Achill fish farm in awards forum

Friday, 01 April 2011 11:31

A Mayo couple who are growing farmed fish in the picturesque Achill Islands have made it to the final of the 2010/11 JFC Innovation Awards, with a prize fund worth €40,000. The awards for rural business are an all-island competition for farmers and rural entrepreneurs who have a business that have commenced trading in the last five years.
Michael Flanagan and Aishling Roche of Achill Island Turbot grow sustainable, farmed turbot using new technology in the form of a fully traceable, recirculation aquaculture system.
"We farmed and saw this as simple a new farming opportunity," said Michael. "Not only that, we saw it as a farming system with no production restrictions and where demand is greater than supply."

Almost half of the seafood eaten in the world is now farmed and consumption of seafood has also increased steadily and the couple's plan is to make their fish available all year round and delivered to the market within 24 hours of harvest.
To date a total of nearly €2.7 million has been invested in setting up the business that now has existing capacity to produce 100 tonne per annum. About half of the funding has been provided from EU and Udaras na Gaeltachta grants.

The company has already invested heavily in preparing infrastructure for large-scale operation.
"We had to lay the 2.5 km pipeline to the sea, a big cost that is already in place and a big investment was also made in getting all the required licences and permits.
"In the long term we plan and have the licences and permits to increase production in steps up to 600 tonnes a year as demand increases," said Michael.

Winning the award would be a huge boost for the Achill enterprise. Now in their fifth year, the JFC Innovation Awards have been responsible for supporting and developing excellent business ideas from farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
The winner will be announced at a function in Galway on Monday, April 11.