EVER WONDERED What happened all those old defunct and expired salmon farm licences that wiped out an angling tourism industry in Conamara and cost millions in grants over the years.
Well, the answer is that Minister assigns salmon licenses to Bradán Beo
Parent Category: News
Monday, 10 September 2012 10:54
Published on Monday, 17 September 2012 10:00
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD has approved the assignment of aquaculture licences from five separate operators to company Bradán Beo Teoranta.
Bradán Beo Teo was established by the regional development state organisation Údarás na Gaeltachta, the firm Maoiniú Mara Teo and Michael Muhr to attempt to consolidate and invigorate sustainable salmon farming in Cill Chiaráin Bay in south Conamara.
The assignment of the licences occurred with the agreement of the former licence holders and comes after a lengthy examination of all issues associated with salmon farming in the area by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
“This assignment of licences will consolidate operations in one licence holder and thereby greatly assist in the sustainable development of salmon farming in the area while also ensuring the maximum ongoing protection of the environment,ÔÇØ Coveney said. ÔÇ£The initiative provides a good example of Government Departments and State Agencies working together to secure a solid future for employment in the aquaculture industry.”
The decision to establish Bradán Beo Teo and apply for the transfer of licences to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was endorsed at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Board meeting in June 2012.
This year, An tÚdarás has been working with the fish farm licence holders in South Conamara and the government, hoping to protect, develop and ensure the long-term survival of organic salmon farming in the area.
ÔÇ£There are currently 75 people employed in the aquaculture sector in Conamara in areas of fish farming, processing, packaging and sales,ÔÇØ said Steve ├ô C├║l├íin, CEO of ├Üdar├ís. ÔÇ£The establishment of Brad├ín Beo Teo will assist in protecting those jobs and provide for the the sustainable development of salmon farming industry in Cill Chiar├íin Bay for the future.ÔÇØ
By Natalia Real
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