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Fishermen appeal for financial support

FISHERMEN have appealed for financial aid from Stormont after facing severe hardship following weeks of bad weather.

There were calls for an emergency meeting of the executive to help hard-pressed Co Down fishermen after it emerged that a charity helping fishing families paid out £20,000 in emergency donations over the weekend.

Dozens queued up at the Fishermen's Mission in Ardglass on Friday to receive emergency hand-outs, which came from a donation fund of £50,000 by charity Seafarers UK.

Fisherman's Mission said fishermen in Ardglass, Portavogie and Kilkeel have been unable to get out to fish their quota collections during recent bad weather conditions.

SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie last night called for an emergency meeting of the executive and said "a concerted effort" was needed to help fishermen.

She also said hardship payments were needed to help fishermen, many of whom are struggling to buy food. "One fisherman I spoke with told me some of the men he knew don't have enough money to buy food and other essential commodities," she said. "He said they are turning to the Fishermen's Mission for help and, on one occasion, 85 fishermen had queued to get food vouchers. "The Dard[agriculture] minister says the fishing industry is facing challenges, but this is more than a challenge. "While fishermen and the fishing industry are extremely resilient, there is no way they can withstand this - relentless bad weather which means they can't get out to fish their quota allocation," she said. "Fishermen already suffer as a result of 'days at sea' restrictions and this bad weather further compounds the situation. "They simply cannot get out to work."