Five hundred jobs and a similar number of part-time positions could be created if a major harbour was developed in Co Mayo for commercial, marine and tourism activities, it was claimed last night.
The facility, according to Mr John Walkin, chairman of the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, could be located at either Ballyglass near Belmullet, Achill Island or Kilcummim near Ballina.
The port development would greatly assist local industry to transport goods by sea and eliminate high volumes of heavy traffic which are clogging up a totally inadequate road network in the West, he said.
Mr Walkin said: "A general lack of infrastructure off the West coast has been in the past, and still is, the lack of a major fisheries harbour to facilitate the development of fisheries, tourism and industrial job creation.
"Such a port would facilitate commercial fishermen and would create onshore and offshore jobs.
"This, I believe, would create in the region of 500 full-time and 500 part-time jobs and would be a major boost to what has become am employment blackspot," said Mr Walkin.