Arklow fishermen press case for £40,000 ice plant

August 1988

ICE COOL Marine Minister Brendan Daly brought a ray of hope to the fishermen of Arklow last week. Minister Daly promised to try to unfreeze the Department promised to try to unfreeze the Department of Finance’s attitude towards financially aiding new ice plant projects.

The trawlermen in Arklow have been ‘fishing’ for ten years for a new £40,000 plant wich would guarantee them enough ice for their 23 boat fleet.

As it is they are are left to fight amongst themselves over one and a half tonnes of ice being produced daily by the present plant. There is not enough ice to go around.

They want a plant with a production capacity of five tonnes a day.

Minister Daly who has discussions with Arklow fishermen’s representatives last Thursday, was well aware that the present plant was totally unsatisfactory.

It was the intention of his Department to see that it was replaced as soon as possible.

As far as they were concerned a supply of ice to ensure better quality of fish production was essential.

Harbour Board chairman John Sweeney said that some Arklow boats were not even able to go out fishing because there was no ice available.

In the longer term, a new ice plant would service not just the Arklow boats but also visiting trawlers.

The Minister heard that the Arklow fishing fleet was increasing rapidly from the five boats that were in Arklow in 1977. Following the industrial collapse, anybody with a connection with fishing was trying to get back into it.