Brexit: Ireland's disputed loughs

Brexit: Ireland's disputed loughs

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Mussel fisherman Brian MacDonald (not pictured) shares many of the concerns about Britain's divorce from the European Union that are felt by tens of thousands of people who earn a living along the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

. Carlingford, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
A ship dredges mussels from Carlingford Lough.

However the native of the Northern Irish harbour town of Warrenpoint has an additional headache on top of the prospect of tariffs and trade disruption - the waters in which he fishes are the subject of a territorial row that stretches back decades.

. Omeath, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Carlingford Lough and in the distance Northern Ireland are seen at sunset.

Carlingford Lough - an estuary that forms part of the border between the county of Down in British-run Northern Ireland and Louth in EU member Ireland - is one of two waterways that present particularly complex issues as Britain removes itself from the EU over the next two years.

"No one can define who owns what. Neither of the two governments have defined the border here and nobody can say where is the North and where is the South," said MacDonald.

"It's two fiddlers playing two completely different tunes and we're stuck in the middle and nobody wants to talk to us about it."

. Culmore, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
A worker tends to oysters on an oyster farm on Lough Foyle.

Talks are ongoing between the Irish and British governments relating to the jurisdiction of Carlingford Lough and the unresolved ownership of Lough Foyle, which lies to the west between Donegal and Londonderry, the Loughs Agency, a cross-border body overseeing both areas, said in a statement.

. Warrenpoint, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Across the water from Warrenpoint in Greenore, fellow mussel fisherman Brian Cunningham (right) fears Brexit could lead to a doubling up of paperwork such as trawler registrations and add costs that would hurt the industry.

He said most boats based in Northern Ireland normally fish off the coast in the Republic of Ireland.

"When Brexit comes, what's going to happen? We're going to have to jump through hoops that by the time the paper work is sorted out our mussels will be dead," he said.

. Warrenpoint, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Skipper Shay Fitzpatrick dredges mussels.

"They are landed live, processed live and sold live to the customer. It's a live animal, it's no different than the cattle, sheep or pig. So, it's going to be very, very difficult."

. Omeath, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said it is of "vital national interest" that no physical barrier or customs controls be put back on the border, winning initial EU backing. But the fishermen of Carlingford Lough fear their long-standing concerns will not be a big priority.

. Greencastle, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Seabirds fly on the shore of Carlingford Lough looking out at the Republic of Ireland from Greencastle.

"It's vitally important to us that ... we have an equal footing to try and make a living as we have done for numerous years now," said MacDonald.

"But because we are not a big voice in the grand scheme of things nobody wants to talk to us and that's it."

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Slideshow

Enda Craig, a member of the Loughs Agency Advisory Forum, holds a map of Lough Foyle.
. Moville, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Enda Craig, a member of the Loughs Agency Advisory Forum, holds a map of Lough Foyle.

Oyster farmer William Lynch puts on his wellington boots on his oyster farm on Lough Foyle.
. Culmore, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Oyster farmer William Lynch puts on his wellington boots on his oyster farm on Lough Foyle.

Bagged-up farmed oysters are seen at a cleaning facility to get them ready for overseas shipping.
. Moville, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Bagged-up farmed oysters are seen at a cleaning facility to get them ready for overseas shipping.

A poster hanging on a wall of a house reads: "No to the ferry", referring to a proposed new car ferry that would run from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland through Carlingford Lough.
. Greencastle, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A poster hanging on a wall of a house reads: "No to the ferry", referring to a proposed new car ferry that would run from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland through Carlingford Lough.

Windows of houses reflect the light of the sunset from the shore of Carlingford Lough.
. Greencastle, UNITED KINGDOM. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Windows of houses reflect the light of the sunset from the shore of Carlingford Lough.

A boat is seen at sunset on Carlingford Lough.
. Greenore, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A boat is seen at sunset on Carlingford Lough.

A man walks his dog in matching hi-vis wear on Carlingford Lough.
. Greenore, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A man walks his dog in matching hi-vis wear on Carlingford Lough.

A woman with flowers walks past an old fuel station.
. Carlingford, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A woman with flowers walks past an old fuel station.

A donkey is seen on the shore of Carlingford Lough.
. Omeath, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A donkey is seen on the shore of Carlingford Lough.

A sign that reads: "In 1771 nothing happened here", is seen on the shores of Carlingford Lough.
. Carlingford, IRELAND. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

A sign that reads: "In 1771 nothing happened here", is seen on the shores of Carlingford Lough.