Debate contribution: Fishing Industry: Capital Investment

Debate contribution by Mrs Sinéad Ennis on 27 February 2024.

MLA: Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 27 February 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Fishing Industry: Capital Investment
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4237519

Text

I welcome the motion and the amendment and the opportunity to speak to them. As a representative of South Down, I have had the pleasure of meeting and listening to many of our local fishermen from across the constituency. The passion and dedication that they show proves, as many have said, that fishing is more than just a job. Our fishing industry is a key part of our society. Harbours in Kilkeel and Ardglass are the heartbeat of those communities and are economic engines for South Down, but they have faced huge challenges over the last number of years. As many Members have said, they have tackled the worst effects of Brexit and have grappled with the COVID pandemic and with workforce pressures. Along with my constituency colleagues Chris Hazzard, Cathy Mason and others, I have visited Kilkeel and Ardglass harbours many times. We have spoken to the local fishing crews. We support the redevelopment of Kilkeel harbour, along with those at Ardglass and Portavogie. However, there will be no point in ploughing money into the development of Kilkeel harbour or anywhere else if we cannot get the crews to work out of them. With limited crew availability and a shortage of new members, the industry faces huge labour difficulties. Harsh measures facing foreign nationals and the 12-mile offshore requirement are proving virtually impossible for local fleets to deal with. We know that many are now forced to go through the sponsorship route. That route requires applicants to be successful in a stringent language exam that many of our migrant workers fail repeatedly. Those barriers only add more layers to what appears to be an already bleak picture for the local fishing industry. This is not just an issue for our local fishing crews; it is also an issue for the Scottish industry, which has been impacted hugely by all those issues as well. We need to see an all-island approach to help the industry to thrive, the recognition of fishing as a skilled profession and a programme of training for local fishing apprentices that can help with recruitment and future-proof the industry across our island. We also need to look at diversification. At present, a few areas are prohibited to commercial fishing yet hold millions in potential revenue. Areas such as aquaculture or algaculture should be promoted and explored as a matter of urgency to provide alternatives to a mortally wounded fishing industry. We have spoken in the Chamber in recent days and weeks about apprentices. Fishing is in dire need of a fresh approach in terms of encouraging young people to take up the trade. Fishing in areas such as Kilkeel is often a family business, with generations following one another into the industry, but that is simply not happening any more. We need to see cross-departmental working with the Department for the Economy to encourage local further and higher education colleges to provide courses for young people so that we can reinvigorate and repopulate the industry. I commend the motion, and we will support the amendment. We welcome the calls around the Chamber for continued investment in the harbours at Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie. Investment in the regeneration of our harbours and fishing industry is vital to develop, protect and sustain our coastal and rural communities in south Down. It will help to modernise and build more efficient fishing operations that will grow in the future. I urge the Minister to prioritise investment for Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie harbours and to deliver the funding needed to upgrade our harbours in south Down.

595 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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