Ó An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD is pleased to announce the opening of two new schemes under the €258 million Seafood Development Programme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027 (EMFAF). These new schemes are in addition to the four schemes which opened on the 25 June, and will open for applications on Monday 1st July.
The Aquaculture Capital Investment Scheme will provide grant aid to support capital investment in the aquaculture sector. These investments will enable the sustainable growth of aquaculture operators; will encourage the entry into the sector of new aquaculture operators; and will support the evolution of smaller operators, allowing them to scale-up, and boost their competitiveness. This scheme supports the objectives set out in the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development (NSPSA).
The Seafood Training Scheme will provide assistance to those working in the sector who wish to develop their skills and knowledge through attendance at recognised training and education courses. It assists with costs associated with the training, such as exam fees.
Announcing the opening of these schemes, the Minister said:
“I am pleased to announce the launch of these two further schemes under EMFAF, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. The aquaculture sector in Ireland is a significant contributor to national seafood production and food security. The sector has grown significantly in recent decades, and now produces approximately 40,000 tonnes of high value shellfish and finfish, employing around 1,800 people in coastal communities.
The Aquaculture Capital Investment Scheme will allow operators to build on the investment supports provided to them under the Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, and the Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme, funded under the previous cohesion fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
It is a key enabler for the successful implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development, and will support the sector in maintaining a competitive edge, commercial resilience and optimised environmental performance through low impact production methods, technical innovation and diversification.”
The Minister continued:
“The Seafood Training Scheme will provide the necessary practical assistance to those working in the seafood sector to develop the skills and knowledge they need to support all aspects of their work. Whether that be potentially life-saving safety training; fishing vessel engineering skills or fishmonger skills. It also provides support to those wishing to enter employment in the sector, or to develop new career pathways in the sector. Providing these supports helps us to ensure we have a highly skilled, adaptable workforce that have the knowledge and skills they need to meet the requirements of their roles, and to keep pace with new production methods, quality and hygiene standards and diversification within the sector.”
The Minister concluded:
“These two new schemes, together with the schemes I announced last week, clearly demonstrate the breadth of supports provided under our EMFAF Seafood Development Programme. They provide the investment needed to support the resilience and sustainability of the seafood sector, both commercial and environmental. They will help to ensure that in the face of challenges such as climate change and ever-changing market conditions, the Irish seafood sector will continue to provide a high quality product and remain competitive in a global market.”
These two schemes are being administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Ireland’s seafood development agency, and the schemes will be open for applications from 01 July 2024. All details will be available on www.bim.ie
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Schemes launched on 25 June 2024:
• Inshore Fisheries Scheme
• Sustainable Fisheries
• V-notching
• Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme
Details available on www.bim.ie
Aquaculture Capital Investment Scheme
This scheme seeks to:
• Utilise technology and enhanced knowledge to facilitate growth in the aquaculture sector through capital investment.
• Promote the sustainable development of new and existing enterprises in the aquaculture sector through productive investments for sustainable aquaculture investments in safety equipment, investment in animal health and welfare and food quality and hygiene safety.
• Improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in the aquaculture sector through investment in reduction of energy use and energy efficiency and in renewable energy systems.
This scheme will provide a grant aid intensity rate of up to 50%
Further details in relation to this scheme, and the online application facility, are available at: www.bim.ie
Seafood Training Scheme
This scheme seeks to:
• Develop industry skills in the processing, aquaculture and fishing sectors, including seafood retail.
• Support young fishers, particularly existing crew of Small Scale Coastal Fishers (SSCF) vessels, to enter the sector and facilitate generational renewal through training to improve skills and develop human capital.
• Improve health, safety and working conditions on board fishing vessels in the Irish Fleet through training to improve skills and develop human capital.
• Develop skills (e.g., digital literacy) and capacity within the sector to engage with critical issues including the introduction of new technologies and digital transformation in the Irish Fleet.
• Utilise technology and enhanced knowledge to facilitate growth in the aquaculture sector through training and skills development.
• Promote the sustainable development of new and existing enterprises in the aquaculture sector through training to improve skills and develop human capital.
• Utilise technology and enhanced knowledge to facilitate growth in the processing sector through training and skill development.
This scheme will provide for:
• Up to 50% grant aid for eligible industry beneficiaries
• Up to 100% grant aid for SSCF vessel owners
Further details in relation to this scheme, and the online application facility, are available at: www.bim.ie
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)
The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is €258 million programme, co-funded by the EU, and is Ireland’s principal source of development funding for the seafood sector in the coming years.
The EMFAF Programme for Ireland was approved by the Commission in December 2022, and will ensure continuity of the valuable supports provided to the sector under both its predecessor the €240m European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and the BAR funded schemes implemented between 2021 and 2023 on foot of the Seafood Task Force Report.
EMFAF supports the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU’s international commitments for international ocean governance. Such support is an enabler for sustainable fisheries and the conservation of marine biological resources, for food security through the supply of seafood products, for the growth of a sustainable blue economy and for healthy, safe, secure, clean, and sustainably managed seas and oceans.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the Managing Authority for the EMFAF programme in Ireland. BIM, the Marine Institute and Bord Bia have been implementing work programmes funded under EMFAF, which provide a wide range of supports necessary for the ongoing development of the sector, such as data collection, research and the promotion and marketing of Irish seafood.
In addition to this new scheme for the seafood processing sector, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine is working with BIM to progress a number of new schemes for the seafood sector under EMFAF.
Further information in relation to EMFAF is available at: European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund - EU Funds