Salmon recovery pushed Irish aquaculture value up by 25% last year
The value of the Republic of Ireland’s aquaculture sector increased by 25% last year compared to 2023 due entirely to a recovery in salmon production.
“After a low output year in 2023, salmon volumes bounced back by over 50%, reaching over 14,000 tonnes, the highest since 2017. This alone accounted for a 44% increase in the value of salmon production,” Ireland’s seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), said in its recently published Business of Seafood 2024 report.
The increase in salmon revenues compensated for falls in aquaculture production of other species, obscuring underlying challenges in the sector, said BIM.
“Rope mussel producers, particularly in the southwest, faced several challenges including reduced seed availability, poor prices, and tube worm fouling which reduced the marketability of some stock,” said BIM. “Rock oysters saw weaker prices and lower volumes, partly due to a difficult French market and some mortality.”
Seabed mussels, by contrast, performed strongly during 2024, with value rising by 39% on the back of higher prices and improved yields. “However, this growth is not expected to continue, as shortages in mussel seed during 2023 and 2024 will likely result in lower production volumes over the next two years,” warned BIM.
Finfish, shellfish, and seaweed aquaculture provided 1,908 jobs in 2024, and the sector was worth €211 million.
Driving growth
“In some regions, such as the North and West, salmon helped drive growth. In others, declines in mussel or oyster production hit local output and income,” reported BIM.
“Looking ahead, access to spat/seed and stable environmental conditions will be essential, particularly for bivalve producers. BIM continues to work with and support the sector through its work programmes and grant schemes to help the industry address the challenges it faces. A more balanced aquaculture sector where shellfish, seaweed, and new species complement salmon is both a challenge and a long-term goal.”
Policy reform
Last week, IFA Aquaculture – the aquaculture section of the Irish farmers’ Association – and other representatives of the seafood sector met with European Union fisheries and oceans commissioner Costas Kadís and Ireland’s fisheries and marine minister Timmy Dooley and other politicians, at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, County Cork.
IFA Aquaculture was represented by its vice-chair Catherine McManus, operations director for salmon farmer Mowi Ireland, and IFA Aquaculture policy executive Teresa Morrissey. They told Kadís of the need for EU aquaculture policy reform as part of the Common Fisheries Policy review and specific ring-fenced funding for the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
Encouraging words
“The Commissioner’s comments in relation to the EU Commission’s priority to support the EU aquaculture sector were very welcome,” McManus said.
“It was encouraging to hear the recognition from the Commissioner that aquaculture has the potential to increase EU seafood production and contribute to food security as the fastest growing food production sector globally.
“The Commissioner was also keen to note that sustainable development of EU aquaculture is a shared competence with Member States – Minister of State Dooley and his DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) officials should take note that they have the ability to set ambitions for the Irish aquaculture sector with the support of the EU Commission and we are hopeful they will act on this going forward.”
50% grants
BIM’s Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme will re-open for applications a week tomorrow and will remain open until September 5.
The scheme provides 50% support rate for eligible aquaculture operators for investments including product innovation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, safety equipment, animal health and welfare, and food quality and hygiene.
