#SkipperEXPO –Within a fortnight two shows will be held on either side of the country, the Irish Skipper Expo (1-2 March) in Galway and as previously reported starting today, the Ireland Angling Expo Show in Dublin.

The Skipper Expo Show to be held at the Galway Bay Hotel (10am-5pm each day) will have among its exhibitors, leading seafood processor companies, boatyard firms, net-suppliers, marine electronics, engineering businesses and chandlers. Admission is free, for further details click HERE.

The Angling Expo Show at the National Show Centre, Swords, now in its 14th year, has become a major national event for anglers here and from the UK. According to a recent survey, there are 250,000 anglers alone in Ireland, not to mention angling tourists across the Irish Sea.

Coinciding with the show there will be the Irish Speciman Fish Committee Awards Day, which takes place this afternoon at the nearby Bewleys Dublin Airport Hotel between 2.30-4.30pm.

Also at the show will be the Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI) Kid's Zone, and where many of the country's most experienced anglers will be passing on expert knowledge.
To see list of the exhibitors and admission charges, click HERE.

#FISHING - The 2012 Irish Skipper Expo has been hailed by organisers as the most successful to date, as World Fishing reports.

Over 100 companies displayed their products and services to more than 4,500 visitors from the fishing industry and retail and catering sectors at the Skipper Expo International 2012, held at the Galway Bay Hotel on 24-25 February.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Marine Minister Simon Coveney was on hand to launch a new initiative promoting the use of selective fishing nets, and he was full of praise for the weekend-long exposition.

“I am very impressed by the scale and expanse of this event which showcases a wide range of products and services for the fishing industry," he said. "While visiting the stands, I was able to meet and discuss with fishermen current issues and also get a good understanding of the latest developments and innovations in their industry.”

Sharon Boyle, event manager at organisers Mara Media Ltd, added: "The support from the industry continues to be very strong for this show and the number of visitors during the two-day event once more exceeded expectations in what was a very busy weekend.

"Dates for next year’s show are 1-2 March, being held once more at the Galway Bay Hotel.”

#FISHING - Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney briefed the Irish Skipper Expo in Galway last weekend on a new initiative promoting the use of selective conservation fishing nets, which allow young fish to escape.

Under the initiative in the Celtic Sea, additional quotas of up to 25% will be made available by the minister to skippers of Irish fishing boats which use an escape panel in their nets, allowing young whiting and haddock to escape.

The escape panel, developed by the Irish industry, has been endorsed at EU level and is expected to be a mandatory requirement later in the year.

Minister Coveney said on Saturday: “The use of this panel will significantly reduce discards of juvenile whiting and haddock in the Celtic Sea, allowing juvenile fish to grow and mature and contribute to increased stock size and returns for fishermen in future years.

"I believe that this offers an example of a practical approach to dealing effectively with the discards problem and retention of a flexible quota allocation system that we should take forward in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy Review."

In other news, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) announced €1.5 million in grant aid for the Irish fishing industry at the expo.

A spokesperson for BIM confirmed to the Galway Independent that the funding will be available to industry through a variety of schemes including fleet safety, seafood environmental management, lobster V-notching and coastal action groups.

Over 100 companies displayed their products and services to fishermen at the Irish Skipper Expo International 2012, held at the Galway Bay Hotel on 24-25 February.