€35m proposal to build world’s largest biomarine ingredients facility
The proposed €35m project will create 50 construction jobs at the Donegal site, plus 70 direct and indirect jobs when in full production from 2016. It was unveiled during a BIM conference in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
The facility will be used to extract high-end proteins, oils, and calcium from fish for use as food ingredients.
Killybegs chief executive Sean O’Donoghue said: “This proposed new facility can become a game-changer in the seafood sector. The increased focus on health and rising demand for foodstuffs high in healthy content has led to rapid growth in the health and sports nutrition market.
“We have already met with leading food producers in Europe and the USA who are extremely supportive of the venture and enthusiastic about entering into supply contracts with it.”
Simon Coveney, the agriculture minister, will formally launch Biomarine Ingredients Ireland Ltd in Killybegs on May 9. The plant will be able to process up to 50,000 tonnes of raw material a year.
“We all need to challenge our thinking and inform ourselves of best international practice so that Ireland will be able to position itself to maximise its share of the global seafood opportunity,” Mr Coveney said.
“Ireland may currently be a small player in the context of world seafood, however, given the huge resources around our coast it is clear that we should have major ambitions for sustainable growth of our seafood sector.”
Meanwhile, Goodbody Stockbrokers director Joe Gill said Irish seafood firms can grow sales to €1bn and deliver 1,200 jobs by 2017.
Speaking at yesterday’s BIM conference, Mr Gill said many of Ireland’s 180 registered seafood companies are small-scale, often family-run firms with a turnover ranging from €3m to €10m. To reach the projected €1bn goal, he said “the industry needs leadership, vision and capital”.
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