SEAFOOD INDUSTRY organisations have claimed that €100 million in promised investment in aquaculture is being jeopardised by Government inaction.
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) aquaculture section says a backlog of some 280 licence applications must be addressed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries if an industry employing more than 2,000 people in coastal areas is to have a future.
It has called on the Government to guarantee public funding to match more than €100 million worth of investment which is "ready to go into the industry over the next five years".
Richie Flynn, IFA aquaculture executive secretary, said demand for Irish seafood was "very strong", and farmed salmon, trout, mussels, oysters and other species met all the traceability criteria.
"It is a disgrace that major retail multiples can't find enough Irish salmon to sell to Irish consumers," he said. "We know that we can sell up to six times the amount of traditional and organically-farmed salmon on the domestic market and abroad if the Government will do its job and process the licence applications on hand."
The Government's operational programme for fisheries is still awaiting agreement in Brussels, and Mr Flynn said this was partly due to failures by the Government to implement a number of EU directives.
The €600 million Cawley seafood strategy, endorsed by the Government in January 2007, emphasised the potential of aquaculture given the constraints posed by total allowable catches and quotas on "capture fishery".
It said that while the aquaculture sector contributed 38 per cent in value terms of total primary seafood production, this lagged behind world trends.
It recommended spending €200 million, which would include initiation of a "fact-based communications programme to support greater awareness and acceptance of the sector", and a review of existing procedures on licences and regulations. It also said an aquaculture development programme should be implemented.
Mr Flynn said licences were "crucial as a solid foundation for production, investment, business planning and security".
A "clear funding mechanism to promote volume, competitiveness, added value and much-needed jobs" was also essential.
The IFA aquaculture section's demand has been supported by the Federation of Irish Fishermen, the Irish Fish Exporters and Processors Association, the Irish Association of Seafood Companies and inshore fishing representatives.
