Seafood sector contributes over €1 billion to Ireland
Staff Writer |
A new report reveals that Ireland’s seafood sector is growing in importance to the Irish economy and has plenty of potential for added value and growth.
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The "Business of Seafood – a snapshot of Ireland’s Seafood Sector" was launched by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish seafood development agency, at its National Seafood Conference in Galway.
It found that Ireland’s seafood sector contributes over €1 billion in GDP to its economy and employs over 11,000 people, directly and indirectly, primarily in the country’s coastal communities.
Tara McCarthy, BIM CEO, said: “Although Ireland is a small player on the international stage, our industry vision for Ireland is to be the International leader in high value differentiated seafood products that satisfy growing domestic and international demand for nutritious, safe, responsibly and sustainably produced food.”
“We need to move away from focusing on the negative to rewarding, recognising and celebrating an industry that is the lifeblood of our coastal communities representing 70% of our overall Blue Economy valued at €1.4 billion.”
The report also finds that €148 million worth of fish and shellfish are farmed around the Irish coast, Irish seafood exports are up 7% to €564 million and domestic consumption is up 6% to €350 million.
Ireland’s most valuable species in volume is Atlantic mackerel at 88,709 tonnes worth €49 million, while its most valuable species by value is Dublin Bay prawns at 8,282 tonnes worth €49 million. ■
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