Irish Minister for the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. today (6th April) met with his French counterpart, Annick Girardin, the French Minister of the Sea, in Paris. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss Minister McConalogue’s case to provide greater protection to the inshore fishing waters around Ireland under the Common Fisheries Policy.

The background to the meeting is that the European Commission has proposed to roll over the existing access arrangements for Member States' access to Coastal Waters for a further 10 years. At present, a number of Member States have historic rights to fish in our 6 - 12 mile zone.

Commenting on the meeting, the Minister said “The meeting today was constructive and I made my case requesting the French Presidency to give further consideration to the Irish position on access to our coastal waters. We had a detailed engagement on the issues and I am satisfied that the French Presidency has a better understanding of the Irish case following the meeting. The French Minister, Minister Girardin, undertook to consider how the French Presidency would proceed taking account of the views of other relevant Member States.

Discussions on an EU Fisheries Council position are expected to be concluded in the coming weeks. The European Parliament is also setting out its position. The agreement of the Council, Parliament and Commission on access arrangements is expected to be finalised before the summer.

A Donegal businessman is fronting a new campaign that seeks a more positive and direct approach to supporting harbour businesses. 

John Shine - who spearheads the 'Fishing for Jobs' campaign - has accused the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) of thwarting the growth of his and others' businesses "at every turn", The Irish Times reports.

Shine and his fellow campaigners want a full policy adaptation of the 2009 McIver report on the development of business plans for harbour centres, which found a "lack of business focus" among harbour and department officials.

The report noted that existing harbour business tenants had "frustrating" relationships with the DAFF especially with regard to leases. Shine said approximately 40% of property in Killybegs harbour, which has benefited from a €50m development, is lying idle due to a "negative" approach by the DAFF.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.