Minister opens Ireland's first dedicated seafood development centre

The Seafood Development Centre (SDC), located in in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, has a floor space of 768 square metres and facilities include wet fish processing areas; business incubation units; graduate laboratory; product development kitchen; and an innovation and product concept room. The Seafood Development Centre (SDC) will support and provide industry with a commercially focused innovation and new product development capability.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Killeen highlighted the benefit of the facility for the sector: “I am delighted to be here today to launch this impressive facility. A greater focus on innovation will provide the Irish seafood sector with an opportunity to increase sales to key markets. Our market share currently amounts to approximately 1- 4 per cent in most EU markets where up to 70 per cent of fish consumed is imported from outside the EU where producers are operating with significant cost advantages.

“We need to compete effectively against this and the Seafood Development Centre will ensure the sector will have the best support and expertise available to assist in the development of innovative products to better meet the needs of discerning international trade and consumers.”