Since 2024, investments of €6,658,032 have been secured by Irish fishermen under the Sustainable Fisheries, Small Scale Coastal Fishers and Inshore Fleet Economic Assessment schemes.
‘It is clear from the investments the fishing sector is making under these EU funded schemes that they are embracing new technologies and innovative ways to be more productive and sustainable to add value to and improve the quality of their catch,’ said Timmy Dooley TD, Ireland’s Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, speaking at the Irish Skipper Expo in Limerick last weekend.
‘The high rate and types of investments being made by the fishing sector under Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme to date, demonstrate a strong focus on the whole seafood value chain from catch to market.’
The schemes are implemented under Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme, which is jointly funded by the Irish government and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
‘The investments of €6,658,032 will include cutting-edge technologies driving down costs from solar powered on-shore live holding tanks, integrated on-board systems such as fish washing and gutting equipment enhancing sustainable production and fish quality, to value-adding systems including refrigerated vans transporting catch from vessel to market. We are delighted to be able to support this,’ commented Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD.
‘Innovation is key to the fishing sector’s ability to remain competitive against a backdrop of multiple challenges including high energy and trading costs, inflation and geo-political instability,’ said BIM CEO Caroline Bocquel.
‘By improving the quality of their catch and adding value to it, fishers are opening up new market opportunities. These transformative investments are helping to secure the future of the Irish seafood sector.’
It was also announced that BIM’s successful lobster v-notching scheme will reopen on 1st April 2025, with EMFAF support.
‘Last year, 225 fishers in some 80 locations were awarded a total of €568,000 in grant aid as part of the v-notching scheme,’ she said.
‘This resulted in more than 47,000 adult lobsters being safely returned to the sea – the highest number on record. This important conservation work is carried out by trained BIM regional officers with v-notched lobsters returned to the sea to breed at nearly 80 locations around the coast. These lobsters will produce over 352 million lobster larvae to maintain the population in their first year after v-notching.’
New resources designed to help fishers develop their businesses and access supports were also unveiled by BIM at the trade show event at the weekend – Getting more for your catch – Guide to food safety and direct sales, supported by EMFAF funding and Supports for Ireland’s Fisheries Sector.
‘As the catching sector continues to deal with significant challenges, BIM’s key focus is supporting fishers to navigate and adapt to these changes,’ Caroline Bocquel said.
‘There are many opportunities for fishers to develop their businesses and to do more with their catch, opening up new opportunities to generate more income. The Getting more for your catch guide provides information on food safety and legal requirements need to sell direct to market.’
