Inshore Fisheries Forums Established in May 2014 the National Inshore Fisheries Forum has been set up to facilitate the development of a coherent inshore sector voice, which enables fishermen to discuss their fishing issues and generate commonly supported initiatives. These are consultative forums whose members are representative of the inshore fisheries sector. This sector comprises of fishermen using boats of less than 12m in overall length and the objective of these forums is to encourage participation in the management of fisheries within six nautical miles off the coast.
The National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) is supported by a network of Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs). The NIFF provides a national platform at which each of the regional forums can interact with each other and with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
The Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs) provide formal engagement opportunities between inshore fishermen and other marine stakeholders. Each Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAGs) established a RIFF for its region. I members include both inshore fishermen, environmental interests, marine leisure, marine tourism and other marine stakeholders. Each RIFF compromises of no more than 12 members of which there is at least one fisheries representative from the corresponding FLAG and an environmental representative; and have nominated delegates to bring forward regional proposals to NIFF for wider industry discussion.
The Inshore Fisheries Forums are financed under the Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme through Ireland’s EU Structural and Investment Funds Programme 2014-2020 and part financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The Inshore Fisheries Forums are facilitated by the statutory bodies responsible for marine fisheries in Ireland, namely Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Sea Fisheries Protection Agency and the Marine Institute. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara provides administrative support to the forums.
The renewal of the North RIFF membership is currently underway. There is one position to be filled which covers Area 1 from the Tullaghan border to Killybegs. This area has three seats with one seat up for renewal, this seat is currently held by Donal Haughey who represents the whitefish, crustacean and pelagic, sector. The other two seats in this area are held by John Menarry and Gary Kennedy.
The new Representative will have to show that they have been mandated through the support of the fishermen and women in their respective area and will have to demonstrate how they plan to communicate the information back to the fishermen and women who mandated them. The successful candidate will be the individual who receives the majority mandate in the area.
If you are considering putting yourself forward, please contact Frances O’Dwyer North RIFF Secretariat at 087-9197311 (Voicemail, Text, WhatsApp) or NRIFF@inshoreforums.ie, so that an application/ nomination form can be sent out and to run through the requirements with you. You must apply on the official application/ nomination form. If you are not interested in going forward yourself, you could approach an interested member of your crew or a member of your family who have a direct dependency on your inshore fishing vessel.
Terms of Reference for the Inshore Fisheries Forums
The Inshore Forums Code of Business Conduct.
