A new steering group has been created to guide the development of the blue bioeconomy in the north-west, BIM says. It is one of the outcomes of a new report published by BIM with Donegal County Council.
The Blue Bioeconomy Scoping Report examines industry needs, supports, and international best practice, identifying a clear set of priority actions required to unlock growth in this emerging sector. The new steering group will “guide implementation, strengthen collaboration and ensure industry input”, it says. “This marks a significant step towards aligning support for seafood sector companies, with the aim of maximising value from marine biomass,” it says.
Speaking at the launch, BIM Innovation Manager Michael Gallagher said that “given the challenges the sector has faced with quota reductions, biomass shortages, and rising supply chain costs, it is crucial that we generate more value from every fish”.
Report Launch — Public representatives and project partners at Killybegs Harbour for the launch of the Blue Bioeconomy Scoping Report. Pictured (left to right): Cllr Noel Jordan, Cllr Michael Boyle, Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Cllr Jimmy Brogan, Michael Gallagher (BIM), Mairead Carlin (Donegal County Council), Gary Martin (Donegal County Council) and Cliodhna Griffin (BIM). Photo: BIM
Michael Gallagher emphasised the importance of diversification into higher-value markets, highlighting growing interest among Irish seafood processors in pursuing opportunities in these emerging areas. He also highlighted Ireland’s strong research capacity and said, “Ireland possesses a wide diversity of high-calibre marine researchers, and progress is already being driven by industry leaders in both the north-west and south-west.
“Active engagement with regional networks is generating high-potential opportunities. If we can harness these resources at a national level and align supports across relevant state agencies, we can create a clear and coherent pathway for the seafood sector to diversify and unlock greater value from the blue bioeconomy,” he said.
The report says that the blue bioeconomy offers a wide range of opportunities. In the short term, more accessible applications include converting marine co-products and underutilised resources into biostimulants and pet food ingredients. Considerable longer-term potential also exists to develop higher-value products such as proteins, collagen, nutraceuticals, and biomaterials, it says.
BIM says that, in collaboration with Donegal County Council and the diversity of steering group members, it is “well positioned to play a leading role in advancing this agenda, supporting companies to access funding, connect with research expertise, and engage in collaborative networks”.
The initiative is supported by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. The full report is on bim.ie
