This article is from page 38 of the 2007-04-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
FARMERS are being urged to look to the sea to insure their future pros- perity as a special conference hosted by the IFA last week pointed to the possibilities rewards to be gained through fish farming.
The conference, which took place in Enfield on Wednesday, also heard calls for the Government to take steps to maximise the farmed sea- food market.
IFA President Padraig Walshe, opening the conference, pointed out that recent developments had opened many opportunities for the industry.
“The Seafood Strategy report, pro- duced by Dr Noel Cawley, was the
result of a comprehensive process of dialogue and interaction with in- dustry, which a united body like IFA was able to engage in fully,” he said.
“I am pleased to see that there are 39 key IFA proposals in the final document, which is proof of the hard work put in by the respective salmon, freshwater and shellfish committees within the organisation.
“The fact that our campaign has led to a direct increase in public invest- ment supports to the sector from just over €30 million in the last NDP to over €100 million in the next one, 1s a key victory.
“Specific items proposed by IFA have been included, such as a dis- aster contingency fund, seed capital
arrangements for new businesses, a review of the licensing system and provisions for collective actions.” With only one in three fish on Irish plates coming from farmed stock, the IFA is calling on the Government to give priority to planning, invest- ment and marketing to those wishing to enter the fish farming sector. “The next crucial step is translating those proposals into action. IFA will play its full part in the implementa- tion of the strategy,’ he continued. “We see the strategy comprising four key action areas for the aqua- culture sector; the NDP investment and aid provisions, which IFA will work on with BIM and Udaras na Gaeltachta to translate into an Op-
erational Programme; the R and D priorities for issues such as biotox- ins and new species which IFA will work on with the Marine Institute under their “Sea Change” strategy; the licensing review, which IFA will work on with the Department to complete in 2007 through the Min- ister’s Aquaculture Forum and the Communications Programme, which IFA will draw up with BIM and im- plement as soon as possible.”
Others to speak at the conference included Donal Maguire of BIM, IFA Aquaculture Executive Secre- tary Richie Flynn, Marine Institute CEO Dr Peter Heffernan and RTE’s Marine Correspondent, Tom Mc- Sweeney.