From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, today announced that he has decided to further designate three additional Irish ports for UK-registered Northern Ireland vessel landings. The Minister was speaking today at the official opening of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority’s offices in Greencastle, County Donegal.
As a result of Brexit, the United Kingdom is a third country for the purposes of fish landings and subject to Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) legislation and North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) requirements. UK-registered vessels (including Northern Irish vessels) must comply these requirements when landing in the EU, including at Irish ports.
The three new ports designated for landings from UK-registered Northern Ireland vessels are Bunagee, Glengad and Malin Head in County Donegal. These ports will be additional to the 7 ports already designated: Ros A Mhíl, Greencastle, Rathmullen, Burtonport, Howth, Killybegs and Castletownbere.
Bunagee, Glengad and Malin Head will be designated for non-quota species landings from vessels under 18 metres and will operate Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, and Saturdays 9am to 5pm.
In addition to these new port designations, the opening hours in Greencastle will be extended and will now open Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, as well as adding Saturdays 9am to 5pm.
The Minister commented on the importance of continuing to support our fishers and fishing communities post-Brexit adding that:
“I am delighted to announce the designation of these three additional ports in Bunagee, Glengad, and Malin Head. These new ports, in addition to the extended hours in Greencastle, should aid fishers in small vessels, in particular, in the North West region.”
The Minister concluded:
“I would like to sincerely thank the SFPA for allowing for the extended opening hours in Greencastle and the three additional port designations, which are of vital importance to our fishers post-Brexit. 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."
Photo caption:
Pictured at the official opening of SFPA’s Port Office in Greencastle, Donegal, on the 28th April, are from left to right: Paschal Hayes, Executive Chairperson, SFPA; Joan Gilroy, Senior Port Officer, SFPA’s Port Office, Greencastle, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.