Three more ports approved for landings by Northern Irish fishing vessels

Three extra Irish ports have been sanctioned for landings by Northern Irish-registered fishing vessels. Malin Head, Glengad and Bunagee in Co Donegal have all been approved by Ireland’s marine minister Charlie McConalogue, and will come under the remit of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in Greencastle.

Charlie McConalogue also opened the SFPA’s new port office in Greencastle late last month.

Under regulations designed to deter illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, the designated ports in Ireland for all non-EU vessels are restricted to Castletownbere and Killybegs.

However, vessels registered in Northern Ireland may access the ports of Greencastle, Rathmullan, Burtonport, Ros an Mhíl and Howth. Malin Head, Glengad and Bunagee now join 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 said.

It added that 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.

In addition to the new port designations, the opening hours in Greencastle will be extended to 10am to 8pm on Monday to Friday, and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.

Minister McConalogue stressed the importance of continuing to support Irish ‘fishers and fishing communities post-Brexit’ when he made the announcement in Donegal – his own constituency.

“These new ports, in addition to the extended hours in Greencastle, should aid fishers in small vessels, in particular, in the North West region,” he said.

“I will continue to work with the SFPA to ensure the necessary requirements are in place to have these extended hours and new ports operational as soon as possible.”

This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.

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