Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be somewhat vague on this. I believe the potential is significant. Europe views Ireland as probably having the cleanest aquaculture in the world. Our coast to the west and south west is open to the cleanest waters on the planet, in the Atlantic. That is why organic farmed salmon in Ireland commands a premium price on international markets and why Irish shellfish attracts so much interest from abroad. Demand from home and abroad is not the problem in this sector. The problem is the ability to produce in a way that is appropriate, maintains quality and reassures everybody who may have concerns about pollution, environmental management, marine life, bird life and so on. We need to get a balance in our use of bays between leisure and commerce, as we have here. The potential for growth and expansion in the aquaculture and finfish farming sector is very significant.

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