Debate contribution: Fishing Industry: Capital Investment

Debate contribution by Mr Patrick Brown on 27 February 2024.

MLA: Mr Patrick Brown
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 27 February 2024
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Fishing Industry: Capital Investment
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4237539

Text

I thank the proposers of the motion for tabling it today, and I agree with them that we must recognise the need to safeguard and build our fishing industry in Northern Ireland. As a representative of South Down, home to the two largest fishing fleets, at Kilkeel and Ardglass, I know at first hand the challenges facing the industry, as clearly outlined by the Members who spoke previously. Fishing and coastal communities have a rich and important history and are integral to the wider economy and life in rural communities. We are blessed in Northern Ireland with some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, and, in South Down, we are doubly blessed to be in close proximity to some of the most productive fishing grounds in Europe. With that, though, comes a great responsibility, as those grounds are also some of the most biologically sensitive in Europe. At all times, we must balance the demands of the economy and food security with those of sustainability and safeguarding the marine environment. All the fishermen and women whom I know are proud custodians of the sea, and I have great respect for the highly skilled and hard work that they do, which is often passed down through generations. We must do all that we can to ensure that the culture and heritage of fishing are protected for future generations, but hard work alone will not overcome the significant and serious challenges that the fishing industry has faced in recent times. UK Government changes to unskilled worker visa rules, combined with our exit from the European Union, have resulted in labour shortages, and the rising cost of fuel as a result of the war in Ukraine has left many vessels unable to reap any economic benefit that may have come from increased quotas. I welcome the AERA Minister's commitment during the most recent ministerial Question Time to write to the UK Government outlining the impact that those visa changes are having on the fishing industry in Northern Ireland. Whilst the cost of fuel is beyond the control of this place, I know that the Minister has been a champion for the decarbonisation of our fishing fleet, with Northern Ireland having an old fleet compared with those of GB and EU nations. I welcome his commitment to work with other Departments to ensure a just transition to more environmentally friendly vessels. It was also great to see the Minister prioritise a visit to Portavogie harbour during his first weeks in office, meeting Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organisation (NIFPO) representatives and other local stakeholders. I very much look forward to welcoming him to Kilkeel and Ardglass harbours. The fishing and seafood development programme represents a huge opportunity for those three harbours, which collectively generate an annual turnover of £135 million, support 1,550 jobs and produce an estimated gross value added (GVA) of £55·5 million per annum for the Northern Ireland economy. The capital investment outlined in the fishing and seafood development programme will significantly boost that economic dividend, with ambitious plans to expand and deepen Kilkeel harbour, creating an Irish Sea marine hub that will offer expertise in vessel repair and offshore services. Growing the capacity of Ardglass harbour will secure the vital fishing and processing industries there, and investment in Portavogie will help it to maintain its fishing industry and explore blue economy opportunities, as my colleague Kellie Armstrong said. Whilst the discussion of the motion has focused on sea fisheries, and rightly so, the Member for Mid Ulster was right to draw attention to inland fisheries. It would be remiss of me not to reflect on the challenges facing inland fisheries, commercial and recreational. We are all well aware of the threats facing fishing businesses operating on Lough Neagh, and, in my area, rivers once internationally popular for coarse fishing, such as the River Quoile, are shadows of what they used to be, as a result of decades of ecological neglect and harm. The act of fishing is intrinsically linked to the care and custodianship of our environment. One cannot thrive without the other, and I wish the Minister well as he works in partnership with the fishing industry to maximise its economic potential, realise new opportunities and —
Yes, certainly.
Absolutely, and, for a number of years, I have worked closely with local coarse anglers in my constituency to try to get the Quoile river restocked, recognising that potential tourism draw.
Certainly.
I admit to the Member that I am not overly familiar with that area. However, our member on the AERA Committee has just advised me that he is aware of that serious issue. I also point out that the motion, as worded, was not exclusive to sea fisheries, and that is why I raised the matter of inland fisheries. I was also on my final sentence before those two interventions, which, of course, I welcome. To recap, I wish the Minister well as he works in partnership with the fishing industry to maximise its economic potential, realise new opportunities and chart a course for sustainability in fishing.

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

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