Committee debates proposed deep sea salmon farming project

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. The proposed farm will produce about €100m worth of salmon per year and create around 350 jobs.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD presented on the Our Ocean Wealth consultation 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.

Representing BIM at the meeting were CEO Jason Wholley, Aquaculture Development Manager Donal Maguire and Communications Executive Mairead Mallon. They outlined their work with the Marine Institute, the national agency for marine research, towards licencing the first site under investigation, located about 6km off Inisheer.

Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “In a candid briefing, the BIM representatives outlined in a comprehensive manner the potential for developing aquaculture off Ireland’s coasts.

“Committee Members, reflecting the concerns of the local communities they represent, pressed the BIM representatives on environmental and employment sustainability of the projects. In forthright exchanges, it was pointed out that past fish farming sites along the west coast impacted adversely on the surrounding seas and were the cause of considerable job losses when they closed down in the 1980s.

“Members acknowledge that the openness and clarity of BIM representatives in their responses, providing convincing answers to much of the concerns raised. We take on board too their commitment today to engage further with communities, and their elected representatives, to assuage fears about the project.

“Our Committee heard an upbeat assessment from Minister Coveney last month on the opportunities to tap the potential of Ireland's seas and we believe that the approach in this instance might provide a model for harnessing other ocean resources. Having debated offshore oil and gas exploration extensively, our Committee has bemoaned the lack of the resources to develop expertise without involving the industry as co-partners. In this case the pooled expertise of BIM and the Marine Institute has provided a much more satisfactory model, particularly in consulting communities during the licencing process.”

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