Online seafood auction house could lead to 'hundreds' of jobs

Industry 'game-changer' allows buyers to bid in real time for freshly caught Irish fish

Joe Walsh, founder and managing director at Paulona Seafoods, Midleton, Co Cork. Picture: BIM

The establishment of Ireland’s first and only online seafood auction house could lead to “hundreds” of jobs, according to the company behind it.

Paulona Seafoods chief executive Joe Walsh said the auction house he has established in Cork could generate an additional €20m to €30m in income for the industry.

The online auction allows buyers to bid in real time for freshly caught Irish fish. 

It operates Tuesdays and Fridays, selling up to 30 tonnes per week. 

The company plans to expand this to 100 tonnes of fresh fish over a four‑day week. 

Around 30 Irish fishing vessels — including around 17 inshore boats — are already selling their catch through the auction.

It launched in partnership with the French government through the Guilvinic commune auction house, one of seven operating under the control of Finistere Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Finistere) in Brittany.

“If everything works to plan, this could end up being a complete game-changer for the Irish fishing industry,” said Mr Walsh.

“There is so much negativity around the industry that it is sometimes too easy to overlook the very positive things the industry can do for itself.

“I have already taken on two extra staff for this and I expect to take on as many as 50.

“But the benefits will be felt all over the country in an industry that really needs to not only hang onto the jobs it has but also create new ones.

“I have had this up and running for nearly three months and I am already hearing from individual fishermen who are telling me their income has increased as a result.” 

Although set up on a platform supervised by the French government, Paulona Seafoods received nearly €180,000 in funding under the seafood processing capital scheme to buy the software needed to operate the online auction.

The funding also supported the development of an in‑house prawn‑freezing facility, adding to the existing processing operations at Paulona Seafood’s base in Ballycotton, East Cork.

The aim is to have more than 100 fishing boats supplying fish for the online auctions run by Paulona Seafoods​, which Mr Walsh set up in 2001. 

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Mr Walsh also has ​cold storage units and a transport hub set up to deliver fresh Irish fish to ports for transport on to countries like France and Spain​.

“Buyers in these countries want fresh fish and they are prepared to pay for the best quality,” said Mr Walsh, a second-generation fisherman. 

“Stocks are down all over the place, and demand is increasing.

Irish South ​and East Fish Producers Organisation chief executive John Lynch told the Irish Examiner: “This is a game- changer and will encourage vessel owners to put their fish forward for sale directly to Europe.

“Fresh fish often achieves far higher values than seen in Ireland.

“Joe has to be commended for taking the initiative and making this leap forward for the Irish fishing industry.” 

Bord Iascaigh Mhara interim chief executive Richard Donnelly said: “The ability to identify a new revenue stream for Irish landed fish, while simultaneously increasing visibility and driving stronger market prices, is a remarkable achievement.

“This kind of innovation, and way of thinking, is strengthening the position and reputation of Irish seafood in the global marketplace and setting a powerful example for how we can grow tomorrow.”