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”.
Michael Ó Goill
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Galway Island Fishers
Michael is the nominee of the Galway Island Fishers. He is involved in community and island issues and is chairman of Comharchumann Forbartha Árainn the community Co-operative in Inis Mór.
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
Morgan Oliver
Sector: Fisheries
Representing Blackhead to Galway Port Fishers
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
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.
Loic Trahan
Sector: Shellfish Buyers
Loic is the nominee of the Crustacean Management Committee. He is the Managing Director of Breizon Teo. based in Rossaveal, Co. Galway. Breizon Teo. is one of the largest buyers and exporters of shellfish in Ireland.
Patrick Perril
Sector: Environment
Information to follow
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.