New Minister for Agriculture and the Marine made the announcement.
The Irish Mirror reports that Ireland’s new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Barry Cowen has announced EUR 3.4 million in new investment by 15 aquaculture enterprises, with his Department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme providing grants of EUR 1.2 million.
Seastream farms Atlantic salmon in Mayo, and is to get EUR 60,000 to help with the purchase of a smolt feeding system.
Ocean Farm in Donegal, which is owned by processor and exporter Gallagher Bros, is going to get a EUR 1.2 million upgrade of salmon farm technology.
Clare Island Seafarm, billed as one of the worlds most exposed sea farms, is getting EUR 761,595 towards the installation of grid frames and the construction of an aquaculture workboat.
Minister Cowen, who replaced Michael Creed late June, said he was “delighted by the investments.”
“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,” said Cowen.
