Kilkeel Harbour Visit
On a sunny Wednesday 27th May 2026, members visited Kilkeel Harbour.
Kilkeel Harbour Master
The Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA) is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The Authority has a statutory responsibility for improving, managing and maintaining the three fishery harbours and harbour estates of Ardglass, Kilkeel, and Portavogie and for operating the facilities which are provided at these harbours.
Harbour Master, Norman Bridges, looked after us on our visit. He provided us with a history of the harbour and how the fishing industry has changed over the years. As with a number of indigenous industries in Northern Ireland, the fishing industry is having to deal with many challenges e.g. the consequences of Brexit, quotas, new working visa rules and the declining interest of young people making a career of fishing. Many boats have been decommissioned in recent years and some have diversified to provide security around off-shore wind farms, ensuring the integrity of new cables being laid.
G Smyth Boats Ltd
G Smyth boats began in 2009 in Annalong and relocated to Kilkeel Harbour in 2013 to a new bespoke building for its growing business - both building fishing boats and offering a repair service to the local and visiting fleet. In the years since being established Gerry Smyth has invested in the development of newly designed fishing vessels including a 15m catamaran. In 2009 G Smyth Boats employed 5 people and in 2025 employed 15 full-time staff. It was great to see a local business employing local people and keeping those boat building skills alive.
Sea Source
Sea Source was established as the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation (ANIFPO) in 1984 and is a co-operative owned by fishermen in Northern Ireland. It is one of several fish processing companies operating at Kilkeel (Harbour). Sea Source is the umbrella name for the company which is involved in the catching, processing, selling fish/ shellfish and operates offshore energy services. In effect Sea Source catches, sells and processes its own fish and shellfish products, with the aim of reducing costs and maximising the financial return to local fishermen. Its mission is to ‘supply the highest quality, world class, wild caught and sustainable seafood from local Northern Ireland fishermen. It strives to build a sustainable future for the entire fishing community through optimising every opportunity provided by the marine environment.’
Brian Chambers is the CEO at Sea Source. He is an 8th generation fisherman with 33 years of experience in the fishing industry. For over 20 years, he has been actively involved in the lobster V-notching scheme, contributing to the conservation of valuable stocks and ensuring the longevity of the industry for future generations.
As CEO of ANIFPO he works closely with industry stakeholders, policymakers, and scientists to support the livelihoods of fishermen while promoting responsible fishing practices. His role involves advocating for fair policies, ensuring quota sustainability, and enhancing market opportunities for the members. Brian provided great insight to the changes within the industry and the work Sea Source does to ensure its sustainability. A tour of the processing facilities allowed those present to see the quantity and quality of the produce being handled and to have a better understanding of those markets that the produce is exported to. For a country surrounded by a plentiful sea, we are a poor nation of fish eaters.