Membership
The members of the West Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum are:
Bernard Whelan – Chair of the West RIFF
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Bivalve Fishers
Bernard is from Clifden Co. Galway is involved in bivalve fishing. He is involved in the management of various clam fisheries and is keen to see structures set up for the management of bivalve fisheries.
Luke Aston – Vice chair of the West RIFF
Sector: Marine Tourism and Leisure – Charter boats
Representing Charter vessels (Marine Toursim and Leisure)
Luke is the nominee of the Irish Charter Skippers Association and he operates the charter boat “Clare Dragoon” from Carrigaholt, Co. Clare He is a former fishermen who owned the gillnetter MFV “White Bank”.
Ger Concannon
Sector: Fisheries
Representing West Clare Fishers
Ger is the Chair of the West Clare Lobstermen’s Association and is the fishermen’s representative on FLAG West. He was also the founder of the of the now defunct Irish Lobster Association and is involved in the national V-nothing scheme.
Patrick Mullins
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Blackhead to Doonbeg Fishers
Patrick is a member of the Galway Bay Inshore Fishermen’s Association. He is involved in lobster/shellfish conservation initiatives such as v-notching and shrimp management.
Morgan Oliver
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Blackhead to Galway Port Fishers
Morgan was nominated by Fishers in his coastal region. He is a member of the Galway Bay Inshore Fisherman’s Association. Moran comes form a long family tradition of fishing from the Claddagh. He mainly fishes shellfish and has strong values on conservation and sustainability in the industry.
Padraig Barrett
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Lettermullen Fishers
Padraig Barrett is an Inshore Fisher operating out of Lettermullen Co. Galway. He is the owner/skipper of the MFV Eala Ban G and a member of Coiste Cliomach Chonmara Theas and Comharchumann Sliogeisc Chonmara.
Kevin Conneely
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Roundstone to Ballyconneely Fishers
Kevin was nominated by fishers in is local area. His family business operates two inshore vessels the “Clarin” and the “Maggie B” with both static and mobile gear being used. They also participate in the V-notching conservation scheme and the family also runs a seasonal fish market at Bunowen Pier, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway.
Kevin has a strong interest in the relationship between ORE sector and the fishing industry and has represented the views of the West RIFF and all inshore fishers at the Seafood-ORE Working Group for the past two years.
Michael O’Malley
Sector: Aquaculture
Representing aquaculture
Michael is he nominee of the Irish Shellfish Association and is the aquaculture representative on the West RIFF. He is a mussel and oyster farmer in North Connemara and is a member of FLAG West.
Sector: Shellfish Buyers – vacant at present time
Simon Berrow
Sector: Environment
Simon Berrow is CEO of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and a lecturer in the Atlantic Technological University, Galway. He is representing the IEN and has considerable experience of whales, dolphins and porpoises and a strong interest in the commercial fishing industry.
Michael O’Connell
Sector: Fisheries
Representing North Clare Fishers
Michael was nominated by the West Clare Lobstermen’s Association. He is the owner/skipper of the MFV Prue Ester G573 and fishes for lobster, crab and gill nets for whole fish when the opportunity arises.
Ronán Flaherty
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Fishers from Cill Chiarain to Cuán na Beritrí Buí
Ronán Flaherty was nominated by Fishers in his coastal region. Ronán is from a well-known fishing family and is inshore fisherman himself for twenty years. He fishes with both a large and small inshore vessel depending on weather and targeted species. He is a member of Coiste Ghliomach Chonamara and involved in the V-notching conservation scheme.
Joe Joyce
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Fishers from Oileáin Árann
Joe Joyce was nominated by Fishers from Oileáin Árann. Joe has been fishing for 15 years now and launched his own seafood processing/retail business a few years ago. Joe lives among an island community and believes the inshore fisheries will play a vital role for the sustainability of the Island and rural communities into the future.
Jason O Flaherty
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Fishers from Clifden to Killary Harbour
Jason O Flaherty was nominated by Fishers in his coastal region. Jason has been fishing since he left school and fishes lobster, crab, and line fishing for pollock. Jason is an annual participant in the V-notching conservation scheme.