Ardglass harbour needs investment

Ardglass harbour needs investment

20 October 2021

THE importance of Ardglass harbour and the need to invest in its future has been outlined to a senior Stormont fisheries official.

Owen Lyttle, the Department for Agriculture’s Director of Marine and Fisheries, met recently with South Down MLA Colin McGrath and local councillor Dermot Curran. Describing the talks as an “important next step” for the port, the politicians are keen to see various plans drawn up for the harbour implemented which will help kick-start the village’s economic regeneration.

A major report published towards the end of last year revealed that investment in the region of £45m is needed to upgrade Ardglass harbour to help maximise the port’s future opportunities.

Produced by the Fishing and Seafood Development Programme, it was established by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to conduct a strategic review of the opportunities for developing the sea fishing and seafood sectors across the province, including the potential role of new public investment in infrastructure.

The report’s recommendations for Ardglass include enhancing capacity at the harbour to provide security for fishing and processing businesses.

The need to create conditions resulting in investment in more modern fuel efficient vessels with low emissions and better facilities for crews, further reducing the environmental impact of the fishing fleet, adopting novel technology to expand marine aquaculture and taking advantage of EU exit opportunities to build exports of high value seafood, was also highlighted in the report.

In addition, it confirmed that a survey of the harbour walls in Ardglass revealed that some repairs may be required within the next two years but their condition will not prevent the deepening of the harbour — to nine metres below the waterline — if they are stabilised and protected from undermining prior to dredging operations.

The current water depth and quayside length prevents larger fishing vessels from landing at Ardglass with tankers transporting fish landed in Belfast to the village for processing. Mackerel and Irish Sea herring continue to be landed in Ardglass.

Paying tribute to Cllr Curran’s work on behalf of the fishing community in Ardglass, Mr McGrath said he has been committed to ensuring as many jobs can be delivered as possible and that these jobs are sustainable.  

“With the recent report into sea fisheries showing that significant investment can be made in Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie, I have been keen to work closely with Dermot to ensure Ardglass receives the funding that will meet the needs of the fishing community,” said the Assemblyman.

“I believe the meeting with Mr Lyttle was a very positive and look forward to meeting with him again to look at these issues more closely.”

Cllr Curran said he arranged to meet with the senior fisheries official as soon as he took up the post.

“Owen has already made a presentation to the local council’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee and I was keen to meet with him in Ardglass along with Colin and impress upon him the needs of the village and how it is ready to play its part as we enter a new stage of fisheries and aquaculture,” he said. Cllr Curran added: “Having met with fisheries minister Edwin Poots last year and met Mr Lyttle this is just the beginning of a process which I hope will result in a new lease of life for the Ardglass fishing industry.

“This in turn will support our local marine eco-systems and provide new and sustainable jobs for the economy. It will be a win that everyone can share in.”