News on Irish Rowing, Angling, Waterskiing, Canoeing, Diving and Sea Swimming
Smooth Point Pier Extension Officially Opened at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre
20th September 2024 Irish Harbours
Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue T.D., together with Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Niamh Kennedy, today officially opened the Smooth Point Pier Extension at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre, one of the six State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres. This major capital project…
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority Rejects Fishing Leader Claim Of "Spinning" Landing Figures
20th September 2024 SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has rejected claims that it has been “spinning” information on landings into Irish ports to give the impression that Irish fishing vessels are performing better than in reality. As The Skipper magazine reports this month,…
A Cypriot has been appointed new European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Costas Kadis has been appointed to the brief by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as one of her 25 commissioner nominees in Brussels. Kadis said his…
Smugglers' Ship MV Shingle After A Decade in Dublin Port is Sunk off Mayo Coast
19th September 2024 Diving
A former Moldovan registered ship that was smuggling cigarettes but was seized by the Revenue Commissioners a decade ago was sunk in Killala Bay in north Mayo yesterday. The 669 gross registered ton ship, the MV Shingle, was intercepted by…
New Rules To Combat Unsustainable Fishing Welcomed by Irish Industry Leader
19th September 2024 Fishing
New rules to combat unsustainable fishing practices have been welcomed by the Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (IFPO). “We issued repeated warnings about unsustainable fishing by non-EU members in shared EU fishing zones,” IFPO chief executive Aodh O Donnell said in…
Two State agencies have now used the same word - 'Challenging' - to describe how the Irish fishing industry fared last year. These agencies have used a relatively 'soft' word in comparison to major representative organisations who describe 2023 and…
A Co Louth skipper has been fined amounting to €2,500 for fisheries offences. The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says that Anthony Conlon, from Drogheda, Co Louth, was fined, on September 17th at Drogheda district court for charges relating to…
Former Professional Sailor is Eirgrid's Fisheries Liaison Officer
19th September 2024 Power From the Sea
Eirgrid is committed to ensuring the voice of coastal communities is “factored in” to its projects involving the marine space, its fisheries liaison officer Ronan Lynch has said. Originally from Ballycotton, Co Cork, Lynch is a former professional sailor who…
New Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft is Launched
17th September 2024 Water Safety
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, has today (17 September 2024) launched a revised and updated edition of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft. The publication of the new Code of…
RWE Renewables will sponsor Ireland’s Biggest Annual Windsurfing event to sponsor Mayo Mayhem ’24 As Afloat reported earlier, the event's exact location, days and times will be announced on Wednesday, September 25th. RWE has announced that it is the main…
'Downward Trajectory' Raises the Question – Does Ireland Want a Fishing Industry?
13th September 2024 Tom MacSweeney
In fishing ports over the past few weeks I've heard a general opinion expressed that there is a downward trajectory in the industry. The State agency, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, issued statistics for last year which showed that 244,989…
The master of a French-registered fishing vessel has been convicted and fined €3,000 for under-recording of sole in Irish waters, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says. The master of the Rio Da Bouza pleaded guilty at Macroom district court,…
Ireland’s seafood sector had a “challenging year” in 2023, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has said in a new report. The “Protecting Seafood Trade Report 2023” records a decrease in third country exports from Ireland to 49,782 tonnes from 78,171…
Farmed salmon have been found in Lough Corrib which are believed to have escaped from a cage off Killary fjord last month. As The Irish Times reports, Lough Corrib is a special area of conservation and the west of Ireland’s…
Former Smuggling Ship to be Towed to North Mayo and Sunk to Create Ireland’s First Artificial Reef
11th September 2024 Diving
In Co. Mayo, a former smuggling vessel that had been idle in Dublin Port until earlier this year is to be sunk in Killala Bay, for it to become an artificial reef. The operation reports the Western People to sink…
A Newry teenager who has already become the youngest solo swimmer to navigate the North Channel hopes to become the youngest person to complete Ireland’s “triple crown” swimming challenge. As RTÉ News reports, Daniel Smyth (17) swam the width of…