Short presentation of the irish seafood sector and its main USP\’s

2. The sea
the most natural of resources
Known all over the world as the “Green Isle”, the island of
Ireland is surrounded by one of its greatest natural resources
- the sea.
Off the west coast, the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean merge
with warm Gulf Stream flows, and then combine with the cold
fresh waters that run to the seas from the Irish bog lands.
These clean, unpolluted waters are rich in aquatic life and form an exceptional
environment for the production of seafood
The unique conditions in Europe’s western waters have created an environment that
supports a thriving seafood industry, and employs an estimated 11,600 people.
It is the life-blood of some of the oldest rural and coastal communities in the country.
Like all island nations, Ireland has always looked to trade with its neighbors, and the
seafood industry is no different.
An estimated 45% of the output is exported on an annual basis at a value of around
€370 million, and the largest markets for Irish seafood are currently France, Spain, the
UK, Germany and Italy.
Irish Fishing
sustainable and responsible
The Irish fishing industry produces around 140,000 tonnes of pelagic fish and 25,000
tonnes of whitefish every year, with mackerel, herring, whiting, haddock, megrims and
monkfish among the most commonly produced species.
The UK and Spain are currently the biggest export markets
for whitefish from Ireland, with Russia, Germany, Nigeria &
Egypt buying the majority of the exported pelagic catch.
Ireland’s close proximity to the richest of the Atlantic
fishing grounds means that the fish can be landed shortly
after catch, ensuring unrivalled freshness.
A modern and well-maintained Irish fishing fleet ensures
optimum handling and hygiene conditions onboard for
the catch.

3. Irish Aquaculture
eco-friendly sea farming
Aquaculture in Ireland has grown rapidly since its humble
beginnings in the 1970’s, and it is now an important part
of the economic and social fabric of the country.
Three main species are farmed - salmon, mussel’s and
oysters – and thanks to the farmers’ focus on quality and
the wild natural environment that allows low production
densities, these products are now served on the finest
tables across Europe.
Irish salmon is farmed and certified under quality
schemes, which are audited to EU 45011 standard to
ensure the highest standards of environmental
management and animal wellbeing.
Irish farmed salmon is also accredited by some of the most renowned quality labels in
the business. Ireland is renowned as a pioneer in organic seafood certification, and is
recognized as a leader throughout Europe. Irish salmon is certified by such schemes as
AB Bio, Naturland, and the European organic label.
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Ireland is the leading producer of
organic salmon in Europe, and organic salmon accounts for around 80% of the country’s
total salmon production.
The low environmental impact of mussel and oyster farming makes it one of the most
environmentally friendly forms of aquaculture, with Irish farmed mussels and oysters
feeding naturally on wild phytoplankton in the sea.
Many Irish mussel farmers are certified by
Bord Iascaigh Mara (Irish Sea Fisheries
Board) under their Quality Seafood
Program, which controls environmental
management practice, food safety and
product quality.
Irish mussel farmers have also achieved
European organic certification for their
eco-friendly practices. More information
on the farming and certification of Irish
mussels can be found on the dedicated
site: www.irish-mussels.com
Irish oyster farmers are certified under the
Irish Quality Oyster Program, which controls criteria
such as shell shape, meat content, farming and
environmental management practice. For a
comprehensive guide to the scheme, please visit
the IQO website at: www.iqo.ie

4. Sustainable fisheries
and aquaculture
Irish wild fisheries are controlled by the European TAC and
quota management system and the Irish seafood industry is
dedicated to sustainable, responsible aquaculture.
Many species fished in Irish waters come under particular environmental quality
schemes, such as the BIM (Irish Sea Fisheries Board) Seafood Stewardship Standard.
This exacting standard is accredited to EN45011/ISO 65 by the Irish National Accreditation
Board. It provides comprehensive assurance that everything from care of catch,
traceability and provenance and environmental management to education and
awareness of Irish seafood are executed to the highest international standards.
Additional internationally recognised schemes cover Irish mackerel and Irish Albacore
tuna, which have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends
of the Sea respectively. These schemes certify that the produce comes from well-managed
and healthy fisheries that are biologically sustainable.
Statistics
For the latest statistics from Ireland’s fishing industry, please visit www.statcentral.ie
Links
Bord Bia- Irish Food Board........................................................ www.bordbia.ie
Bord Iascaigh Mhara- the Irish Sea Fisheries Board ................ www.bim.ie
Marine Institute......................................................................... www.marine.ie
Bord Bia
Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board - is the state agency responsible for the market
development and promotion of Irish food, drink & horticulture.
Bord Bia acts as a link between Irish suppliers and existing and potential customers
throughout the world.
Our objective is to develop markets for Irish suppliers and to bring the great taste of
Irish food to more tables world-wide.
BORD BIA Contact:
Embassy of Ireland - Hovslagargatan 5 - 11148 Stockholm - Sweden Nicolas Ranninger
Tel: +46 8 54 50 40 58 Nordic Market Manager
www.twitter.com/bordbia nicolas.ranninger@bordbia.ie
www.facebook.com/bordbia
www.bordbia.ie