Irish seafood ‘can be €1bn sector’

Ireland’s fisheries and aquaculture sector is slated to grow to a €1bn industry with help from a joint state-EU investment package worth €238m.

Marine Minister Simon Coveney said he fought for a near doubling of the funds for the period up to 2020, but almost half the sum will go towards controlling fishing in Irish waters and collecting data.

Announcing agreement on the projects to be funded, the European Commission said: “Due to its geographical position, Ireland has major responsibilities in enforcing the rules of the common fisheries policy, but also in providing sound data for the management of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.”