Ireland welcomes sector growth
IRELAND’S seafood industry, including fish farming, grew by 7.4 per cent, contributing € 1.1 billion in GDP to the Irish economy, according to BIM’s (Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s) annual Business of Seafood report. Titled ‘Winning in a Changing Environment’, the report says the biggest drivers are new investment and domestic sales, which were worth an estimated € 380 million. Further significant growth is being predicted.
BIM’s chief executive Jim O’Toole said: ‘We have a valuable and sought after raw material that is in great demand on our key markets, contributing € 376 million in fish landings alone,
€ 167 million in farmed fish and shellfish, and employing 11,000 people in our coastal communities.’
The news comes as Ireland’s Independent Aquaculture Licence Review Committee is also looking at substantial growth in the sector.
The review committee was set up by fisheries minister Michael Creed who said: ‘Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development aims to sustainably grow our production across all species by 45,000 tonnes.’