Agency to Withdraw Application for Organic Salmon Farm in Line with New National Policy
Agency to Withdraw Application for Organic Salmon Farm in Line with New National Policy
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), today (21st December) welcomed the publication of Ireland’s first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. The strategy drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine follows extensive consultation and forms the basis for the drawdown of €30 million in EU funding dedicated to Irish aquaculture development over the next five years from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Among the twenty-four tailored actions agreed in the Strategy was the setting of scale limits in relation to the development of individual offshore salmon farms, capping their size to between 5,000 and 7,000 tonnes. Based on this significant development and current legislation (Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997) that states an application cannot be altered while in the planning process; BIM confirmed at its Board meeting today, that it will no longer be proceeding with its current application for an aquaculture licence for a proposed 15,000 tonne organic salmon farm in Galway Bay.
Announcing the decision, BIM CEO, Tara McCarthy said “Taking account of the new policy framework, BIM has reviewed its work programme to match our activities against this new Plan. The scaling of fish farms was one element that had to be addressed and we have taken swift and decisive action on that. We must now re-assess our delivery of this project in the context of the new operating environment and examine the operational and commercial impacts. This will take time and a significant amount of engagement and consultation.”
Ms McCarthy added; “It is important to note that €30 million of EU support has been earmarked to support Irish aquaculture over the next five years to deliver on growth targets set out in the Government Food Wise 2025 report. BIM’s focus for the period will be to continue to drive and explore new innovative technologies, lead sustainability programmes and improve profitability for our producers to deliver against considerable market demand” BIM has informed the licensing authority (the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine) that it is withdrawing the current application.
Iarratas ar Fheirm Bhradán Orgánach á tharraingt siar ag an ngníomhaireacht de réir an Bheartais Náisiúnta nua
Chuir Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) fáilte inniu (21 Nollaig) roimh fhoilsiú an chéad Phlean Straitéisigh Náisiúnta um Fhorbairt Dobharshaothraithe Inbhuanaithe in Éirinn. An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara a d’ullmhaigh an straitéis tar éis comhairliúchán fairsing. Ar bhonn na straitéise, beidh cistiúchán AE €30 milliún á tharraingt anuas ón gCiste Eorpach Muirí agus Iascaigh le haghaidh fhorbairt an dobharshaothraithe in Éirinn sna cúig bliana atá amach romhainn.
I measc na gceithre cinn is fiche de shainbhearta a aontaíodh sa Straitéis, socraíodh go leagfaí síos teorainneacha i dtaca le forbairt feirmeacha bradán ar leith amach ón gcósta, is é sin, go gcuirfí uasteorainn idir 5,000 agus 7,000 tonna leis na feirmeacha. Bunaithe ar an bhforbairt mhór seo agus ar an reachtaíocht atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair (An tAcht Iascaigh (Leasú), 1997), ina sonraítear nach féidir iarratas a athrú le linn an phróisis phleanála, deimhnigh BIM ag cruinniú boird inniu nach leanfaidh siad ar aghaidh leis an iarratas reatha ar cheadúnas dobharshaothraithe chun feirm bhradán orgánach 15,000 tonna a chur ar bun i gCuan na Gaillimhe.
Agus an cinneadh á fhógairt aici, dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach BIM, Tara McCarthy: “Agus an creat beartais nua á chur san áireamh ag BIM, tá athbhreithniú déanta againn ar ár bpolasaithe oibre chun gur féidir linn ár ngníomhartha a chur in oiriúint don Phlean nua seo. I dteannta rudaí eile, ba ghá dul i ngleic le scálú na bhfeirmeacha éisc agus táimid tar éis déileáil go gasta agus go deimhneach leis sin. Ní mór dúinn anois athmheasúnú a dhéanamh ar conas a sholáthróimid an tionscadal seo i gcomhthéacs na timpeallachta oibre nua, agus a thionchar sin ar chúrsaí oibre agus tráchtála a chíoradh. Tógfaidh sé tamall an méid sin a dhéanamh agus beidh neart rannpháirtíochta agus comhairliúcháin i gceist.”
Dúirt an tUas. McCarthy freisin: “Caithfear cuimhneamh go bhfuil €30 milliún ón AE curtha ar leataobh chun tacú leis an dobharshaothrú in Éirinn sna cúig bliana atá romhainn sa chaoi is gur féidir na spriocanna fáis a leagadh síos sa tuarascáil Rialtais Food Wise 2025 a bhaint amach. Leanfaidh BIM de theicneolaíochtaí nua a spreagadh agus a iniúchadh, de chláir inbhuanaitheachta a stiúradh, agus de bhrabúsacht ár dtáirgeoirí a fheabhsú i gcoinne éileamh mór ón margadh”
Tá BIM tar éis cur in iúl don údarás ceadúnúcháin (an Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara) go mbeidh an t-iarratas reatha á tharraingt siar.
