Strategic drive to boost sustainable aquaculture

A public consultation on a draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development has been launched.

It is proposing 24 actions and initiatives to boost the industry’s sustainable growth. The reformed Common Fisheries Policy requires member states to prepare multi- annual national strategic plans to drive the development of aquaculture.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the draft plan has been prepared in that context. He said aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry with rapid expansion opportunities. These are to meet the ever-growing seafood demand arising from population growth and increased consumption in Asia.

Aquaculture internationally produced 67m tonnes of farmed fish in 2012 and it is projected to rise to 85m tonnes by 2022.

Mr Coveney said this puts in context the proposals in the national plan to increase aquaculture production by 45,000 tonnes, across all species, by 2023. The industry has long been recognised as an area with potential to develop significant value and employment and to provide the raw material to enhance processed seafood exports.

Clearly, that has not happened. At the same time, concerns have been raised about the environmental sustainability of the industry. Mr Coveney said the suite of tailored actions outlined in the plan aim to boost growth, while allaying legitimate areas of concern.

“With these initiatives, I believe we can get our aquaculture sector back on a path of sustainable growth and provide much needed jobs in our coastal communities,” he said. July 24 is the closing date for submissions to [e-mail].