Safety concerns at harbour to be aired with O’Neill

Safety concerns at harbour to be aired with O’Neill

3 April 2013

FISHERMEN in Ardglass are to discuss their concerns about the safety of the village’s harbour with Stormont Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill.

News of the meeting comes after claims that some large trawlers have been turned away from Ardglass because it was unsafe for them to unload in a harbour crowded with other vessels.

Fishermen say such a situation results in the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority missing out on landing fees and local fish processors having to pay to transport fish landed at other ports outside the district — some it’s claimed as far away as Donegal — back to the village for processing.

Trawler skippers are suggesting that only part of the harbour is deep enough to allow boats to berth and that it’s not uncommon for up to six trawlers to be tied abreast at times. They say there is a need for the harbour’s capacity to be extended so that when the harbour is full, trawlers are not turned away.

Trawler skipper Martin Rice said only part of Ardglass harbour is currently used for berthing trawlers. He said fishermen would support a dredging scheme to provide additional mooring space.

He said capacity problems at Ardglass are particularly acute during the winter months when ropes used to tie up boats are placed under tremendous strain and a number of vessels have broken free.

“What we desperately require is more room for trawlers and the only way to do that is by dredging,” he suggested. “There are concerns about the safety of the harbour and those who work in the industry are well aware of this.”

Mr. Rice said fishermen are concerned about reports that larger trawlers which have the capacity to land over 200 tonnes of fish at one time being turned away from Ardglass. He said such a situation is bad for Ardglass and the village’s economy.

South Down Assemblyman, Chris Hazzard, is seeking a meeting with Minister O’Neill to discuss the problems at Ardglass, having met recently with fishermen and industry officials in the village.

“It is clear that the existing harbour is at breaking point, with the harbour master having to turn boats away on safety grounds. These vessels are then forced to land their catch as far away as Donegal before transporting it back to Ardglass by lorry,” he said.

“Undoubtedly, this situation is having a detrimental impact on the local economy with businesses losing out on important trade, never mind the serious reduction in money lost in landing dues for the harbour authority.”

Mr. Hazzard said he will be discussing with Miss O’Neill the possibility of dredging a large part of Ardglass harbour to enable vessels to berth at all times. He said boats must no longer be packed into one corner.

The MLA added: “For nearly 200 years, Ardglass has been a vital harbour for the Irish fishing industry. It is crucial that we take appropriate steps now to enable it to continue as a focus for local fishing for many more centuries to come.”

A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture confirmed that Miss O’Neill is planning to visit South Down in the near future to meet with Mr. Hazzard and members of the local fishing, farming and rural communities, to discuss matters of concern to them.