Seafood Policy and Development
The Seafood Policy & Development section is responsible for the strategic, economic and sustainable development of the aquaculture sector, as well as the broad regulation of it, within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Fisheries(Amendment) Act, 1997.
What is in this section?
Seafood Policy & Development functions are exercised separately from the licensing, monitoring and enforcement of aquaculture activities which, are handled by the Coastal Zone Management Division(CZMD) as an integral part of coastal zone management. The CZMD, Inland Fisheries and Seafood Policy & Development sections consult and advise each other on matters relating to their respective remits.
Overall Goal
The Departments overall goal for aquaculture is to support the sustainable development of the sector in order to maximise its contribution to jobs and growth in coastal communities and to the national economy. The key objectives underpinning this goal include:
- increasing employment output value and exports
- creating a sustainable and environmentally appropriate framework and critical mass for sectoral expansion
- securing increased competitiveness through enhanced quality, value added, technology acquisition and diversification.
Seafood Policy & Development section aims to identify and facilitate measures to securing these objectives. Key areas of involvement for the section include policy formulation, targeted investment support for aquaculture under both the Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994 - 1999 and more currently, the National Development Plan 2000 - 2006, the establishment of a national fish health policy framework and the pursuit of measures and action at EU and national level beneficial to the sector.
The establishment of the Aquaculture Industry Forum under the aegis of IFAPD, comprising the Department, BIM, UnaG and the Marine Institute, as well as key players from the industry, has facilitated communications and dialogue between the parties on strategic issues facing the industry.
The Forum enables the aquaculture industry to play a leading role in identifying and raising issues of priority and provides a practical mechanism for periodic review and information exchange on market trends and opportunities, investment strategies, R&D needs, environmental issues, international and EU developments as well as policy issues generally.
Sea Fishing Boat Licensing Policy - Policy Directive 1 of 2008 (pdf 14Kb)
Licensing, Monitoring and Enforcement of aquaculture activities are handled by the Coastal Zone Management Division(CZMD)
List of Irish Vessels with Authorisations to fish for Herring in the area West of Scotland (xls 25Kb)
