FCILC JC 22 June 2001

1. A meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Sectoral format was held in the Headquarters of the Loughs Agency on 22 June, 2001. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the , Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC), which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies. The functions of the FCILC in relation to the and Carlingford Areas are exercised through an agency of the body known as the Loughs Agency. The functions of the body in relation to the General Lighthouse Authority for the island of Ireland will be exercised through an agency of the Body to be known as the Lights Agency.

2. The Northern Ireland Executive Delegation comprised Mrs. Bríd Rodgers MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Mr Sam Foster MLA, Minister of the Environment. The Irish Government was represented by Mr. Frank Fahey, T.D., Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.

3. The Chairperson and the Chief Executive of the Loughs Agency, Mr Peter Savage and Mr. Derick Anderson respectively, provided the Council with oral reports on progress to date in taking forward the work of the Agency. This included progress in all of the areas of responsibility of the Loughs Agency including salmon and inland fisheries, marine tourism and aquaculture and shellfisheries. The Ministers praised the good work of the Agency and the Commission for so ably pressing ahead with its various programmes while at the same time having to cope with the serious disruption caused by the Foot and Mouth situation.

4. The Council approved the Loughs Agency's proposals for targeting social need and social exclusion by targeting efforts and available resources towards people, groups and areas objectively defined as being in greatest social need. The Agency intends to achieve the objective through the promotion and provision of educational opportunities for schools, the promotion of the Agency's Interpretive Centre, the improvement of angling facilities in the and Carlingford Areas and the development of marine tourism. The Agency's draft plan will now be issued for public consultation and will then come back to the Council for further consideration.

5. The Council noted the annual report for the year 2000. This will be published by the Loughs Agency in due course.

6. The Council noted the Loughs Agency's proposals to use independent facilitators from the successful Cross-Border Aquaculture Initiative Team (a team sponsored by the two relevant government Departments and whose specialist remit covers 12 counties on the island) to draw up a Co-ordinated Local Aquaculture Management System for regulating and managing shellfisheries in the loughs. The Loughs Agency will commission a locally based academic institution to undertake a survey of stakeholders to obtain their views, concerns and proposals.

7. The Council gave its approval for the Loughs Agency to proceed with the arrangements outlined by the Agency at the meeting for consultation with fisheries interests in and Carlingford. Management consultants will draw up and agree with the Agency and the Board of the FCILC pre-determined criteria for selection of members to an Advisory Forum and key Focus Groups. (The Council had previously authorised the Board of the FCILC to proceed with plans to establish an Advisory Forum and Focus Groups so as to ensure that management of the fisheries in the and Carlingford Areas takes full account of the relevant interests). Membership will be comprehensive to include those directly affected by the work of the Agency i.e. Shellfishermen, Salmon Netsmen, Anglers and Angling Clubs, Fisheries Owners and Tourism Operators.

8. The Council approved additional expenditure from the Loughs Agency 2001 budget to complete work on the new Headquarters, which were officially opened by the Ministers after the meeting. The Council noted the Loughs Agency's proposals for completion of the Interpretive Centre to be situated within the Agency's Headquarters. The Headquarters including the Interpretive Centre was funded by the E.U. Joint Interreg Programme and by the two sponsoring Departments. The Centre will be fitted out with audio-visual display equipment of the highest standards so that it can encourage children and young people to work towards the long-term preservation of the important natural resources in the Agency's areas of operation and ensure that organisations using the waterways are familiar with "River-Responsible" practices. The Centre will also play a key role in raising public awareness generally as to the environmental importance of the and Carlingford Catchments.

9. The Council noted a progress report on preparations for the transfer of the functions of the Commissioners of Irish Lights to the , Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission.

10 The Council agreed that the next meeting in this Sectoral format would take place in the South in the early Autumn.

Joint Secretariat

22 June 2001