According to a local news agency innovative seafood companies achieve considerable success and nearly 300 new jobs could be created in the organic salmon farming sector. Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Irish State agency with responsibility for developing the Irish Sea Fishing and aquaculture industries, has recently issued its 2008 end-of-year review of the Irish seafood industry which shows that the sector performed robustly despite very difficult trading conditions in all principal markets.
In the report it is mentioned that sales of salmon emerged as the seafood sector’s star performer where sales increased by 13 percent in 2008 to €58.7 million. Pre-packed sales of salmon were up a substantial 28.8 percent on 2007. The pelagic sector also performed well where sales of mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting and herring reached €130 million.
The total retail sales volume of all seafood surged by 12 percent in 2008 while the value of these sales increased by 3.2 percent to €185.8 million. Total Seafood Sales reach €731 million on both domestic and export markets, excluding direct landings for Irish vessels into foreign ports, amounted to €731 million in 2008, a decline of 3.5 percent on the corresponding value in 2007 reflecting adverse currency movements and rising consumer demand for lower valued seafood products.
BIM believes that there is immediate scope for expansion of the organic certified farmed salmon sector with the potential to create significant new jobs. In 2007, Ireland produced 10,000 tonnes of farmed salmon of which some 70 percent was certified organic and these fish fetched a price premium 40% above the regular market price.
BIM Chairman, Rose McHugh said that with increasingly challenging economic conditions globally, it is crucial that Ireland focuses on maximising the seafood industry and supporting new growth areas in the sector to ensure the maximum economic and social contribution to Ireland’s coastal communities, and Ireland as a whole. BIM Chief Executive Jason Whooley explains how Ireland can best position itself on the world market going forward.
