The Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (KFO) announced that current Bord Iascaigh Mhara's (BIM) Director of Economic and Strategic Services, Dominic Rihan, has been appointed as its new CEO. Rihan who has worked for BIM for 34 years, will assume his position as CEO at Ireland's largest fish producer organisation in early 2024.
In introducing the new CEO, Ciarán Doherty, Chairman of the Board of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation expressed his delight that it is Dominic Rihan who will lead the organisation in what he called "a transformative and transitional period for Irish fisheries."
"Mr Rihan has 34 years’ experience in working at the coalface in crucial issues relating to fisheries," Doherty said. "He is respected not just nationally, but at a European and international level and we have no doubt that he will be a driving force as well as a strategic leader as the KFO embarks on a new chapter."
"We have many challenges to overcome, the most important of which is reclaiming stocks and quota which have been taken from us," KFO's Chairman of the Board continued. "We look forward to Dominic picking up where his predecessor left off. We have lobbied tirelessly on burden-sharing post-Brexit and this work continues apace. It is imperative that all EU coastal states share the impact of fish lost due to the British withdrawal equally and fairly."
As mentioned, Dominic Rihan has 34 years of experience working for BIM in the fields of fishing gear technology, stakeholder engagement, and providing policy support and advice to the government and the fishing industry.
Moreover, he also spent five years working at the European Commission, DG MARE as a seconded national expert in DG MARE, dealing with the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy.
KFO also noted that, in addition to fishing gear technology and industry and stakeholder collaboration, his areas of expertise include national and EU fisheries policy. At the European and international level, Rihan is the current chairman of the European Commission's Scientific and Technical Committee for Fisheries and has been involved in numerous EU and nationally funded projects.
KFO's incoming CEO said he was "extremely excited and enthused" about his appointment. "Having observed the status and profile of the KFO up close for many years, it’s an organisation which represents members in a highly professional and effective way in an industry which is simultaneously complex and challenging," he said.
Dominic Rihan added that he hopes to use his experience for the betterment of the sector and looks forward to building on the "tireless work" of his predecessor in representing the members of the KFO. In closing, he had a word for his current colleagues at BIM. "I’d like to thank my colleagues in Bord Iascaigh Mhara for their unwavering support for the last 34 years and look forward to embracing this new chapter in 2024," he said.
Precisely, Killybegs is one of Ireland's busiest seafood hubs, and recently we learned it is to receive a total of EUR 50 million in investment in support of the region's fish processing industry. The funds from the Brexit Process Capital Support Scheme, implemented by Ireland's seafood agency, BIM, will be used by the companies to modernize and develop their facilities to "future proof" the sector in the area.
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Ltd. (KFO) is committed to developing and advancing any sea fisheries issues of relevance to its members. It also acts as a fish producer organisation and is designated as such under EU regulations. KFO membership is open to owners and part-owners of EU-registered commercial fishing vessels.
