Harrington calls on public to have their say on how €241m for seafood sector is spent

Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Noel Harrington has called on members of the public to contribute to proposed plans on the spending of €241 million for the seafood sector by May 1^st.

“The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney has announced plans for a new €241 million development programme for the seafood sector up to 2020.  

“According to the plans proposed by Minister Coveney €42 million would be invested in implementing the new Common Fisheries Policy, including measures for developing more selective fishing gear; €6 million would go towards ongoing work to revive and sustainably grow inshore fisheries; €30 million would be invested in sustainably developing aquaculture industry and implementing a new national plan; €12 million would got to Fisheries Local Action Groups to grow seafood economies and €41 million would be directed towards growing markets for seafood products and developing seafood processing industry.   In addition almost €10 million would support the implementation of EU environmental law.

“The seafood sector is worth in the region of €850 million annually. Exports have grown by 70% since 2009 to €540 million, that is a rapid rate of growth, especially when you consider the industry has the potential to grow to €1 billion by 2020.  

“Utilising this investment to the maximum is essential in ensuring that the seafood sector grows in a sustainable way and that everyone in the industry benefits.

“The new Programme will be co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; the EU contributes €147 million and the Government added €94 million highlighting our commitment to this sector.

“I commend Minister Coveney on the work he has done in this area and I again appeal to those in the seafood to review the proposals and to have their say in how this essential funding is spent.”