Minister Dooley to Address IFA Aquaculture Conference & AGM

Minister of State Timmy Dooley will address the IFA Aquaculture Conference and AGM at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Castletroy, Limerick, (V94 WTC9) on Thursday, 20th March 2025.

The event will take place on the eve of the Irish Skipper Expo taking place at the UL Sport Arena on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd March.

This will be 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.

IFA Aquaculture recently met with Minister Dooley along other Seafood industry representatives where the importance of the Irish aquaculture sector is a vital contributor to the national economy and food security was discussed.

IFA Aquaculture Chair Finian O’Sullivan said following the meeting that it was encouraging to hear from the Minister 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.

The National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development 2030 is the primary policy document for the Irish Aquaculture sector as it sets out the government policy objectives and key actions until 2030 – this is supported by the current Programme for Government.

“IFA Aquaculture have consistently raised the point in recent months that considerable investment and appropriate legislative changes will be required to achieve the objectives of the plan. These matters were made clear to the Minister,” Finian O’Sullivan said.

“Current difficulties facing the sector were also highlighted with particular attention paid to specific issues in both the bottom and rope mussel sector.”

“IFA stressed to the Minister and his officials that a response on the matter was needed urgently and urged the Minster to establish a support mechanism for the Aquaculture sector to address current biological, economic and market challenges,” Finian O’Sullivan concluded.

A full agenda for the day will include updates on 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.

Following presentations, IFA Aquaculture members will meet in the afternoon for their AGM.

Registration for the IFA Aquaculture Conference is now open and tickets to the conference are available on a first come first served basis which can be purchased here.