The Department of the Marine has announced a £25m investment in the development of fish farming, to counteract the threatened loss of jobs in coastal areas. Falling catches of fish at sea are expected to cause reductions in the fishing fleet. A plan due to be presented to the Taoiseach today says that 6,000 extra jobs can be created. It calls for the private sector to commit £35m in investment, in addition to the State funding.
Fish farming has been a controversial subject, but with the size and number of jobs in the sea fishing fleet threatened due to falling catches at sea, coastal communities face a major threat to their survival. Fish farming is now officially in favour. The Department of the Marine is investing £25m and wants another £35m from the private sector.
The total of £60m would, according to Minister Hugh Byrne, create 6,000 extra jobs and ensure the future economic security of coastal communities. Planning, environmental and licensing controls are to be imposed on fish farms to change the public attitude towards them and consumers could be eating more fish that is farmed, rather than caught at sea.
