Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
969. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the national strategic plan for sustainable aquaculture development target for a 30% increase in production derived from recirculating aquaculture systems will be achieved; the available supports to develop new recirculating aquaculture systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9868/16]
View answerIn December 2015 my Department launched Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes by 2023. The Plan targets a 30% increase in production derived from recirculating aquaculture systems. Considerable international developmental effort is being put into determining the commercial viability of land based RAS systems for the large scale production of salmon. There appears to be a market niche for such a product if the current technological challenges associated with an economically viable production system can be overcome. On 14 January 2016, the new Aquaculture ‘Knowledge Gateway Scheme’ was launched as part of my Department’s ‘EMFF Seafood Development Operational Programme’. I have provided BIM with a budget of €8.2 million for that Scheme. In close collaboration with aquaculture enterprises and researchers, the Scheme aims to develop knowledge, innovation and technology in the aquaculture sector to ensure its sustainable development. An important part of the focus of the Scheme will be the applied research and development required into RAS, identified on page 66 of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development.
