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Submission to Minister Eamon Ryan has been made today re. South Coast DMAP  Dear members, Please find attached letter that was send by the ESB Offshore Wind Stakeholder Team. This letter was not sent to all charter skippers and I got one even though after looking at the map I don’t operate the areas marked. I suggest that you download and reply to show solidarity to all charter skippers. Regards, Donal Kennedy Chairman ICSA Click on "Download File" to save it on your device. 
  Eamonn Hayes and Walter Foley, Southern Region Representatives attended a meeting with a delegation of EU commission MEPs from Europe and Ireland led by Ireland's Grace O'Sullivan, Green Party, spokesperson for the Marine.
Eamonn raised the following issues 1. My Name is Eamonn Hayes I am the southern rep for the Irish Charter Skippers Association ICSA which represents Irelands charter boat fleet operating in the recreational sea angling sector in Irelands inshore waters, our vessels also operate Eco cruises e.g. Dolphin Whale & Bird watch, showing the public the wonders in our seas. Kilmore Quay has the largest charter boat fleet in any one port in Ireland . The ISCA Members are very alarmed at the proposed developments in our inshore waters and the negative effects they will have on the ecosystems within them ,which in turn we depend on. In our inshore waters (12nm) are important Spawning and Nursery areas and in the South East (Wexford Waterford ) coast the Herring, Mackerel, Sprat and Sand-eel shoals are supporting the larger predatory fish like cod bass up to the mighty Fin whale. The Geotechnical and Geophysical elements of the surveys, waters Sediment Plumes, vibrations, Electromagnet fields that radiate off energy transport cables will have a huge negative effect on the whole ecosystem in inshore waters and the potential to wipe out Irelands charter boat fleet on which many coastal villages depend. The ICSA are calling for a Turbine free zone inside our Territorial waters (12) to protect our fragile ecosystem , Marine Tourism Sector , Inshore Fishers and the economics of coastal communities around our coast. 2. The lack of accommodation is having an effect on our marine tourism sector especially for our overseas clients who because of the lack of accommodation are not coming to ireland. bookings are down 50% and, in some cases higher We know and understand the reason for this , but are calling for government supports to get us through this season, we got no covid supports during the pandemic so another hit would see more vessels go under Dear Members,
Just to remind you that the AGM for the ICSA is being held in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Sat 21st January 2023 at 11am. Agenda
Regards, Donal Kennedy Chairman Dear Delegates and Members,
I propose to call an AGM
Regards, Donal Kennedy Chairman I.C.S.A  Dear Members, Delegates and Officers,
Another tough year has passed for charter skippers. It has been quiet over the last number of months while some skippers were securing their boats for winter and organising overhauls for their boats. We have endeavoured to seek funding for our members and have forwarded a comprehensive business plan to the Department of Environment as requested, and onward to the Department of Finance. To date, and to my utter disappointment, this has not been acknowledged and no funding has been forthcoming. I have not given up hope and continue my efforts on your behalf but I am also aware of the drawn out procedures that we have encountered by these departments. I would hate to think that we are the forgotten people. Having previously pointed out to these departments that we are an important cog in the tourism industry and the coastal community, I will reiterate this to them again. I would like you to stay united and have a united voice for further issues that will come to the fore in 2022. One that comes to mind is windmills that are being erected in areas around the coast where our members carry out charter skippering which are having an effect on our business and we are not being consulted accordingly. I would like to thank the members and delegates who helped with the business plan and a special thanks to Billie Grabher for her brilliant work on our website. I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Keep safe. Regards, Donal Kennedy Chairman ICSA ... under guidelines which limits the number of houshold on board to 2.
Information and guidelines are available on the Inland Fisheries Ireland website. Please read more on https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Notices/covid-19-statement.html Click HERE to read the full article in the Wexford People  |
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