£1m cross-Border fish project outlined

In the spirit of the Belfast Agreement, a £1 million investment programme in aquaculture aims to share fish and shellfish farming expertise on both sides of the Border.

Two Government departments, two semi-state bodies and 12 counties will be involved in the programme, details of which were outlined yesterday in Dublin by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods. Eight full-time employees are being recruited to implement it, under a three-year scheme funded by the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme.

The project aims to develop a sustainable aquaculture industry in the six counties of Northern Ireland and in counties Donegal, Sligo, Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and Leitrim. It also aims to contribute to economic regeneration and employment prospects, and encourage cross-community relations and co-operation between public bodies.

The initiative predates the Belfast Agreement, which had earmarked aquaculture as one area of co-operation in relation to North-South structures. It will be managed by a joint steering committee from the Department of Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Seafoods and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. It will complement the joint cross-Border training initiative for fishermen, fish farmers, fish distributors and processors which was announced by Dr Woods last October.

Speaking in Dublin yesterday, the Minister said this unique opportunity to develop a sustainable aquaculture industry in the counties concerned should be based on expanding into new species, such as abalone, sea urchins, halibut, turbot and eels.

Exotic fish species, marine archaeology, wave energy and dolphin watching are among the topics which will be discussed over the next three days at the Year of the Ocean conference, hosted by the Marine Institute in Dublin Castle.

Keynote speakers at the conference, which will be opened by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, today, include Dr Michael P. Crosby, executive director of the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration science advisory board, Mr Terry Bibbens, entrepreneur in residence with the US Small Business Administration, and Dr Daniel Cadet of the National Centre for Scientific Research in France.