Huge expansion for Mayo turbot farm

A WEST coast fish farm aims to become one of Europe’s largest turbot producers outside of Spain in a significant expansion plan.

Achill Island Turbot, a land-based aquaculture business in Co Mayo, says it intends to produce 100 tonnes of the flatfish next year and up to 600 tonnes within the next four years.

The company, which initiated its business expansion scheme campaign to raise funds this month, employs five people.

The investment is supported by Údaras na Gaeltachta, and amounts to more than €2.5 million to date.

Expansion could result in up to 20 jobs, according to Michael Flanagan, who founded the company with Raymond J Mairs. Mr Flanagan has pointed out that landings of turbot from the wild fishery are less than half what they were only 20 years ago.

Currently about 6,000 tonnes of turbot in Europe is farmed and 90 per cent of this production takes place in southern Europe, principally in Spain and Portugal, Mr Flanagan added.

“The fish grow well at temperatures of about 16 degrees Celsius and here at Achill Island Turbot we are able to maintain the temperature at that level because we use a closed recirculation system, thus enabling all year round growth and supply,”he said.

Turbot has been farmed before on Cape Clear island off west Cork and in Connemara.