Irish Farmers’ Association has embraced the release of much-awaited EU Commission’s strategy on sustainable fish and shellfish farming by Commissioner Joe Borg. IFA Aquaculture section Executive Secretary, Richie Flynn informed that this response by the Commission to the industry’s call for a strategic and supportive policy for farming the continent’s sea and freshwater resource is a positive signal for investment and development to encourage jobs, exports and increased consumption of locally produced fish in Europe. According to Flynn IFA Aquaculture was to the forefront in persuading the Commission to produce an update to its 2002 "Communication on Aquaculture". IFA holds the chairmanship of the EU’s aquaculture advisory group for the past 7 years. It is said that the IFA has campaigned for a clear policy statement on fish and shellfish farming from the centre of European politics throughout that period. Flynn also said that the industry would be studying Borg’s policy statement in detail and discussing its implications with Government, European colleagues and the Commission itself over the coming weeks. He also noted that with the EU importing 60 percent of its seafood needs at present and national governments looking to increase activity in the indigenous, natural-resource based manufacturing sector, fish and shellfish farming is in the perfect position to provide jobs, healthy and locally produced food and a sustainable anchor in the rural economy for service and supplier businesses to tap into.
