Write a comment
The norths biggest fishing port could be set for a share of the UK’s £360m Coastal Growth Fund but concerns remain over a “disastrous” foreign worker visa crisis.
Killkeel Harbour has previously been linked to a potential £73m investment that would see it become an Irish Sea Hub.
However, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) reps have raised concerns this week as a new 12 year EU-UK deal on fishing has left an uncertain future for the industry in south Down.
Mournes Councillor Michael Rice previously raised a motion on the “severe shortage” of seasonal workers at local fishing ports, due to Brexit visa restrictions.
He said: “We welcome the reset of relationships between the EU and the British government. We hope this will begin to redress some of the disastrous implications of Brexit.
“However, we fear that continued issues with seasonal workers persist and will still have the same disastrous impact on fishing towns and communities across the North, like here in Kilkeel.
“Sinn Féin remains committed to mitigating the consequences of Brexit, supporting our local economy, and ensuring businesses here can maximise their access to both the British and EU markets.
“It is crucial that the all-island economy is protected, and the unique circumstances of the north remain a central consideration in all decision-making.”
The new deal announced by PM Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission President von der Leyen on Monday (May 19) will give European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters in exchange for easing some trade frictions.
Also on Monday the Government announced a £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, described as a “major investment [that] will modernise Britain’s fishing fleet, enhance workforce skills, and revitalise coastal communities to boost tourism”.
In 2022, the FSDP (Fisheries and Seafood Development Programme) report was published by DAERA setting out a clear vision for developing Northern Ireland’s harbour infrastructure with around £100million, pending agreed funding, to be invested in key infrastructure at Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie.
Meanwhile, Anglo Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation (NIIFP) CEO, Brian Chambers has given fresh hope for fishing crews telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was lobbying in London “regarding fishermen’s visas” this week.
The current visa system does not recognise fishermen as seasonal workers, but rather skilled workers as fishing boats go out to the sea over nine months of the year or more.
The crucial element being that fishermen may not work for the full period due to weather conditions, which means ship owners cannot afford to pay the wages. This has caused the fishing industry to suffer as they are unable to reach the new minimum wage demand of £38,700 in order to gain a skilled visa worker.
Mournes Councillor, Henry Reilly added: “With Kilkeel being the biggest fishing port in Northern Ireland, if it gets a pro-rata share of £360m coastal communities pot then it could be very significant.
“However, they (UK government) definitely need to do something about the visas.
“Starmer (PM) is saying he is going to invest all this money in coastal communities.
“Fishing used to be a long-term career and if we could get back to that, where local people would be brought back into the industry and given job security that would end the need for visas and the need for foreign workers. If that is part of Starmer’s plan, I would welcome that.
“Though, in the short to medium term we definitely need visa restrictions relaxed for fishermen.”
