Policies and Issues

ROPE MUSSEL WORKSHOP, OCT 6, CLAREGALWAY

Presentations from the very successful workshop will shortly be available on-line

The Irish Shellfish Association and BIM have organised a special rope mussel workshop for October 6^th at the convenient venue of the Claregalway Hotel which can be accessed from both north and south on the N17 without having to tackle Galway city traffic. Those wishing to book accommodation should call 091-738300 and quote the “IFA Conference” for best rates. Alternatively book at www.claregalwayhotel.ie

Topics on the day include all the major issues impacting on the industry, including markets and prices, licencing, biotoxins and classiciation as well as new technology.

All rope mussel producers are welcome.

NEWS: Presentations from the successful IFA / BIM Seafood By-Products seminar are now available to view or download at the BIM website here

IFA / BIM By Products Workshop: Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, 11.am, 16th June 2010.

A vital event for fish farmers and processors concerned about the increasing costs of waste disposal and interested in alternative uses for fish and shellfish by-products. Brought to you as part of IFA's commitment to reducing costs for primary producers. Speakers will include regulators from DAFF and the SFPA as well as experts in alternative by product uses such as composting, incineration, anaerobic digestion, etc. The ideal place to network with other producers and processors seeking alternative routes for by-products. Full agenda details and directions to the venue are here or contact IFA Aquaculture for more information.

10 Point Plan for Aquaculture: IFA President, John Bryan, presented the Association's 10-point plan for the renewal of the aquaculture industry to Minister Killeen on 21 January 2010.

Common Fisheries Policy Review Submission: IFA Aquaculture presented its views ont he reform of the Common Fisheries Policy as part of the consultation process undertaken by Dr Noel Cawley on behalf of the Government.

Record of presentations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: IFA Aquaculture has made two presentations to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture Fisheries and Food and answered public representatives' questions regarding the major issues impacting on the industry. The full text of these presentations and the question and answer sessions are provided here: 15^th July 2009 and15^th October 2008

ISA Paper on European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Proposals on Azasparacid

May 2009 - EU Strategy to compliment a “modern, dynamic industry that produces safe, high value and high quality products” EU Commission addresses issues raised by IFA in new Aquaculture Strategy

IFA Aquaculture was instrumental in persuading EU Fisheries Commissioner, Joe Borg, to produce an updated EU-wide strategy for Aquaculture and succeeded in 2006 in getting his agreement to refresh the EU’s policy to the sector which had first been published in 2001.

Following extensive consultation, Commissioner Borg published in April 2009 the document “Building a Future for Sustainable Aquaculture” in a Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and Council. In a concise document, the Commissioner addresses many of the issues raised by IFA and its European Federations for finfish and shellfish.

IFA Executive Secretary, Richie Flynn, who made the first call directly to Commissioner Borg to carry out this work at the FEAP AGM in Greece in 2005 said, “The document must not only be widely welcomed by all concerned with the development of the sector but in particular the Irish Government must immediately take note of the very strong message sent out loud and clear by the EU to develop the industry, cut out red tape, improve licensing and facilitate a competitive and sustainable sector.”

Mr Flynn continued, “I am glad to see that Mr Borg and his officials were listening very carefully to what the industry had to say at the many meetings we have held to discuss the strategy and also to the conclusions of the conference held in Brussels in 2007 which also involved the Marine Institute, BIM and the then Department of Marine”

In the EU document, the Commissioner recognises the importance of the sector, saying “TheEU-27 aquaculture industry produced about 1.3 million tonnes of fish, shellfish and crustaceans in 2006, representing a turnover of around €3 billion and generating approximately 65,000 jobs. Current EU consumption demand accounts for about 12 million tonnes.”

He continues, “Against the background of fast-changing technologies and persisting economic and environmental challenges it is timely to take stock of the strength and weaknesses of the EU aquaculture sector. This Communication aims to identify and address the causes of this stagnation, with a view to ensuring that the EU remains a key player in this strategic sector.”

Very succinctly and accurately, the Commissioner assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the sector in a way which will sound familiar to any Irish producer of salmon, mussels , trout oysters, etc. as follows; “It benefits from a dynamic and cutting-edge research and technology sector, advanced equipment and fish feed, qualified and trained entrepreneurs and innovative enterprises, as well as from a solid environment and health protection legal framework. Yet the challenges for the EU aquaculture sector are numerous: e.g. limited access to space and licensing; industry fragmentation; limited access to seed capital or loans for innovation in a risky context (particularly with constant changes in the economic situation and in trade patterns); pressure from imports; insufficiency of medicines and vaccines. In addition, stringent EU rules, particularly on environmental protection, generate competitive constraints vis-à-vis competitors in Asia or Latin America.”

Key issues for the sector which are addressed by the Commissioner include:

Improving industrial competitiveness
Examine opening up of funding for R&D, marketing, industry organisation, disaster aid and publicity;
Simplifying regulation and licensing and in particular by Member States;
Establishing “Equal rights” for aquaculture producers in the coastal zone and possibly linking EU supports to the willingness of Member States to ensure adequate space for the sector;
Improving the compatibility of EU Environmental legislation with the development of the sector
Ensuring member state governments meet the Commission’s high expectations for development and support for aquaculture;
Ensuring regulation and monitoring systems are in place so that fish and shellfish imports into Europe meet the same health, environment and welfare standards expected of EU producers;
Recognising the requirement for a clean, high quality environment to produce fish and shellfish and ensuring that standards for growing shellfish in particular are maintained under the Water Framework Directive;
Improving the profile of the sector and accurate public information about aquaculture production and products;
Insisting that Member States should facilitate business development by cutting red tape;
Improving monitoring and statistical information available to the industry on production, markets and international developments;
Ensuring the high standards of fish health in the EU are maintained;
Re-examining the biotoxin regime for shellfish “to address food risks in the most appropriate way”.
Looking at adapting regulations on particular issues for the sector which are different for the wild capture industry in marketing, labelling, consumer information, producer organisations;

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