IRISH FISHING vessels may carry “green” certification for sustainable catches under a new three-year strategy published by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
Greater efforts will also be made to differentiate Irish seafood on the international marketplace in the new strategy, which promises to create 600 additional jobs in the sector and to generate an additional €50 million in sales by 2012.
The BIM plan was presented to Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith and Minister of State for Fisheries Seán Connick in Clonakilty, Co Cork yesterday, when the two Ministers also released the Government’s long-delayed EU-sanctioned programme for the sector.
Both plans have been welcomed by the seafood industry, but fish farmers have expressed frustration at the Government’s 2007-13 programme, which was to have been published three years ago – and which may exclude up to 80 per cent of fish farmers working protected habitats.
Mr Smith noted the two “significant initiatives” were published in the same week as Food Harvest 2020, the Government’s plan for the agri-food and seafood sectors.
“I have consistently stated that the seafood sector, made up as it is of indigenous operators, will have a significant role to play in Ireland’s economic recovery,” said Mr Smith. Some €6.5 million will be available in grant-aid to the end of this year under the Government’s plan.
BIM chief executive Jason Whooley said the agency believed there was still “considerable potential” for commercial fishing and aquaculture. The sector currently employs over 11,000, and contributes more than €700 million to the economy annually.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation had forecast that an additional 30 million tonnes of seafood will be required by 2030 to meet growing global demand, Mr Whooley noted. Over 65 per cent of seafood consumed in Europe is imported, he said.
BIM aims to have up to 40,000 tonnes of Irish seafood, worth about €120 million, carrying “eco-labelling” and identified as of Irish origin by 2012, said Mr Whooley.
Some 100 vessels have already applied for certification under a recognised “sustainable-catch” standard. BIM hopes to encourage more to do so, as one of over 70 key actions in business development and innovation, knowledge and technology transfer, skills development and environmental compliance and sustainability.
IFA Aquaculture sector executive secretary Richie Flynn said while he welcomed both plans, the Government’s strategy disqualified most of his members as the Department of the Environment had “not fulfilled its obligations under the EU habitats directive”.