Aquaculture licence delay ‘prevents development and job creation’

MUSSEL farmers have warned the Government that a decade-long delay in processing 500 aquaculture licence applications is preventing the creation of much needed jobs.

Attendees at this week’s joint BIM and IFA aquaculture workshop in Claregalway village have called on Ministers Brendan Smith and John Gormley to speed up the bay-by-bay assessments and to end the 10-year logjam.

Irish Shellfish Association (ISA) chairman, Flor Harrington, said: “Not only are the unnecessary delays hitting our licences, but (they are) also preventing farmers from accessing vital capital grant aid for modernisation, improving quality and environmental management.