Fishermen offer to buy quays from port firm

FISHERMEN who claim hundreds of jobs are being put on the line by moves by the Port of Waterford to sell off several docking areas have offered to pay €2m for the quays

The Waterford Port Authority plans to sell the North Quays, which include both the Frank Cassin and North Wharves, to meet its debts. The plan will be outlined today at a meeting between port bosses and those involved in the fishing industry in the area.

Fishermen say the sale will mean they won't be able to use the facility from as early as next week and trawlers will be forced to offload stock in Castletownbere or Howth which are significant distances from Waterford. The lands are most likely to be snapped up by a developer and transformed into apartments.

A Port of Waterford spokesperson said fishermen have known about the sale plans for several years and that both ports, which are expected to sell for about €5 million are a commercial and not specifically designated as fisheries ports.

The spokesperson said trawlers will no longer be able to use both wharves but will be accommodated at the nearby Belview port, which is being developed.

Junior Marine Minister John Browne said he would ask the port company to stall their plans until fishermen were relocated to Belview port.

But Denis O'Flaherty, of O'Flaherty Brothers Fish Processors, says up to 150 jobs in his company were in jeopardy because of the sale. "We have used the port for a long time and we are being forced at berth trawlers to offload stock in Castletownbere or Howth.

"This in turn will impact on fishery exports to the European market. Waterford is an inland safe harbour when storms hit."