Pictured at Sea the Future: Blue Bioeconomy for Growth workshop in Killybegs on 20 October 2025: Front (l-r): Richard Donnelly, Director of Development & Innovation Services, BIM, John Sheamuis Ó Fearraigh, Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council, John G. McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council, Back (l-r): Kevin O Conner, MC for event and Director, BiOrbic, Anne Marie Conlon, Head of Economic Development, Donegal County Council, Garry Martin, Director, Donegal County Council.
BIM, in collaboration with Donegal County Council, hosted a workshop in Killybegs on 20 October to explore future opportunities for the seafood sector in the blue bioeconomy. Sea the future: Blue Bioeconomy for growth proved to be a thought-provoking event for the 120 delegates in attendance. The aim of the workshop was to offer a balance of cutting-edge research and commercial insights on the blue bioeconomy. In focus was the potential to transform available underutilised marine resources into higher value ingredients for the emerging biostimulant, petfood and human consumption markets. The day’s presentations included a spotlight on commercial success stories, as well as featuring current research in the area, and accessible pre-commercial scale up facilities available to the sector through Teagasc’s Aimbio-funded facility. The suite of associated aligned soft supports also available to seafood companies from various state agencies was also highlighted. These will be further enhanced in future plans to ensure opportunities are further de-risked and scaled appropriately prior to investment.
A vital component of the event was the interactive session at the end of the presentations, designed to capture the perspectives of seafood producers and processors. This dialogue focussed on future opportunities and the type of aligned state supports needed to advance the sector. Feedback from this session—and the wider event—will guide The Northwest Blue Economy Group, comprising Donegal County Council, BIM, LEOs, Marine Institute, ATU, and Killybegs Cluster to evolve enhanced aligned supports, with the potential to progress a pre-commercial innovation facility to enable strategic growth of the blue bio economy.