EIFA Erris
Eamon Dixon
Eamon Dixon was born and reared in Belmullet, Co Mayo, and attended the National Fishing Training College in Greencastle. After completing his training, he returned to fish locally. He gained invaluable experience as a crewman on various vessels in Mayo, fishing mainly salmon, crab and gill netting for cod and pollack. He progressed to purchasing his own vessel in 1995 (MFV Girl Deborah - 10m), and in 2000, he purchased the MFV Padre Pio (11.98m), which he continues to own and skipper today. During this time, he helped form a local group called Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association (EIFA), where he served as an officer from the inception of the group to 2010. He began to take a more active role in wider fishing issues both in his local area and nationally. Owing to the development of the fishing industry, the EIFA were obliged to address and adhere to much legislation relating to the fishing trade. He also became more interested in environmental issues leading to improved markets and increased prices for the produce of the inshore sector in his area. In 2011, he became a founder member and Director of Responsible Irish Fish (RIF) a company formed to assist vessel owners achieve certification for their fish/shellfish, to develop a brand to allow Irish Fishermen differentiate their products in the marketplace and to promote Irish fish caught in a responsible manner. His purpose on this Committee is to represent the interests of Erris and the wider inshore fishing sector.