Featured Photo: Crocknagee Oysters
Almost half a million euro in grant supports have been announced for Donegal aquaculture companies today.
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme will support oyster, mussels, trout and seaweed farms nationwide.
Grants allocated to Donegal companies range from €500 to €268,360.
The Donegal companies to benefit are:
- Mulroy Bay Mussels Ltd
- Donegal Aquaculture Services Ltd
- Crocknagee Oysters Ltd
- Inish Sal Teoranta
- Irish Oysters Harvest Ltd
- Natura Mussels Ltd
- Saddle Rock Fisheries Ltd
- Trabay Ltd
- Oisri Min an Chairn Teoranta
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue, today awarded a total of €1,811,461 in grants to 28 aquaculture companies nationally under his Department’s programme.
Minister McConalogue said, “I am delighted to be in a position today to provide €1.8 million in grants to 28 ambitious aquaculture companies to further the growth of their businesses and our aquaculture sector. These grants will support €4.5 million in investment in oyster, mussels, trout and seaweed farming.
“Despite two major challenges in the form of COVID and Brexit, these 28 aquaculture businesses are showing confidence in the future of their sector and are expanding their production to meet strong market demand for their quality products. In Donegal, these companies are creating investment in the local community and creating employment.”
Minister added, “In recent years my Department invested in eliminating the licensing backlog for shellfish aquaculture producers and this is I believe being reflected in the large number of grant applications being submitted by shellfish aquaculture producers, showing renewed confidence in their capacity to expand with regulatory certainty.”