Cowen announces €3.4 million investment in 15 aquaculture enterprises
- Published on: 1 July 2020
- Last updated on: 2 July 2020
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Barry Cowen TD today announced €3.4 million in new investment by 15 aquaculture enterprises, with his department’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme providing grants of €1,282,277.
Minister Cowen said:
"I am delighted to announce the approval of a €3.4 million investment by 15 aquaculture enterprises with €1.3 million support from my department’s EMFF Programme. 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."
As SMEs, most of the aquaculture businesses received grants of 40% towards the cost of their investments, with one non-SME receiving 30%, a new entrant to the sector receiving 50% and one investment in organic certification also receiving 50%. The grants are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and are subject to terms and conditions.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
Ireland’s EMFF Operational Programme 2014-2020 was adopted by the European Commission in December 2015 and launched in January 2016 by the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Programme provides €240 million in funding to the seafood sector (fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing) over the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Two support schemes are available to the aquaculture sector to help achieve the aims of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. The Plan is seeking to sustainably grow production by 45,000 tonnes. The Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme supports capital investment by licensed aquaculture enterprises to sustainably grow production and reduce environmental impact of aquaculture. The Knowledge Gateway Scheme promotes and supports innovation, technological development and disease management in the aquaculture sector.
Grant approvals - Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme
Derrylea Holdings
Location: Galway
Project: Organic Certification of Farmed Atlantic Salmon
Total Investment: €7,500
EMFF Grant: €3,750
Rate: 50%
Sliogéisc Inisheane Teoranta
Location: Donegal
Project: Capacity increase in oyster seed production
Total Investment: €28,723
EMFF Grant: €11,489
Rate: 40%
Feirm Farriage Oileán Chliara Teoranta
Location: Donegal
Project: Phase 3: Installation of grid frames and construction of Aquaculture Workboat
Total Investment: €761,595
EMFF Grant: €228,478
Rate: 30%
Glenn Hunter
Location: Sligo
Project: Construction of an oyster handling facility
Total Investment: €68,747
EMFF Grant: €34,373
Rate: 50%
Ocean Farm Ltd
Location: Donegal
Project: Phase 3: Upgrade of salmon farm technology
Total Investment: €1,261,663
EMFF Grant: €504,665
Rate: 40%
Skipper Shellfish Ltd
Location: Kerry
Project: Phase 2: Increase capacity of oyster farm
Total Investment: €25,876
EMFF Grant: €10,350
Rate: 40%
Northern Bay Oyster Ltd
Location: Donegal
Project: Increase capacity of oyster farm
Total Investment: €29,670
EMFF Grant: €11,868
Rate: 40%
Mulroy Bay Mussels Ltd
Location: Donegal
Project: Investment in new handling equipment
Total Investment: €75,900
EMFF Grant: €30,360
Rate: 40%
Killary Fjord Shellfish Ltd
Location: Galway
Project: Upgrade of rope mussel farm to continuous longline system
Total Investment: €17,120
EMFF Grant: €6,848
Rate: 40%
Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd
Location: Waterford
Project: Phase 2: Increase capacity of oyster farm
Total Investment: €606,815
EMFF Grant: €242,726
Rate: 40%
Oceanic Organic Oysters Ltd
Location: Donegal
Project: Phase 2: Increase capacity on oyster farm
Total Investment: €183,145
EMFF Grant: €73,258
Rate: 40%
Rosmoney Shellfish Ltd
Location: Mayo
Project: Increase capacity of oyster farm
Total Investment: €124,980
EMFF Grant: €49,992
Rate: 40%
Seastream Ltd
Location: Mayo
Project: Purchase of smolt feeding system
Total Investment: €60,000
EMFF Grant: €24,000
Rate: 40%
Rodeen Fish Farms Ltd
Location: Cork
Project: Phase 3: Introduction of continuous rope mussel system
Total Investment: €83,197
EMFF Grant: €33,278
Rate: 40%
Seal Harbour Enterprises Ltd
Location: Cork
Project: Phase 3: Upgrade of rope mussel equipment
Total Investment: €42,100
EMFF Grant: €16,840
Rate: 40%
Total:
Total Investment: €3,377,031
EMFF Grant: €1,282,277