Aquaculture Policy

National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development

Article 34 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation requires Member States to prepare multi-annual national strategic plans for aquaculture. The national plans are intended to inform investment priorities for aquaculture under Member States’ operational programmes under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. They are also intended to identify measures to reduce the administrative burden on operators, to secure sustainable development and growth of aquaculture through coordinated spatial planning, to enhance the competitiveness of the aquaculture sector and to promote a level playing field for EU operators by exploiting their competitive advantages.

Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development was finalised on 23 October 2015, following public consultation earlier in 2015. The Plan was submitted to the European Commission on 23 October 2015.

The National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development proposes 24 actions to be implemented over the period up to 2020.