In March 2021, I established a Seafood Sector Task Force comprised of stakeholders from our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors, together with representatives of coastal community development groups, coastal local authorities, State enterprise development agencies and others. The remit of this Task Force is to examine the implications arising from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the UK for the Irish Fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it. I have asked the Task Force to outline initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
In July 2021, I received an Interim Report of this Task Force which made some limited recommendations pending its full report which I expect to receive in the Autumn. While the Interim Report did not feature any specific recommendations relating to seafood processing, I understand that the Task Force is including this sector in its examination of the impacts of the TCA. I anticipate a Final Report from the Task Force later this year outlining its full recommendations.
