Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is delighted to announce that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D. will deliver the closing address at ‘Global Insights – Irish Opportunity’, BIM’s National Seafood Conference 2016 on the 30th June in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara is delighted to announce that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D. will deliver the closing address at ‘Global Insights – Irish Opportunity’, BIM’s National Seafood Conference 2016 on the 30th June in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway.
Amongst other important announcements, Minister Creed’s address will focus on Ireland’s new €241 million seafood development programme funded under the EU co-funded European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) which will double development funding for the industry until the Programme ends in 2021.
The investment schemes are being rolled out to assist seafood enterprises to sustainably grow their production, add value to their seafood products and create much needed employment in Ireland’s coastal communities. Seafood is a key driver in bringing about balanced economic recovery to areas of Ireland outside the major cities and towns. The Irish Seafood Sector is worth over €910 million in seafood sales and this is projected to climb to more than €1 billion in annual sales by the Scheme’s end date.
Delegates attending BIM’s conference will have an opportunity to hear directly from Minister Creed on the Government and EU support available to the sector including €67 million in total support for the Sea Fishing Sector with €45 million from that funding committed to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and in particular the landing obligation.
A new €16 million Sustainable Fisheries Scheme, a Fisheries Local Development Scheme involving €12 million investment and three schemes to drive forward the development of the Seafood Processing Sector were launched in the first quarter of 2016. In total, €24 million will be invested in the processing sector under the programme which later this year will see the introduction of new schemes for producer organisations to assist them with fulfilling their central role in the Common Fisheries Policy reform process.
In 2016, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with funding from the EMFF has deployed €36 million to a range of agencies to begin implementing the new Seafood Development Programme.
BIM was allocated €22 million of that funding which will prove vital in the delivery of a strategy centred on the four corporate pillars of Sustainability, Innovation, Competitiveness and Skills which collectively guide its National Seafood Conference agenda and programme.
Following his address at ‘Global Insights, Irish Opportunity’, Minister Creed will attend The Marine Industry Awards 2016, an event being held in association with SeaFest.
BIM is one of seven sponsors involved in these awards which provide a voice for the individuals and companies that play a significant role in the growth and development of the broader maritime industry in Ireland while recognising the key functions within the industry that promote growth and sustainability.
Book your place at BIM’s National Seafood Conference
To hear more about the plans for the overall SeaFest event from the 30th June – 3rd July in Galway, please visit www.seafest.ie
