South West coastal based projects secure €729,021 investment under Fisheries Local Area Action Group (FLAG) Strategy

Fenit based Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society one of 19 South West FLAG projects in 2018

July 20^th, 2018

Bord Iascaigh Mhara today announced details of a €729,021 investment for 19 coastal based projects in the FLAG South West region off 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.

Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society ,Fenit, Co. Kerry is one of 19 FLAG South West based coastal projects that applied for FLAG funding in 2018 and features in a new BIM video campaign to raise awareness of FLAG.

Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society has been harvesting oysters in Tralee Bay for almost 40 years. The Native Oyster, also known as the European Flat Oyster is highly sought after. Today 78 vessels are involved in the production of these native oysters in Tralee Bay. The Society successfully applied for FLAG funding to enable them to invest in new equipment to enhance the quality and value of flat oyster production and grow the business. The group have successfully raised oyster stock levels in Tralee Bay in a way that’s sustainable providing an economic benefit which extends from Fenit, north to Ballyheigue and south to Cromane.

Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society in Fenit, Co. Kerry is one of the 247 FLAG projects that has received investment this year. Denis O’Shea, Manager of Tralee Oyster Fishery Society successfully applied for FLAG funding to enable the Society to invest in new equipment to enhance the quality and value of flat oyster production and to protect and grow the business. Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society has held an oyster order for almost 40 years, since the early 1980s and have successfully and sustainably raised oyster stock levels in Tralee Bay providing an economic benefit which extends from Fenit, north to Ballyheigue and south to Cromane .The Native Oyster, also known as the European Flat Oyster is highly sought after. Today 78 vessels are involved in the production of these native oysters in Tralee Bay.

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 which will deliver a total of €12 million in funding to Ireland’s coastal communities over the 2014-2020 period.

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 Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society can be watched here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WACNGoMoKsY

Denis O’Shea, Manager of Tralee Oyster Fishery Society, one of 19 FLAG South West based coastal projects that applied for funding in 2018 and features in a new BIM video campaign to raise awarenss of FLAG.