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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Barry Cowen T.D. has today announced €3.4 million in new investment by 15 aquaculture enterprises, with his Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme providing grants of €1,282,277.

Minister Cowen said, “I am delighted to announce the approval of a €3.4 million investment by 15 aquaculture enterprises with €1.3 million support from my Department’s EMFF Programme.

“The latest investments are aimed at boosting production at oyster, mussel and salmon sites around our coast. It is heartening to see this continuing confidence in the future by these ambitious aquaculture enterprises.

“While recent months were challenging for many aquaculture businesses, the overall trend has been one of growing world demand for our seafood products.”

As SMEs, most of the aquaculture businesses received grants of 40% towards the cost of their investments, with one non-SME receiving 30%, a new entrant to the sector receiving 50% and one investment in organic certification also receiving 50%. The grants are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and are subject to terms and conditions.

 

Grant approvals – Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme:

Beneficiary Location Project Total Investment EMFF Grant Rate
Derrylea Holdings

 

Galway

 

Organic Certification of Farmed Atlantic Salmon €7,500 €3,750 50%
Sliogéisc Inisheane Teoranta

 

Donegal

 

Capacity increase in oyster seed production €28,723 €11,489 40%
Feirm Farriage Oileán Chliara Teoranta

 

Donegal

 

Phase 3: Installation of grid frames and construction of Aquaculture Workboat €761,595 €228,478

 

 

30%
Glenn Hunter

 

Sligo

 

Construction of an oyster handling facility €68,747 €34,373

 

50%
Ocean Farm Ltd

 

Donegal

 

Phase 3: Upgrade of salmon farm technology €1,261,663 €504,665 40%
Skipper Shellfish Ltd Kerry Phase 2: Increase capacity of oyster farm €25,876 €10,350 40%
Northern Bay Oyster Ltd

 

Donegal

 

Increase capacity of oyster farm €29,670 €11,868

 

40%
Mulroy Bay Mussels Ltd

 

Donegal

 

Investment in new handling equipment €75,900 € 30,360

 

40%
Killary Fjord Shellfish Ltd

 

Galway

 

Upgrade of rope mussel farm to continuous longline system €17,120 €6,848 40%
Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd

 

Waterford

 

Phase 2: Increase capacity of oyster farm €606,815 €242,726

 

 

40%
Oceanic Organic Oysters Ltd

 

Donegal

 

Phase 2: Increase capacity on oyster farm €183,145 €73,258

 

40%
Rosmoney Shellfish Ltd

 

Mayo

 

Increase capacity of oyster farm €124,980 €49,992 40%
Seastream Ltd

 

Mayo

 

Purchase of smolt feeding system €60,000 €24,000 40%
Rodeen Fish Farms Ltd

 

Cork

 

Phase 3: Introduction of continuous rope mussel system €83,197 €33,278

 

 

40%
Seal Harbour Enterprises Ltd

 

Cork

 

Phase 3: Upgrade of rope mussel equipment € 42,100 €16,840 40%
Total:     €3,377,031 €1,282,277  

 

Photo Credit: Séamus Hayes