AERA Committee meets DAERA and representatives of the fishing sector in Portaferry and Portavogie
The Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee met representatives from fishing organisations at its weekly meeting, which was held in Portaferry, County Down on 25th June 2026.
Members of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organisation (NIFPO) and the Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation (NIFF), who represented the Anglo North Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation (ANIFPO), delivered an oral briefing to the Committee.
The briefing covered current issues facing the fishing industry, including sustainability, workforce challenges, access to markets and the impact of regulatory changes.
Check out AREA Chair Robbie Butler taking on the role of the AERA committee.
This was followed by an update from officials at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on the Department’s role at Exploris Aquarium and the seal sanctuary.
Following the formal proceedings, Committee Members had an opportunity to visit the seal sanctuary at Exploris before travelling to Portavogie Harbour to meet local fishermen and visit the NIFPO training facilities, which include a new state of the art fire training rig.
The AERA Committee Chair, Robbie Butler MLA said: “Today’s visit by the Committee to the Ards and North Down coastal area provided valuable insight into the work of DAERA at the seal sanctuary.
“It also addressed the importance of the fishing industry to our coastal communities, reinforcing the need for continued collaboration between government and those working in the sector.”
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