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Displaying items by tag: Irish Seafood Products

Fishermen in the south-east have achieved the much sought after Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Certification. Certification of this Mackerel fishery indicates the use of sustainable fishing practices and can be used to strongly promote continued market share and future development for Irish seafood products.

Peter Whelan, Chairman of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), presented Gavin Power, Chairman of the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee (CSHMAC) with the MSC Certification for Polyvalent Mackerel, today at the SFPA's Headquarters in Clonakilty, Co Cork.

Gavin Power of the Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation (IS&WFPO) and Chairman of the CSHMAC, said: "We are delighted to receive MSC Certification which is part of a structured approach towards improving the management and added value return from the polyvalent mackerel fishery. Importantly, this certification initiative represents the first such award for the Irish polyvalent sector and would not have been possible without the full support of the SFPA, the Marine Institute, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

MSC certification recognises sustainable practices in this important fishery, rewards robust governance, environmentally responsible and sustainable fishing practices and empowers consumers through the use of the label to make the best environmental choice."

Peter Whelan, Chairman of the SFPA said: "The CSHMAC's securing of the MSC's fishery certification program and seafood eco-label is significant as it recognises and rewards sustainable fishing and promotes the best environmental choice in seafood overall. Good governance and management frameworks safeguards jobs, secures fish stocks for the future and help to protect the marine environment. The MSC standard means sustainable fisheries can be recognised and rewarded in the marketplace and gives an assurance to buyers and consumers that their seafood comes from a well-managed and sustainable source."

Published in Fishing

Dublin Bay Sailing Club Turkey Shoot Winter Series

Dublin Bay Sailing Club's Turkey Shoot Series reached its 20th year in 2020.

The popular yacht series racing provides winter-racing for all the sailing clubs on the southside of Dublin Bay in the run-up to Christmas.

It regularly attracts a fleet of up to 70 boats of different shapes and sizes from all four yachts clubs at Dun Laoghaire: The National Yacht Club, The Royal St. George Yacht Club, The Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as other clubs such as Sailing in Dublin. Typically the event is hosted by each club in rotation.

The series has a short, sharp format for racing that starts at approximately 10 am and concludes around noon. The event was the brainchild of former DBSC Commodore Fintan Cairns to give the club year-round racing on the Bay thanks to the arrival of the marina at Dun Laoghaire in 2001. Cairns, an IRC racer himself, continues to run the series each winter.

Typically, racing features separate starts for different cruiser-racers but in fact, any type of boat is allowed to participate, even those yachts that do not normally race are encouraged to do so.

Turkey Shoot results are calculated under a modified ECHO handicap system and there can be a fun aspect to some of the scoring in keeping with the Christmas spirit of the occasion.

As a result, the Turkey Shoot often receives entries from boats as large as Beneteau 50 footers and one designs as small as 20-foot flying Fifteens, all competing over the same course.

It also has legendary weekly prizegivings in the host waterfront yacht clubs immediately after racing. There are fun prizes and overall prizes based on series results.

Regular updates and DBSC Turkey Shoot Results are published on Afloat each week as the series progresses.

FAQs

Cruisers, cruising boats, one-designs and boats that do not normally race are very welcome. Boats range in size from ocean-going cruisers at 60 and 60 feet right down to small one-design keelboats such as 20-foot Flying Fifteens. A listing of boats for different starts is announced on Channel 74 before racing each week.

Each winter from the first Sunday in November until the last week before Christmas.

Usually no more than two hours. The racecourse time limit is 12.30 hours.

Between six and eight with one or two discards applied.

Racing is organised by Dublin Bay Sailing Club and the Series is rotated across different waterfront yacht clubs for the popular after race party and prizegiving. The waterfront clubs are National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC), Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC) and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC).

© Afloat 2020