Fish farming can provide 2,000 more jobs, says IFA chief
John Bryan, president, said the IFA presented a 10-point plan aimed at doubling the output of the €120 million industry to Marine Minister Tony Killeen at a meeting in Dublin.
The plan calls for the revitalisation of a high quality sustainable industry around the coast as a critical move towards saving remote communities and supplying vital raw material for seafood processors.
“There are 859 shellfish and finfish licence applications awaiting approval – that’s a lot of jobs, investment and exports at a time when they were never needed more. The economic crisis has hit remote rural areas extremely hard. Yet, our farmed seafood products are in high demand throughout Europe and the world,” he said.
Mr Bryan said the IFA needs a Government commitment that remaining blockages to licencing and grant aid are dealt with immediately.
The IFA plan proposes that Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) develops an inward investment programme to complement indigenous investment and highlights the need to improve consumption of seafood at home.
It also says Bord Bia and BIM must invest in the Irish aquaculture quality assurance schemes to encourage full participation and recognition at producer, processor and retail level.
Irish Shellfish Association chairman Flor Harrington said the increased output of products such as salmon, mussels and oysters, as well as new species, could add up to an extra €100 million in export earnings for rural areas.
“Significant value is added to products by transforming them into consumer cuts, ready-meals and high value processed products.”
Jan Feenstra, chief executive, Marine Harvest, the country’s largest aquaculture producer, said the inter-departmental Marine Co-ordinating Group, set up last year by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, must publicly set out a plan to defend and develop seafood jobs and exports. It must deliver its key objectives including protecting and generating jobs.
Meanwhile, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith and Mr Killeen yesterday visited the Marine Institute in Oranmore, Co Galway.
Institute chairman, Jim Fennell, chief executive, Dr Peter Heffernan, and other staff, briefed them on the work being carried out.
Mr Smith, who praised the breadth and quality of the work, said the Irish marine research sector has been extremely successful in winning funding against stiff competition in Europe.
“This funding is not only creating new jobs and supporting existing positions in research and industry, but also building new industries for the future,” he said.
