Membership
The members of the North West Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum are:
Eamon Dixon – Chair of North West RIFF
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Erris Fishermen
Eamon owns the fishing vessel “Padro Pio”, G117 and his homeport is Ballyglass. Co. Mayo. Eamon is a founder member and present secretary of Cumann Iacaira Chos Costa Iorrais. He represents the inshore fisheries sector on the SFPA Shellfish Consultative Committee and is also on the board of Responsible Irish Fish. The main fisheries he is involved in are brown crab, lobster, line caught mackerel and pollock. Eamon has been involved in fishing for 20+ years and is a long time campaigner on fishing issues nationally and locally.
William Walker – Vice Chair of the North West RIFF
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Erris Fishermen
William owns the fishing vessel “Heather Berry”, SO628. The main fisheries he is involved in are gillnetting for whitefish, tangle netting, line fishing for mackerel/pollock, dredging for scallop and native oyster. William is from a large fishing family in Erris. He is the head of the Erris Lobster Conservation and Restocking Association and is a seasoned campaigner on all inshore fisheries issues.
Ciaran Quinn
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Clew Bay Fishermen
Ciaran owns the fishing vessel “Natalie”, WT275 and his homeport is Newport, Co. Mayo. The main fisheries he is involved in are Shrimp, Scallop, Prawn potting, lobster and brown crab. He has been involved in fishing for his whole life and is a seasoned campaigner on all fishing related issues.
Michael Kelly
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Easky/Sligo Fishermen
Michael owns the fishing vessel “Broadhaven”, WT112 and his homeport is Easkey, Co. Sligo. The main fisheries he is involved in are lobster, brown crab, gillnetting for turbot/whitefish and line fishing for mackerel/Pollock. Michael coordinates a number of vessels in the Sligo area under the National v-notching programme.
David Downes
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Raghly Fishermen, Sligo
David owns the fishing vessel “Suzanne Too”, SO233 and his homeport is Raghly, Co. Sligo. His main fisheries are lobster, brown crab, mackerel and Pollock. David coordinates v-notching for 9 fishermen in the North Sligo under the National v-notching programme.
Anthony O’Toole
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Mayo Island Fishermen
Patrick Needham
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Achill Fishermen
Pat Mulloy – Connemara Seafoods
Sector: Processing and Buyers
Representing Buyers/Processors
Pat runs a seafood business that processes, buys and sells all types of shellfish and exports shellfish products to countries all over the world. Pat’s family has over 50+ years’ experience in the seafood industry in particular shellfish. Pat has always been an active campaigner on behalf of Clew Bay Fishermen and fishermen nationally on bivalve related issues.
Mary Gavin Hughes
Sector: Angling/Marine Toursim
Representing Angling/Marine Toursim
Mary owns and runs her own Angling vessel business. She is known nationally and internationally as one of the world’s top female Anglers. Mary is originally from Clynish Island in Clew Bay where she fished at a very young age with her Father, only to later set up her own angling business. She is a seasoned campaigner on angling and marine tourism issues.
Frank Carter
Sector: Aquaculture
Environment representative: Vacant