BIM seeks to deliver 1,200 jobs and €1bn seafood sales under 2017 plan
The Irish seafood sector plans to capitalise on global demand for fish, growing by an anticipated extra 42m tonnes per annum by 2030. BIM is targeting production of over 45,000 tonnes of extra raw material during 2013-17, to result in the industry reaching its projected Irish seafood exports figure of a €650m.
BIM chairman Kieran Calnan said: “In our new strategy, BIM aquaculture proposals are grounded in Ireland’s ideal position to take advantage of a major opportunity presented by the massive projected growth in global fish consumption.
“With quotas and natural constraints limiting the amount of wild fish catches available to meet this need, the majority of the additional supply will have to come from sustainable fish farming.”
Meanwhile, grants totalling €2.4m were awarded to 25 seafood processing companies yesterday under a business investment scheme.
Unveiled along with private sector investment, a total of €8m will be injected into these companies in 2013. Recipients of the 2013 grants include Fish Exports, Donegal, which invested €974,875 and received a €292,462 grant; Earagail Eisc Teo, Donegal, with a €935,000 private investment and a grant of €280,500; and Keohane Seafood Ltd Cork, €853,530 invested and a €256,059 grant.
Other grants recipients included Good Fish Processing, Carrigaline, Cork, with a €284,000 investment and a €85,200 grant; Rockabill Shellfish Ltd Dublin, €197,719 invested, and €59,316 grant; and Oilean Mara Teo, Galway, €378,561 invested, and a €113,568 grant.
