Fenit harbour is a mixed function sea port, where fishing, freight import and export, and a 136 berth marina are the main forms of business.

In the mid-19th century, the sailing ship Jeanie Johnston traded out of Tralee, transporting emigrants to the US and Canada and in 2000 a replica was built in Fenit harbour.

[6] The village and environs were the scene of the ill-fated attempt of Roger Casement and cohorts to land arms at Banna Strand to aid the Easter Rising.

[citation needed] History repeated itself when in 1984, the Marita Ann a Fenit-registered boat, attempted a similar operation on behalf of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

The republican forces had intended to blow up the pier if an attack was launched but the charges were rendered inoperable by unknown persons in an attempt to minimise damage to the port.

Prior to this cargo for Tralee was transported through Barrow Harbour, a natural sea inlet, just north of Fenit.

Barrow Harbour was, historically, the port used to service Ardfert, now a village but, in the monastic era, it was a major ecclesiastical centre with students and monks from many parts of Europe.

Coal, grain timber, etc., were landed during the 20th century with oil and cranes becoming the main cargo until the fuel distribution base was dismantled in the late 1990s.

This is almost totally due to the export of container cranes manufactured by Liebherr's Irish subsidiary, based in Killarney, which are shipped all over the world.

The local fishing industry has all but ceased due to EU quota limits and competition from larger fleets from Spain and France.

The oil industry has, in the past, used Fenit as a base for their supply boats on several occasions when exploring off the west and southwest coast of Ireland.

The marina caters to leisure craft for boats from 6m to 15m in length with an approach depth of 5m which provides access at all tidal levels.

A large bronze sculpture of Saint Brendan was erected in 2004 on Great Samphire Island, the rock around which the harbour was built.