel 11 miles south southeast of Courtown, the RNLI crew established a tow line and proceeded with the long slow tow back to Arklow, arriving at 11.30am.

The two crewmembers aboard the casualty vessel remained aboard during the tow home and all hands came ashore safely at Arklow.

Speaking following the incident, volunteer lifeboat press officer and sea safety officer Mark Corcoran said: “All persons who take to the water, whether for a living or for pleasure, must always wear their lifejackets and should always have a means of raising the alarm.

"Even with the years of experience these professional fishermen have, mechanical problems can still occur. Please don’t take chances when going to sea.”

#ArklowMarine – Arklow Marine Services have completed Sally Ann, a newbuild which has been delivered to her owners Scottish Sea Farms.

Sally Ann is powered by twin Doosan V158TIH main engines and designed by consultant naval architects AG Salmon as a multi-role vessel. She  is to be used on the west coast of Scotland where Scottish Sea Farms have all their sites.

The vessel is 22.8m in length with an 8m beam and a lightship displacement of 120 tonnes. She has a service speed of 9 knots with a maximum speed of 10.5 knots. For more details, the Maritime Journal has a report here.

#RNLI - Howth RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 1.20pm yesterday afternoon (10 August) to reports of a fishing trawler with a fouled propeller drifting north-east of Lambay Island.

Skerries RNLI's volunteer crew also launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson, but were stood down when it became clear that Howth's Trent-class lifeboat was more apt for the job.

The Howth lifeboat crew located the casualty vessel at 2pm some 12 miles north-east of Howth and established a tow line within 10 minutes of arrival. 

The fishing vessel was then safely towed back to Howth Harbour, though progress was slow as a result of deteriorating weather conditions – with a north-west Force 6 wind and a rough sea state – and the return journey took just over two hours.

Howth RNLI coxswain Fred Connolly said after the callout: "We were pleased to locate and assist the fishing trawler so quickly after receiving the call to launch. 

"The fishing vessel crew acted very professionally in calling for assistance immediately and they also supplied a accurate position of their location which allowed us to find and assist them so quickly."

Gerry Canning, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, added: "The RNLI has a wide range of boats in the fleet to cater for all types of emergencies in all conditions. In this case the Trent all-weather lifeboat from Howth was definitely the right boat for the rescue."

#Fishing - Salmon and cod numbers in the Irish Sea have continued to decline despite strict fishing and angling controls, according to BBC News.

The "rather poor" forecast for the important fish species comes from data collected by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) via its research vessel The Corystes, which sails the Irish Sea over 200 days a year and sets the standard for EU fishing quotas.

The AFBI's Walter Crozier said stocks had not "bounced back in the way that scientists expected. So we're now looking at other explanations because there isn't much more the fishing industry can do to reduce their catch of cod in the Irish Sea."

Such factors may include climate change causing a rise in sea temperatures, and increasing diversity of the marine ecosystem.

BBC News has much more on the story HERE.

#RNLI - Volunteers with Skerries RNLI launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson shortly after 8.30pm on Tuesday evening (5 August) after a member of the public called Dublin Coast Guard regarding a man seen launching a small motor boat to go fishing that afternoon who had yet to return.

The lifeboat, with David Knight at the helm and crewed by Joe May, Eoin Grimes and Stephen Crowley, began an immediate search of the most popular local fishing spots, while other volunteer crew in the boathouse began to chart a potential search pattern.

A small motorboat matching the description given, with one man on board, was located just off the western shore of Church Island, off Skerries. The man required no assistance and indicated he was preparing to head for the North Co Dublin coastal town.

As the light was fading the lifeboat offered to stand by while he made his way safely to shore. At the time of the launch there was a Force 2 to 3 southerly wind and a calm sea.

Speaking after the callout, volunteer helm David Knight said: "Thankfully in this case the man was fine. However, the member of the public had genuine concerns and did the right thing in calling the coastguard."

#fishkill – Inland Fisheries Ireland and Dublin City Council are today (22.07.14) investigating an extensive fish kill on the River Tolka in Dublin City.

The latest indications are that the fish kill extends from an area in the vicinity of Finglas Road Bridge for a considerable distance downstream. The full extent of the kill has yet to be quantified.

Inland Fisheries Ireland and Dublin City Council are continuing their emergency response and associated investigations in an effort to establish the source of any contaminating material that may have caused this major pollution event.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a freefone number to enable members of the general public to report incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.

#Angling - A new bye-law is being proposed that would extend the current restricted season for the River Nore snap net fishery following the poor catch to date this summer.

The plans involve extending the season’s closing date from 24 July to 15 August (the normal closing date for the fishery) and allow fishing from Tuesday to Friday rather than the present Monday to Thursday.

The fishery is managed on a quota system which limits the number of fish which can be caught. All salmon and sea trout over 40cm caught by the snap net must be tagged with a white gill tag.

