Ireland seafood income rises 7.4 per cent
Ireland’s seafood sector grew by 7.4 per cent, contributing €1.1 billion in GDP to the Irish economy according to seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s (BIM) annual ‘Business of Seafood’ report launched this week at the National Seafood Conference ‘Winning in a Changing Environment’.
BIM reports that growth in the industry has primarily been driven by another strong year of domestic seafood sales at €380m and an increase in private investment by seafood enterprises.
The report also details the significant value of seafood landed and farmed around the Irish coast. Jim O’Toole, BIM’s CEO 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 task facing the sector now is to build on this growth, add value and diversify to withstand current challenges including Brexit. BIM will continue to provide supports to enable this valuable industry to achieve its full potential and our conference sets out how we intend to future proof the sector in the years ahead."
Successful year
The report sated: "The BIM Annual Aquaculture Survey showed that aquaculture production increased by 9 per cent in volume to reach 43,900 tonnes and increased in value by 13 per cent to €167 million. The primary driver of this growth is the continued development of the gigas oyster and salmon industries. Production of gigas oysters increased to almost 10,000 tonnes to a value of €41 million. Salmon production also had an extremely successful year with production reaching 16,300 tonnes valued at €105 million."
Total finfish sales - salmon, trout and perch - amounted to 17,600 tonnes, earning €111m. Capture fisheries accounted for the lion's share of earnings at €376m.
Aquaculture employs 1,950 people, many part-time. The total full-time equivalent figure is 1,030.
Brexit session
The conference attracted more than 200 delegates from fishing, processing, retail and aquaculture sectors with delegates arriving early to join the Pre Conference Brexit Session hosted by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed.
The conference programme is focused on BIM’s priorities for the sector; Skills, Sustainability, Innovation and Competitiveness. Speakers include Øvyind Fylling-Jensen, chief executive of Norwegian research agency Nofima; Gilles Doignon, communications officer with the European Commission (DG Mare); Dr. Joanne Fearon, University College Cork; Barry Robinson, Deloitte, and digital communications expert Wayne Denner.
BIM’s National Seafood Conference is being held in association with SeaFest, an annual maritime festival that includes Our Ocean Wealth Summit (today, NUI Galway) and a family festival to include the BIM Educational Seafood Experience running from today until July 2 at the docks in Galway.
