25 Apr 2012, 13:42
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture will tomorrow morning receive a detailed briefing from officials of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Ireland’s sea fisheries board on deep sea salmon farming.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD presented on Our Ocean Wealth to the Committee last month, which seeks to explore the potential of Ireland’s vast marine resource. The Committee heard that Bord Iascaigh Mhara is playing an important role is further developing the seafood industry within the plan.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Irish farming has proven to be a sector that could grow significantly in the recent difficult years for our economy and Committee Members welcome similar levels of ambition for our seafood industry. Our Committee heard an upbeat assessment from Minister Coveney last month on the opportunities to tap the potential of Ireland's seas. It is estimated that the global market for marine-related resources amounts to over 1 trillion euro annually.”
“BIM have been actively engaged in spearheading an aquaculture and fish farming development, having applied for a deep water salmon farm licence off the Aran Islands. This farm alone will produce about €100m worth of salmon per year and create up to 400 jobs.
“Our Committee strongly supports the sustainable exploitation of our marine resources, which as well as seafood include products and services such as tourism, shipping, oil and gas, renewable ocean energy and new applications for health, medicine and technology. Committee Members intend to engage with the BIM officials on how best to harness Ireland's ocean wealth for the benefit of its citizens and thus assist in Ireland's economic recovery.”
The meeting takes place at 10:30 a.m tomorrow morning Thursday 26 April 2012 in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/xMg2nJ
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan