The Skipper

10/07/2025

Starting this Friday and for 3 weeks, get your fish direct from the local boats at Di**le Market on Holyground. The Market is open from 9am to 2pm.

10/07/2025

09/07/2025

Minister Dooley meets Minister Zeichner



In London today, Minister of State for Fisheries and Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, met with Daniel Zeichner MP Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.



The Ministers spoke on issues of mutual interest including Marine Spatial Planning and Ireland’s ambition to develop a national Designated Marine Area Plan for Off-Shore Renewable Energy and progress on the designation of Marine Protected Areas, where Ireland intends to designate 30% of our seas as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.



The Ministers also spoke on fisheries matters of common interest; the growing competition for the use of marine space and the increased challenges facing the seafood and fisheries sectors such as biodiversity loss and the need to manage our waters in a more sustainable way. Minister Dooley also spoke of Ireland’s desire to find a mutually agreeable way forward on the issue of Rockall on which there has been extensive engagement with the Scottish and UK authorities.



Minister Dooley recognised the considerable progress made by all parties over the last number of years in terms of sustainable fishing and rebuilding stocks and the need to continue this co-operation, particularly in the case of key stocks in the Celtic Sea which still remain in a vulnerable state. Ministers Dooley and Zeichner recognised the ongoing work of the EU and the UK on this and other important issues including through the framework of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries. Minister Dooley further outlined that Ireland is looking forward to assuming the role of Presidency of the Council of the EU next year, and we expect to progress a number of key files during our tenure, potentially the Commission’s evaluation of the CFP Regulation outcome and the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture.



Following the meeting, Minister Dooley said “I very much welcome the opportunity to have met Minister Zeichner today and, following in the spirit of our leaders, strengthening the relationship between our two countries and indeed, our two Departments.”

09/07/2025

Marcus Coleman to step down as Seafish Chief Executive

CEO will move on in December 2025

Marcus Coleman is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer at Seafish after a decade in post.

He is credited with modernising Seafish and forging close connections with the diverse seafood sector across the UK to ensure that the support the organisation provides is focused, efficient and valued.

Marcus Coleman to step down as Seafish Chief Executive CEO will move on in December 2025 Marcus Coleman is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer at Seafish after a decade in post. He is credited…

08/07/2025

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08/07/2025

Job Vacancy: Engineer & Ship Surveyor

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) is a division within the Department of Transport and is the regulatory authority for maritime transport safety. Its role is to ensure the implementation of the relevant national and international legislation.

The Department of Transport is now seeking persons qualified as Marine Engineers (STCW 1978 Reg. III/2) to work as Engineer & Ship Surveyors in the MSO.

Engineer & Ship Surveyor   The Marine Survey Office (MSO) is a division within the Department of Transport and is the regulatory authority for maritime transport safety. Its role is to ens…

08/07/2025

Irish Coast Guard go-live from new base at Weston Airport

The Irish Coast Guard has reached another important milestone in the transition of the Search and Rescue aviation contract, as Dublin-based services now provided by Bristow Ireland, commence operations from Weston Airport. This signifies the end of 27 years of Coast Guard helicopter services operating out of Dublin Airport.

Minister of State with responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard Sean Canney said: “First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to CHC including their flight crews and support teams, for the exceptional service they’ve provided from Dublin Airport. Their world class lifesaving operation has delivered an invaluable service to the Irish people.

The Weston base will provide Bristow Ireland with excellent facilities to enable them deliver safe and effective Coast Guard services and I wish the team every success in their new home.”

Bristow Ireland has established its headquarters at Weston and flight crews have been conducting regular training in preparation for service commencement. Initial operations at Weston are being carried out by a Bristow transition team that previously managed the Shannon base handover. The Dublin-based CHC staff who have transferred to Bristow Ireland have begun training on the new fleet of AW189 helicopters. The Weston-based AW189 helicopter will continue to use the call sign rescue 116.

