Ardglass harbour to share £2.4m windfall

Ardglass harbour to share £2.4m windfall

20 June 2018

ARDGLASS is to share in a funding cake just over £2m for community-led development schemes in the Co Down’s fishing communities.

The £2.4m money pot is being made available to Ardglass and neighbouring ports of Kilkeel and Portavogie by the European Union’s Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

Details of the scheme were unveiled during a ceremony in Ardglass yesterday morning.

The new initiative is designed to support a broad range of projects that focus on promoting economic growth through job creation and social inclusion in coastal and inland communities which depend on fishing and aquaculture. 

This includes the diversification of activities within fisheries and into other sectors of the maritime economy with the £2.4m being administered by the South East Area Fisheries Local Action Group (SEAFLAG).

The group comprises representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors within the Newry, Mourne and Down and Ards and North Down council areas.

Dr. John Speers, Marine and Fisheries Director at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), said the fund provided the opportunity to deliver “meaningful and sustainable socio-economic benefits” to the communities along the Co Down coastline that continue to rely on the fishing industry, either directly or via its associated support industries, for job opportunities and wealth-creation. 

He said the “bottom-up approach” used in developing the SEAFLAG’s sustainable development strategy for delivering community-led local development had drawn upon the experiences gained from delivering a similar programme of support provided through the preceding European Fisheries Fund programme. 

“This approach will help ensure that the available support will focus on addressing the needs of communities that they themselves have identified,” Dr Speers explained.

“This funding represents one of the largest allocations awarded to any Fisheries Local Action Group throughout Europe and should serve as a sign of confidence that DAERA holds in SEAFLAG’s ability to deliver a meaningful programme of benefits.”

Alderman Angus Carson, who chairs SEAFLAG, expressed delight that fisheries communities in Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie now have the opportunity to benefit from the new funding, with applications for financial support opening on July 2.

He continued: “In the current economic climate, we all need to be resourceful, flexible and be prepared to adapt to change. I feel this fund provides an exciting opportunity for us all to continue to strengthen and diversify our economy and society and make a real difference to our local communities through developing and delivering innovative projects.

“We are looking forward to accepting a wide range of applications coming through and would encourage everyone who feels they may benefit from this much-needed support to attend the workshops being organised in each village next week or contact the SEAFLAG office to discuss what support could be provided.”

Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairman Mark Murnin has also welcomed the opportunities the new funding will provide.

He added: “It is encouraging to see how councils and SEAFLAG members, along with DAERA officials, have worked so well together to develop an innovative programme for delivery which will help raise the profile of the entire south east area of Co Down.”