The Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM) on Tuesday officially opened its Seafood Development Center (SDC). The facility, in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, is the first dedicated to the Irish seafood sector.
“We are delighted that the SDC is completed and this critical element of the government seafood strategy has been achieved. BIM is best placed to assist the sector to grow their business through greater innovation and business development and we have set ambitious targets to ensure the SDC delivers on the potential that exists for value-added Irish seafood produce,” said BIM CEO Jason Wholley.
“We need to change direction from the traditional business models and this new focus on delivering value-added produce will enable the sector to take advantage of any future upturn in our economy,” he added.
The SDC is part of BIM’s integrated business development and innovation program to assist the country’s seafood industry to achieve a shift to value-added products and aim to achieve[EUR 100 million in additional sales from the shift over five years.
Currently the Irish seafood sector is largely commodity driven, with 85 percent of total produce sold as commodities.
The facility features a floor space of 768 square meters, including wet fish processing areas, business incubation units, graduate laboratory, product development kitchen and an innovation and concept room.
