Our Board
Alex Crowley – NIFA Secretary General
Alex a native of Cahersiveen Co Kerry and is the Owner-Skipper of MFV Emma Lou T450. Alex is a full time fisherman. He gained a range of experience working abroad a variety of vessels on the South West coast working his way from deck hand to Engineer. After this Alex bought his first vessel MFV Sweetwaters T450 which he fished from Cahersiveen until he upgraded to MFV Emma Lou in 2007. He fishes a range of inshore species including: potting for brown crab, lobster, and spider crab; gillnetting, trammel netting and tangle netting for crayfish.
Alex has been involved in both the Iveragh Fisherman’s Co-op and the Valentia Harbour Fisheries Society since he began fishing from Cahersiveen. He has extensive experience serving on both boards of management and is currently honorary secretary of Iveragh Fisherman’s co-op .
He was appointed as a representative of the inshore sector to the Working Group on Safety Training and Employment in the Irish Fishing Industry by Minister Simon Coveney Coveney. Up to 2016, Alex was a member of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), for over 15 years, 10 of which were spend as a director of the organisation. Alex was a member and Vice Chair of the SWRIFF before resigning from the RIFF in late 2018. Alex chaired the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) for over two and a half years, representing it at both National and European events.
Edward Moore – NIFA Director
Edward is a native of Dingle, Co. Kerry and Owner-Skipper of the MFV Misty Dawn T539. He has been fishing for the last 35 years having started his career on the family’s fishing vessels MFV Bridget T29 and MFV Purple Harvest before buying his first vessel MFV Noreen Bawn WT105 in 1986. He fishes a range of inshore species including: potting for brown crab, lobster, and spider crab; dredging for Scallop; gillnetting, trammel netting and tangle netting for whitefish and crayfish.
He has been actively representing the interests of inshore fishermen locally and nationally through his role as a founding member of Comharchumainn Gleamaigh Chorca Dhuibhne when it existed and the Chumainn Gleamaigh Chorca Dhuibhne since 2008. He was previously a member of the Crab Species Advisory Group as part of the National Shellfish Management Framework. Eddie Chaired the SWRIFF and held the position of NIFF vice Chair, from the inception of the Inshore Fisheries Forums until is resignation from the SWRIFF in late 2018
John Menarry – NIFA Director
John a Native of South Donegal started fishing salmon and lobster while still at school. This was before studying for the BIM Deckhand Course in 1997, which he followed up with a Second Hand Full Skippers ticket. John Fished on a number of Whitefish boats out of Killybegs including the Emer Marie, Salve Regena, the Adina and the Boy Connor, before moving back into the Inshore Sector to fish on the K Mar K. John then purchased a vessel of his own which he has fished for the last twelve years, mostly potting for lobster and Brown Crab and Gill Netting. John is keen to see Inshore Fishermen work together, not only to market their catches but also to improve the health of the fish stocks that they depend on. He would also like to see cooperation to avail of government supports for times of extreme hardship
Shane McIntyre – NIFA Director
Shane started fishing in 1985, he started in trawlers, and fished herring, prawns in his early career. Shane has owned 3 fishing vessels to date, his vessel the Jueast fishes out of Dunmore East and fishes using, gillnets and lobster/crab pots. Shane was the chairman of the Irish South and East P.O for a number of years, and attends Brussels every December for the fishery council negotiations meetings representing the small inshore vessels.
Shane is a strong advocate for the inshore fishing industry and has recently spoken on ear to the ground on the effects that Brexit will have on the inshore industry.
Shane advocates for a level playing field for all, and works towards sustainable responsible fishing
Michael O Goill – NIFA Director
Michael is a native of Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Co. Galway and was the nominee of he Galway Island Fishermen onto the West RIFF. Michael is involved in community and island issues and is the chairman of Comharchumann Forbartha Árainn, the community cooperative in Inis Mór
Bernard Whelan – NIFA Director
Bernard is a native of Clifden, Co. Galway and is involved in bivalve fishing. He is also involved in the management of various clam fisheries and is keen to see structures set up for the management of bivalve fisheries.
Kieran Healy – NIFA Director
Kieran fishes out of Crosshaven, Co. Cork and is the owner/skipper of the MFV Ronan Finbar S46.
He has been fishing since 1978. Apart from a four year period fishing for albacore tuna and swordfish out of San Pedro, California he has fished almost exclusively inshore, currently fishing pots, lines and tangle nets targeting, lobster, shrimp, brown crab, Pollack and ray seasonally.
He has extensive experience of inshore fisheries and was a founder member of the Irish Lobster Association which was at the forefront of initiatives to introduce management and conservation for lobster and crayfish stocks.
Michael Foley – NIFA Director
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Michael Desmond – NIFA Director
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Seamus Breathanach – NIFA Director
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Alan Fanning – NIFA Director
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