FISHY BUSINESS: Cork seafood businesses receive €275,000 in Government grants

3 May 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
tom@TheCork.ie

‘Fishy Business’ is a tempting pun for a headline, but all is in order today as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced a further €274,700 in grants to six seafood enterprises here in Cork. This funding will boost the enterprises involved, and in turn the Cork economy.

Announcing the funding a positive Minister Creed said, “In March, I announced EMFF grants of €1.8 million to seafood enterprises throughout Ireland. I am delighted to now announce a further €1.3 million in EMFF grant awards to 19 seafood enterprises [throughout Ireland]. Grants of almost €1 million are being offered to 10 aquaculture enterprises relating to mussels and oyster production. Taken together with the earlier awards in March, grant offers of nearly €2 million have already been made nationally this year to 18 aquaculture enterprises and are supporting €5 million in aquaculture capital investments.”

Senator Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) is based outside Carrigaline, Co Cork and represents the views of Cork residents in the Seanad

Cork based Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard (Cork South Central), whose own occupation is Farming, has welcomed the announcement. “Seafood businesses here in Cork will continue to benefit from this scheme and I hope to see this funding have a positive knock-on effect for our coastal communities and local economies.”

Minister Simon Coveney (right) has a long connection to matters Maritime

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon Coveney (Cork South Central) has also welcomed the announcement “This round will see a substantial increase in funding for aquaculture enterprises, which is most welcome. This money will help our seafood businesses in areas like business development and planning as well as allowing them to purchase the necessary equipment to help them grow.”

Below: Partial extract from table of grants

Grant approvals – Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme

Grant approvals – Seafood Scaling & New Market Development Scheme

Grant approvals – Seafood Innovation & Business Planning Scheme