Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Helen’s Bay is a small village on the Belfast to Bangor railway line on the south shore of Belfast Lough and is named after Helen Blackwood, Baroness Dufferin and Clandeboye, who lived in the early nineteenth century. It’s not recorded…

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has approved legislation that will govern the wild salmon and sea trout fisheries in 2023. These will come into effect from Sunday, 1st January 2023. Minister Ryan said: “81…

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has announced details of its 2023 Sponsorship Programme today, with applications open until mid January. Angling clubs, groups and associations all over Ireland are being invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the 20 January deadline.…

Water Safety Ireland is urging those planning festive charity dips to be mindful of the effect of a new moon on Dec 23rd which will lead to higher tides throughout the weekend. Higher tides can hide unfamiliar depths and hazards…

Today, Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue T.D., appointed a contractor with a €30m contract for developing a Deep-Water quay in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre. Welcoming the signing of the works contract with the contractor Ward & Burke Construction Limited,…

Two Carlow men have been found guilty of fishing illegally for protected wild salmon on the River Slaney and for obstructing or impeding a fisheries officer, in a prosecution brought by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Sitting before Judge Geraldine Carthy…

Irish fishing industry organisations have welcomed the “breakdown” of attempts by Norway to seek unrestricted access to blue whiting grounds off the Irish coast. “Now is the time for the Irish Government and the EU to address the massive disparity…

More than 40,000 lobsters were v-notched in 2022, weighing almost 28 tonnes – the highest recorded since legislation began in 1995 to protect lobsters with such marks. V-notching is a conservation tool carried out by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) trained…

The war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis have led to a collapse in the processed shrimp market, the National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) says. “In previous years with shrimp, good prices would normally be expected in the…

A Viking burial site was discovered at Ballyholme Bay on the North Down coast in 1903 suggesting that the Vikings landed there. Although the Belfast Kayak Club landed there, too last weekend on their Christmas outing, they certainly didn’t grab…

Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue met virtually on Friday (16 December) with the members of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) to discuss a range of topics, including the reopening of the spurdog fishery after nearly 12 years. Minister McConalogue welcomed…

The seafood sector has welcomed a commitment from Minister for the Marine Charlie McConalogue to protect access to Ireland’s rich blue whiting fishing grounds. The December fisheries council in Brussels adopted provisional quotas for the first three months of 2023…

The tender process for IFI State fisheries for 2023 is now open. Angling clubs that wish to tender for one or more fisheries should fill out the online questionnaire or download and complete the PDF application form. Where there is…

Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has welcomed progress made on key fish quotas for Ireland at the EU Fisheries Council of Ministers which began on Sunday morning (11 December). The council has been agreeing provisional fish quotas to enable EU fishers to…

Irish fishing industry representatives have commended the European Commission for “standing firm” over a push by Norway for additional access to Irish waters. Negotiations between the EU and Norway were suspended late last week without approving Norway's request for more…

State-owned forestry company Coillte and its contractor, Oliver Kelly Timber Harvesting Ltd, have both pleaded guilty to breaches of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 in a case brought by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Following reports of pollution in November 2021…