South coastal based projects secure over €637,904 investment under Fisheries Local Area Action Group (FLAG) Strategy

Union Hall’s Fresh Fish Deli is one of 34 South FLAG projects in 2018

July 20^th, 2018

Bord Iascaigh Mhara today announced details of a €637,904investment for 34 coastal based projects in the South region of Ireland under the Fisheries Local Area Action Group (FLAG) Strategy. 

Jim O’Toole, CEO of BIM said that the FLAG Programme would continue “to promote sustainable growth in the local economies of Irish coastal towns and villages and provide a significant boost to these important communities.” He added that, “by 2020, the FLAG Programme will have invested up to €12 million in Ireland’s coastal communities, providing jobs, and exciting opportunities to men and women who live along Ireland’s coastline.”

More than 400 applications have been made to the FLAG programme this year. All applications were reviewed by individual FLAG Boards in each of the seven FLAG regions throughout Ireland. Projects must be able to demonstrate a clear link to coastal community rejuvenation, enterprise, innovation, job creation and skills enhancement across the fishing, aquaculture and maritime industries.

Fresh Fish Deli, based in Union Hall, Co. Cork is one of 34 FLAG South coastal based projects that applied for FLAG funding this year. Monica Buckley, owner of Fresh Fish Deli launched the business in 2016. Her objective was to produce good quality, sustainably sourced seafood products that would meet the increasing demand among consumers for healthy, easy to prepare foods. Today Fresh Fish Deli employs 20 full-time staff and is providing vital, year-round employment in the locality. FLAG funding allowed Monica to invest in new technologies that have allowed her to grow the business. Fresh Fish Deli features in a new video campaign that was launched earlier this week.

The FLAG programme is co funded by the Irish Government and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). BIM, Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, administers the programme.

Applications for 2019 FLAG is now open. Details on the FLAG programme and on how to apply can be found at www.bim.ie/schemes/

The video of Fresh Fish Deli can be watched here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjuAPtn2QRE

Monica Buckley, Fresh Fish Deli, one of 34 FLAG West based coastal projects that applied for funding in 2018 and features in a new BIM video campaign to raise awarenss of FLAG.