EUROPEAN APPETITE for organically-farmed Irish salmon has resulted in a 13 per cent jump in annual sales abroad, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

Total retail sales of Irish seafood by volume rose by 12 per cent last year, and there is “considerable potential” for more growth and more jobs, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) chief executive Jason Whooley has forecast.

However, adverse currency movements and rising consumer demand for lower-value seafood products contributed to a 3.5 per cent decline in the value of sales to domestic and export markets.

Commenting on annual figures issued yesterday, Mr Whooley said he believed at least 300 new jobs could be created in the organic salmon-farming sector alone. Some 70 per cent of Irish salmon farmed was now classified as “organic”.

The “fundamentals” of the Irish seafood sector are also so strong that considerable additional employment could be created with the right approach, Mr Whooley said.

The global appetite for seafood continues to grow, with demand for an extra 30 million tonnes of seafood per annum predicted over the next 15 to 20 years.

“The majority of that seafood will be farmed due to restrictions on catching at sea,” Mr Whooley said.

“Obviously, we have challenges, but we also have opportunities in adding value.”

Total sales reached €731 million in 2008 – €369 million on the domestic market and €350 million in export sales.

These figures do not take into account direct landings of Irish vessels into foreign ports.

The “star performer” is pre-packed salmon, with almost €60 million worth of sales in 2008 – Germany being the prime market.

Sales of mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting and herring reached €130 million last year.

Mr Whooley said Ireland’s inability to compete with farmed-salmon producers such as Norway and Scotland was proving to be an advantage in that Irish farms focused on organic rearing as a “niche market”.