IFA Aquaculture welcomes initiative

A DECISION to set up a group to oversee a long-awaited seafood strategy initiative has been praised by the body representing the €110 million Irish aquaculture sector.

IFA Aquaculture executive secretary Richie Flynn welcomed the initiative, which Marine Minister John Browne announced in Killybegs yesterday, and the appointment of Dr Noel Cawley, Joey Murrin and Ruan O’Bric to oversee the process. Mr Flynn said there are many long-standing problems in the sector which need to be urgently addressed to have a vibrant and economically sustainable industry based on valuable natural resources.

Among the issues IFA Aquaculture will be seeking to have included in the review will be a radical overhaul of licensing policy and process to remove logjams, and a well-resourced and market-led approach to funding for the industry under the European Fisheries Fund 2007-2012.