Ian Newell Boat Building & Repair Ltd is a well-established business which operates from the harbour in Kilkeel. The business undertakes a range of steel fabrication and engineering work within the fishing industry.

The Fisheries Local Action Group approved Ian Newell Boat Building & Repair’s application and awarded grant assistance towards a high definition plasma cutting machine. The equipment provides the business the opportunity to undertake a wide range of jobs with greater turnaround time. This includes the making  and repair scallop fishing equipment. Previously local fishermen had the inconvenience and cost of sending the equipment to England for repairs, but with a high quality service available in Kilkeel, the business has continued to thrive.

DR Diesel, established in 2002, specialise in marine and industrial diesel engine repairs and servicing. Over the years the company’s services have expanded and they now have a fully equipped workshop on the harbour front in Kilkeel from where they offer engine repair, fabrication and general marine engineering services.

The Fisheries Local Action Group approved an application from DR Diesel to diversify from their current marine diesel business into surface preparation and coating of sea vessels. Surface preparation is achieved through hydroblasting a process thatinvolves the use of water propelled at high speeds to clean surfaces and materials. By focusing and pressurising the water stream, the force generated can remove a vast range of films and materials. This coupled with a hot zinc metallisation system used to apply the coating to vessels, now provides a high quality service with a shorter turnaround time for the customer whilst increasing business turnover and employment.

Kilkeel Seafoods (which is part of the Whitby Seafood Group) receives fresh scampi tails from the landings in Kilkeel and other Irish ports, freezes the raw material and then uses this material to manufacture scampi to be breaded scampi for sale in the Irish and UK foodservice and retail market.

The Fisheries Local Action Group approved a project which would consolidate the two sites which existed within Kilkeel harbour, one located on the North Harbour with the other located on South Harbour. The business has a strong desire to continue the business at Kilkeel harbour but to ensure this can happen the business will urgently needed to relocate their full operations to more suitable premises within the harbour.

The Fisheries Local Action Group were delighted to approve the project for the enlarged processing facility would enables current and future expansion of seafood processing in Kilkeel, in particular the movement of scampi shelling facilities from elsewhere in the U.K. and Asia into Kilkeel, creating additional employment and strengthening investment for the long term.

‘The Maritime Heritage Based Tourism Infrastructure and Communication’ project was a collaborative project between Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership (SLLP), Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority. The aim of the project was to improve the capacity of the fishing dependent communities, by enabling each town/village areas to attract and retain tourists and other business and to add to their current tourism offering whilst increasing the services available at the harbours.

The project brought together a number of interrelated work packages which include Heritage Trails, Heritage Guides, Public Realm of Portavogie and Wi-Fi provision within Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie. The overall project was led by SLLP who are responsible for the delivery of the Heritage Guides. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for the Heritage Trails, Ards and North Down District Council for Portavogie Public Realm and the NIFHA manage the Wi-Fi access within each of the three locations.

The delivery of this project demonstrates the true ethos of the FLAG approach, with a range of organisations working together to develop a project with wide reaching benefits for the local community. It is because of this approach the FLAG were keen to approve such a project.

With the average age of those involved in the industry increasing , the Seafish Industry Training Associations proposal was to address this by providing an opportunity for those who are involved in the industry, to work towards a Class II Skippers Qualification. By attaining this qualification it provides those with the opportunity to continue to develop professionally whilst continuing to work within the industry.

The popular course developed a range of skills in the use of electronic navigation systems, General Operators Certificate in radio and advanced fire fighting which required a considerable level of commitment and dedication in order to complete.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were successful in attaining grant assistance towards the development of the ‘Mourne Coastal Path Feasibility Study’.  The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of developing a coastal walking path between Greencastle and Portavogie identifying tourism and business development opportunities that will enhance the visitor experience along the way by creating unique attractions and experiences’.

The Fisheries Local Action Group approved project was particularly visionary in its approach as the as the feasibility study  has the potential to identify a range of options and may be used to attain future grant assistance in the realisation of the project.

From the fishermen who toil to bring home fantastic fresh seafood and the shellfish farmers who grow it; to the auctioneers and processors; fishmongers and fish fryers, the Seafish led project approved by the Fisheries Local Action Group brings together a collection of films that look at the rarely seen world of the seafood industry through interviews with those at its heart.

‘Fishers, Farmers and our Coastal Communities’ provides a unique visual record of the fantastic produce landed daily into the fishing villages; the stories of the boats, factories and retailers who process, market and sell seafood at home and abroad.

The Fisheries Local Action Group approved scheme at Cranfield enabled Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to enhance one of its main beaches ensuring  users have an even better experience whenever they visit the site. The works have resulted in an upgrade to the children’s play park with new adult fitness equipment; installation of new pathways; erection of fencing; and the provision of entrance feature signage and interpretation panels in line with the Mourne Coastal Route branding.

As well as the above, separate works at the site included installing rock armour along the beach front. The Fisheries Local Action Group recognised that by enhancing the facility at Cranfield Beach, Kilkeel would reap the benefits of greater visitor numbers whilst increasing the potential spend of tourists in the fishing dependent community.

Chairperson for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Naomi Bailie, welcomed this investment by stating that she has seen “the real value that the South East Area European Fisheries Funding has had in 2 of our important coastal recreational facilities. Both schemes have brought significant enhancements to the quality of the user and visitor experience, and the range of activities that are now on offer at both sites. The Mourne Esplanade, Kilkeel and Cranfield Beach are both located in unique settings, and together they have the potential to impact on the health and well-being of those who live in the fishing dependant community and surrounding areas.”

The NI Fisheries Harbour Authority installed and provided a chilled storage facility to enable the local creel fishermen to store their fishing bait at the harbour of Ardglass, in a safe, efficient and sustainable manner. Previous to this the bait was creating an unpleasant environment at the harbour and storage was somewhat difficult.

This provision of a central store reduces the amount of bait left at the quaysides whilst being moved to boats. Having a chill storage facility at the harbour will enable the fishermen to increase the length of time bait is viable and also increases the security and protection of the bait and reduce its potential for contamination.

The Harbour Authority Chief Executive, Mr Kevin Quigley expressed his delight receiving this funding and hopes the local fishermen will continue to reap the benefits. Mr Quigley said: ‘Through this funding secured from SEA, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the European Union, the Harbour Authority is now in a position to provide a central chill store at the harbour of Ardglass. This facility will improve the quality of life in the fishing dependent community of Ardglass as it will provide better storage facilities for the creel fishermen for their bait, that will enable them to store their bait on the harbour in a safe and hygienic manner.’

The Mourne Esplanade, Kilkeel, represents the main recreational and sporting facility for the fishing dependent community of Kilkeel. This scheme has resulted in significant enhancements which will increase usage to the facility, and includes lighting to the coastal pathway, an ornate boundary railing, fencing to the football pitch, renovations to the changing pavilion, a new seating and viewing area with adult fitness equipment, and 2 new art features depicting imagery from the fishing industry.

The funding approved by the Fisheries Local Action Group has provided a fantastic facility for the fishing dependent community of Kilkeel which will continue to deliver social, physical and recreational benefits to those who use it.