Stakeholders to feed seafood industry review

MARINE stakeholders were urged yesterday to feed into an independent review of Ireland’s €700 million seafood industry to ensure its future profitability and sustainability.

Some 100 people attended the first in a series of regional meetings for people engaged in the fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing and marketing industry, at Ferrycarrig Bridge, Co Wexford, earlier this week.

A second regional meeting will be held at Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry today to allow more stakeholders a voice in the review, recently announced by Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey and Minister of State John Browne.

Overseeing the study is an independent team chaired by Dr Noel Cawley, former chief executive of the Irish Dairy Board, Joey Murrin, chairman, National Salmon Commission and Ruán O’Bric, former chief executive, Údarás na Gaeltachta.

The objective of the process is to devise a strategy for a sustainable and profitable Irish seafood industry over the period 2007 — 2013.

Further regional meetings will be held at the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal (July 25), and at Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill (July 27).