Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, today met with Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Junior Minister Ian Paisley Jnr. (OFDFM) at the North-South Ministerial Council on the Aquaculture and Marine Sector. This is the first Aquaculture and Marine meeting since the restoration of the Assembly.
The Ministers welcomed the opportunity to discuss the active north-south cooperation being undertaken in these important sectors.
Noting the progress made since the last meeting in 2002, the Ministerial Council welcomed the enactment of the Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Legislation earlier this year which gives the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission increased regulatory powers.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Ryan said: “Today’s meeting provided a welcome opportunity to augment North-South cooperation in marine, aquaculture and tourism matters.
The Loughs Agency, like its predecessor, the Foyle Fisheries Commission, is a prime example of North/South co-operation. I commend the Agency on the work that it has carried out since its creation in 1999, work which has made a real contribution to the Foyle and Carlingford Areas.”
On the provision of investment of a new monitoring vessel in the Foyle and Carlingford areas, which was announced today, he stated, “This vessel will be used by the Lough’s Agency to undertake the scientific monitoring to capture the data that is required by the European Commission and is necessary to aid decision-making in relation to fisheries management.”
Approval of the Agency’s Marine Tourism Strategy 2008-13, was also granted by the Council. This will provide for developing access infrastructure, marine tourism, recreational fisheries as well as, skills training through local partnerships. On implementation, it will bring significant investment and regeneration to the Foyle and Carlingford Areas.
Afterwards, the Minister stated, “Assurance from my Northern counterparts of their continued commitment to sustainable development, conservation and protection of fisheries in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas, is encouraging. Conservation must be at the heart of our fisheries management policies. Indeed, I learned today that preliminary indications are that some rivers in Donegal have experienced their best salmon run in years. This is a vindication of the conservation principle, implemented by the Government’s adoption of the report by the Independent Working Group on Salmon last year. I look forward to furthering the close working relationship that exists between the Loughs Agency and our respective Departments.”
ENDS
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Fógairt Bháid Nua Monatóireachta mar Áis do Bhainistíocht Iascach agus Comhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas faoi Chaibidil ag na hAirí
Ciallaíonn feabhas ar ghluaiseachtaí bradán rath ar bhainistíocht iascaigh
Doire Choilm Chille, 21ú Samhain 2007
Bhuail an tAire Cumarsáide, Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, Éamonn Ó Riain, le Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, Aire Talmhaíochta agus Forbairt Tuaithe, agus Aire Sóisearach Ian Óg Paisley (OFDFM) ag an gComhairle Airí Thuaidh-Theas um an réimse Dobharshaothraithe agus Mara. Dob é seo an chéad cruinniú um Dhobharshaothrú agus Cursaí Mara ó aithghairmeadh an Tionól.
D’fhear na hAirí fáilte roimh an deis chun cur agus cúiteamh faoin gcomhoibriú thuaidh-theas gníomhach atá idir láimhe sna réimsí tábhachtacha seo.
Thug Comhairle na nAirí aitheantas don dul chun cinn ó am an chruinnithe ba dheireanaí san mbliain 2002 anuas agus d’fháiltigh sé roimh rith an reachta um Iascaigh an Fheabhail agus Chairlinne níos luath i mbliana[1], reachtaíocht a thugann breis cumhachta rialaithe do Ghníomhaireacht na Lochanna um an Fheabhail, um Chairlinn agus um Choimisinéirí Soilse na hÉireann.
Ag labhairt dó ar an gcruinniú, is é a dúirt an tAire Ó Riain: “Is deis suáilceach í cruinniú an lae inniu chun cur leis an gcomhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas I gcúrsaí mara, dobhardhaothraithe agus turasóireachta.
Is príomh-eiseamláir de chomhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas í Gníomhaireacht na Lochanna cosúil leis Coimisiún Iascaigh an Fheabhail a imigh roimhe. Tréaslaím leis an nGníomhaireacht as a bhfuil déanta aici ó bunaíodh í i 1999, as obair ar fiú a thoradh do limistéir an Fhaebhail agus Chairlinn.”
I leith an bháid nua monatóireachta don bhFeabhail agus do Chairlinn faoinar fhógraíodh inniu infheistíocht a sholáthar, ar seisean:”Úsáidfear an bád seo ag Gníomhaireacht na Lochanna i mbun monatóireachta eolaigh, ag bailiú dálaí atá de dhíth ó Choimisiún na hEorpa agus ar ghá iad i ndáil le cinnithe um bhainistíocht iascaigh.”
Ina theannta sin ceadaíodh ag an gComhairle do Straitéis 2008-2013 an Ghníomhaireachta um Thurasóireacht Mara. Faoin Straitéis éascófar forbairt ar ionfrastruchtúir rochtain, ar thurasóireacht mara agus ar iascaireacht mar chaitheamh aimsire maraon le traenáil trí chomhpháirtíochtaí áitiúla chun oilteacht a leathnú. Ar a chur i gcrích di éireoidh infheistíocht agus athghiniúint suntasacha i gceantracha an Fheabhail agus Chairlinn.
Tar éis an chruinnithe dúirt an tAire: “Is cúis misnigh dom go bhfuil mo chuntrapháirtithe Thuaiscirt Éireann tugtha i gcónaí do fhorbairt inathnuaite agus do caomhnúagus cosaint na n-iascach. Caithfear caomhnú a chur mar chroí-lár ar mbeartas um bhainistíocht na n-iascach. Inniu féin a chuala mé go bhfuil réamhchomharthaí ann go raibh an gluaiseacht iasc ab fhearr le blianta beaga ar aibhneacha áirithe i gContae Thír Chonaill. Léiríonn sé siúd fiúntas an bheart caomhnaithe a chuireadh i bhfeidhm nuair a ghlac an Rialtas leis an tuarascáil ón Grúpa Oibre Neamhspleách um Bhradáin an bhliain seo chaite. Táim ag tnúth leis an dlúth-ghaol comhoibrithe atá ann i measc an Ghníomhaireachta agus ár Ranna a chur chun cinn.”
CRÍOCH
[1] Acht Iascaigh an Fheabhail agus Chairlinn 2007 [Uimhir 17 de 2007]