Funding for new fish farming projects

Speaking at the close of the IFA aquaculture conference in Kenmare, Co. Cork , Tony Killeen, Irish minister for fisheries and forestry, praised the continued efforts of the aquaculture industry and the sector’s extraordinary rate of growth over a short period of time.

He also emphasised his commitment to further expansion of the industry, which could create more jobs in Irish coastal communities:

 "We know historically that every hundred tonnes of output of farmed salmon generates one full time job on the farm and another 1.26 fulltime jobs ashore. So for every extra 100 tonnes we could produce, we would on average generate almost 2.5 full time equivalent jobs here in our coastal communities."

He acknowledged that there were difficulties with regards to agreeing arrangements with the European Commission for the licensing and regulation of the sector in compliance with the requirements of the habitats and Birds Directives. This issue had lead to a backlog of licence applications.

He said extensive discussions had been taking place at various levels to resolve the issues and that Minister Smith had held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Dimas, the Environment Commissioner to advance matters.

He said his department were committing €1.4m this year to getting the necessary data collected in the Natura 2000 sites where aquaculture is taking place, so as to enable aquaculture activities to be licensed fully in compliance with the directives. 

The minister also announced that he was committing €3.8m to supporting new aquaculture development projects this year. This grant aid should enable approximately 20 fish farming projects with a total investment of €8.5m to proceed.