Bord Iascaigh Mhara / Irish Sea Fisheries Board

Technology services

Part of BIM’s work is to help fish farmers to keep business on the leading edge of technology. BIM also helps fish farmers identify inefficiencies and develop new ideas. We support specific technological development in four different categories:

• Oysters, mussels and Manila clams      
• Abalone, urchins, scallops
• Salmon and trout
• Perch, char, cod and seaweed

New technology

To support the development of the seafood industry, we stay up-to-date with the latest technological innovations internationally. Where we consider these of potential benefit to the Irish industry we:

1. Import the technology—we look for new technologies globally, and bring the most promising ones to Ireland to be assessed by BIM.
2. Trial the technology—we work with industry to test the technology and undertake a systematically evaluation of the technology when employed under Irish conditions.
3. Present the technology—the outcomes of our technology trials are made available to industry.
4. Distribute the technology—when outcomes of technology trials are positive, we support the widespread introduction of the technology in Ireland through our grant schemes.

In this way we funnel suitable technology towards the aquaculturists who will benefit from it. This saves local fish farmers time and expense in conducting this research themselves and most importantly, protects entrepreneurs against costly errors.

Read about the successful technical transfer of the New Zealand continuous recyclable rope mussel on-growing system to Irish aquaculture.

Seed Mussel Stock Surveys

We are continually monitoring the mussel beds around the Irish coast to assist industry with the sustainable management of the resource. Read the latest Seed Mussel Stock Surveys