Blow to Irish industry

A spokesperson for the agency told Fish Farming Expert: “The IFI Board decision to phase out IFIs fish farming operations is based on technical requirements and resource constraints; it is not based on fishery management stocking policies or scientific advice on stocking.”

It will now seek to focus on its “core remit of conservation, protection and development”, but it comes as a blow to the Irish aquaculture industry and to anglers too.

Indeed, each year, IFI provides approximately 2,500 yearling & 57,500 2-year-old brown trout; 34,000 yearling and 40,000 2-year-old rainbow trout; and 70,000 salmon smolts – mainly for stocking angling waters, while the rest are used for research purposes.

Thankfully, however, IFI has assured its 13 aquaculture employees that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of this move and that their employment with IFI will continue.

In a statement IFI’s CEO, Dr Ciaran Byrne, said: “IFI has performed a technical and financial review of its fish farming operations. Reduced resources within the organisation do not allow for the continuation of these aquaculture activities in the medium to long-term. The Board has no alternative but to phase out this element of its work and concentrate on the conservation, protection and development of Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources.

“IFI appreciates that many state and club waters have been stocked from IFI fish farms over many decades. We acknowledge the support of IFI’s customers and regret the organisation is unable to continue supporting fish stocking in this manner. The phase-out plan will include consultation with affected stakeholders.”