The full draft of the proposed bye-law is available to download HERE. Submissions can be made to IFI Clonmel by email at [email protected] or by post to Inland Fisheries Ireland, Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 23 July 2014.

In other river fishing news, funding of more than €5,000 has been allocated to Carna Angling Club for a proposed project on the Carna River at Rusheenamanagh, Co Galway to improve the access for migrating fish into the river and introduce some new gravel to the spawning beds.

At present the returning fish can only access the river during a spate and high spring tide. The construction of a rubble mat at the base of the waterfall will allow the fish to migrate upstream twice daily during a spat.

At present the fish congregate below the falls and are vulnerable to poaching and predation. The rubble mat will be constructed from stone which is on site.

The project will also include the creation of small weirs and the introduction of gravel over a distance of 600m upstream from Lough Scannive.

Elsewhere, funds have been allocated to Rossnaree Fishery for proposed works at the Lower Boyne in Slane which will prevent further degradation of the spawning beds on this stretch of the river. The project will also prevent further bank trampling from livestock.

The total project cost is estimated at some €7,700. Funds of €3,171 have been allocated by Inland Fisheries Ireland, with the rest to be made up by own contributions.

#illegalfishing – Four men have been convicted of illegal fishing activities at two different sittings of Galway District Court on Tuesday, 1st July 2014. Judge Mary Fahy imposed fines and costs totally €4,900 to three brothers, Vidmantas Gaidys, Sigitas Gaidys and Alvydas Gaidys, convicted of illegal fishing activities; and John Costello was convicted of taking oysters illegally and fined €250, with costs of €300.

Illegal Fishing
Vidmantas Gaidys, of 21 Beal Srutha, Ballybane, Galway was convicted of using a net illegally, obstruction of fishery officers, and possession of a salmon in breach of fisheries legislation. Sigitas Gaidys, of 9C Bayview Rise, Ballybane, and Alvydas Gaidys, of Farm House, Cloonbiggen Road, Claregalway, were both convicted of the illegal use of a net, and obstruction of fishery officers.

Judge Fahy heard evidence that on the night of 19th October, 2013, the three men were in a van which fishery officers stopped close to the Clare River at Montiagh North, Claregalway, Co Galway. Vidmantas Gaidys was apprehended, while the other two men fled on foot. When the van was searched, two bags containing 78 coarse fish and 1 salmon were discovered. The other two men were later identified and interviewed. All three admitted to using a net, and pleaded guilty in court.

Judge Fahy warned that using the vehicle in the course of the offence was a serious matter, and she told Mr. Gaidys that if he came before her for a similar offence she would disqualify him from driving for two years. Vidmantas Gaidys was fined €1,500 with costs of €600, while the other two defendants were each fined €800, with €600 costs.

Illegal Oyster Fishing
At a second sitting of Galway District Court on the 1st of July, Judge Mary Fahy convicted John Costello, of Ballinacourty, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway, of taking oysters illegally from Clarinbridge Bay.

Judge Fahy heard evidence that on 5th December, 2013, Mr. Costello was observed by Fishery Officer Lonan O'Farrell hand picking oysters at Carrowmore, Ballinacourty, Co. Galway. The only legal method of harvesting wild oysters is by licensed dredge, and hand picking is strictly illegal. Mr. Costello left a bag at the shoreline, and when this was searched it was found to contain 94 wild native oysters.

Judge Fahy commented that the native oyster was under threat in many areas, and that it was very important to the local economy of the Clarinbridge area. She convicted Mr. Costello of a breach of Section 277 of the 1959 Fisheries Act, and imposed a fine of €250, with costs of €300.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a freefone number to enable members of the general public to report poaching incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) General Assembly, at its recently concluded 28th session, adopted Resolution A. 1078(28) which revokes Resolution A. 600(15) to extend application of the voluntary IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme to fishing vessels of 100 gross tons and above.

The IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme was introduced in 1987 through adoption of Resolution A. 600(15), as a measure to prevent maritime fraud and enhance safety and security. The IMO number is used throughout the maritime industry as the first point of reference in identifying a ship.

Resolution A. 1078(28) will benefit oversight of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, which sets the certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels.

It will further aid implementation of the international treaty on fishing vessel safety, known as the Cape Town Agreement, once it enters into force.

Additionally, the proposed amendment will broadly facilitate improved management of fisheries-related maritime activities by other United Nations agencies and national governments.

IHS Maritime, formerly known as IHS-Fairplay (IHS-F), is the originating source for IMO numbers and is responsible for assigning and validating them.

The IMO request that owners and builders of existing and new fishing vessels of 100 GT or more obtain an IMO number, free of charge, at www.imonumbers.ihs.com. Alternatively requests can be sent to IHS Maritime by post.

Contact details and more information about the new resolution are included in Marine Notice No 37 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.