Bristow Ireland and CHC are continuing to work together to deliver the safe and effective transition of the two remaining bases at Sligo Airport and Waterford Airport.

08/07/2025

CFPO Launches 'Know Your Fishermen' Series to Mark 50 Years Representing Cornwall’s Fishing Community

The Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO) is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year - a significant milestone marking five decades of championing the interests of fishermen in Cornwall and across the southwest.

Established in 1975 by a small group of local fishermen, the CFPO has grown into a strong and authoritative voice for the industry. Today, with over 175 member vessels, it proudly represents England’s most diverse and economically significant fishing fleet, and is accountable for 80% of the volume and value of fish and shellfish landed in Cornwall.

To mark both its 50th year and to celebrate International Fishermen’s Day, the CFPO has launched a brand-new short film series titled ‘Know Your Fishermen’- a celebration of the people at the heart of the fishing industry.

The series gives a face and voice to the individuals whose livelihoods depend on the sea. Recent findings from Seafood Cornwall’s 2024 report, ‘The True Value of Seafood to Cornwall’, revealed that seafood jobs are four times more important to Cornwall than they are to Great Britain.

Chris Ranford, CFPO CEO, says ‘The CFPO membership has always been at the forefront of developing the fishing industry. From the early days of working collectively to improve the quality and freshness of the catch to boost the reputation and price of Cornish seafood, to pioneering and evolving a diverse range of fishing methods to target the abundance of species we have around the Cornish coast. To this day, the CFPO continues to lead the way in improving fisheries science, management, and supporting the next generation of fishermen. The CFPO is proud to launch a new series that celebrates some of the individuals who help shape its work.’

Through ‘Know Your Fishermen’, the CFPO invites the public to better understand the real stories, challenges, and heritage of Cornwall’s fishing community. The series highlights the vital role fishermen play - not just in providing food, but in sustaining coastal livelihoods and communities.

Watch the videos on YouTube here

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08/07/2025

Job Vacancy: Nautical Surveyor


The Marine Survey Office (MSO) is a division within the Department of Transport and is the regulatory authority for maritime transport safety. Its role is to ensure the implementation of the relevant national and international legislation.


The Department of Transport is now seeking persons qualified as ship Masters (STCW 1978 Reg. II/2) to work as Nautical Surveyors in the MSO.


Reporting to the Chief Surveyor, Deputy Chief Surveyors and/or Surveyors-in-Charge, Nautical Surveyors form part of a team whose main responsibilities include enhancing safety of life at sea, maritime security, living and working conditions of those at sea and preventing pollution of the marine environment.

  Nautical Surveyor The Marine Survey Office (MSO) is a division within the Department of Transport and is the regulatory authority for maritime transport safety. Its role is to ensure the i…

07/07/2025

Cracks in the Hull: Industry Voices Frustration Over SFPA in Oireachtas Hearing

At the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and the Marine on July 1st, 2025, the voices of Ireland’s fishing industry laid bare their frustration, despair and determination. The hearing, convened to review the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, turned into a scathing critique of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). What emerged was a shared cry from fishermen, processors, and industry representatives: a call for fairness, common sense, and survival.

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Cracks in the Hull: Industry Voices Frustration Over SFPA in Oireachtas Hearing IN AN EXTRAORDINARY and, at times, emotional sitting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries and the Marin…

07/07/2025

Job Vacancy – Naval Architect (Ship Surveyor)

The Department of Transport is seeking qualified Naval Architects to work in the MSO.

Naval Architect (Ship Surveyor) at the Marine Survey Office The Marine Survey Office (MSO) is a division within the Department of Transport and is the regulatory authority for maritime transport sa…

07/07/2025

Aith lifeboat crew delay wedding celebrations to answer trawler call-out

AITH LIFEBOAT crew were called out to a near-10 hour incident on Saturday – before returning home to celebrate the wedding of their crew mate. Proving that...