‘Failure to exploit seafood potential’

IRELAND is failing to maximise its natural seafood resources — even though it’s a market projected to grow by 42 million tonnes per year by 2030, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

BIM chief executive Jason Whooley has said that the projected population explosion over the next 20 years “presents a massive opportunity for the seafood industry” as most of the population increase will be in Asia/Pacific region, where diets are predominately based on seafood.

Danish and French companies have seized on this potential market and are buying up mussel and oyster licences for fishing around the Irish coastline.