IFA Aquaculture Conference 2025
Opening the IFA Aquaculture annual conference and AGM in Limerick on 20th March 2025, IFA Aquaculture Chair Finian O’Sullivan addressed recent progress in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development.
“It was encouraging to hear from the Minister recently that implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development is progressing with the establishment of a strategic group which will include industry engagement. This is the primary policy document for the Irish aquaculture sector as it sets out the key objectives and actions until 2030 and is also supported by the current Programme for Government,” he said.
“IFA Aquaculture has consistently raised the point in recent months that considerable investment and appropriate legislative changes will be required to achieve the objectives of the plan. Legislative reform is essential to move the sector forward and create certainty for the next generation – these matters were made clear to the Minister recently.”
The event is taking place ahead of the Irish Skipper Expo at the UL Sports Arena.
The Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine Timmy Dooley addressed the conference, “Already from my time in office, I can see how committed aquaculture operators are to ensuring the sustainability, both economic and environmental, of their sector. I very much welcome the level of engagement that I have had. I look forward to working with IFA Aquaculture and to engaging with aquaculture operators collectively in the coming years as we work together to progress the development of the aquaculture sector.”
This was the first opportunity for the newly-appointed Minster of State Dooley, with responsibility for Fisheries and Marine across the departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Environment, Climate and Communications, to address the Irish aquaculture sector directly and show his support for the sustainable development of Irish aquaculture.
There was a very strong attendance of over 120 delegates with very positive engagement between the industry, stakeholders, DAFM officials, and state agencies throughout the day, along with a number of exhibitors that provide services to the wider aquaculture sector.
Topics covered throughout the day at the conference included relevant issues relating to the sustainable development of Irish Aquaculture; Climate change & the Irish Ocean – Impacts on Irish Aquaculture; EU Aquaculture policy; and an update on the Programme for Government and its relevance to Irish aquaculture– presentations are available below.
Presentations
Click on the links below to access the presentations from the day.
Teresa Morrissey, IFA Aquaculture Executive.
Aquaculture Challenges – BIM, Ireland’s Seafood Agency.
Aquatech Innovations – BIM, Ireland’s Seafood Agency.
Aliénor – EU Interest Representation