Deeper harbour hope from £2.3m package

Deeper harbour hope from £2.3m package

26 July 2017

A NEW funding initiative could advance plans to make Ardglass harbour deeper to facilitate larger trawlers, according to a local politician.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is looking for organisations to help deliver what is being described as a sustainable development strategy for local fishing communities.

Funding of £2.3m is being made available by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to aid fishing communities in Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie where commercial fishing remains a major source of income and provides employment opportunities.

Councillor Dermot Curran has welcomed news of the funding boost and hopes the three ports will make the most of the opportunity they are being presented with.

He said a working group has been set up to develop Ardglass harbour and hopes a slice of the £2.3m funding cake can be secured to help finance a number of initiatives, including dredging the harbour to allow larger trawlers to dock.

Councillor Curran said he is aware that one fish processor based in the village is having to transport fish to Ardglass from Belfast as the large trawler which supplies the business cannot berth in the village.

He said that over the past number of years fishing-dependent communities have seen a reduction in the size of their traditional base of fishing, processing and the provision of support services to the local fleets.  

Councillor Curran said those behind the new sustainable development strategy are confident it provides an excellent opportunity for continued investment in fishing communities through a bottom-up approach and will help secure employment. 

“There are around 37 trawlers based in Ardglass which specialise in prawn fishing and if we can further develop the local harbour it will help benefit the village’s economy,” he continued.

“The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is currently looking for organisations to help deliver the funding which has been made available and I hope Newry, Mourne and Down Council will express an interest in taking on this role.”

Councillor Curran added: “A deeper harbour has the potential to accommodate larger fishing vessels which will help make Ardglass more competitive. A lot of work is being undertaken to raise the profile of the village and securing more trawlers will be good for the local economy can help reduce costs for fish processors.”

The closing date for completed applications is September 8, with full details about the funding initiative available at http://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/european-maritime-fisheries-fund or email emff.queries@daera-ni.gov.uk. The telephone contact number is (028) 4461 8094.

Organisations keen to help develop the new strategy will be required to demonstrate participation of the fishing industry, private sector business, public and third sector groups in their proposed Fisheries Local Action Group. The closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday, September 8.