Type of species farmed

Mussel (Mytilus spp.), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Oyster (different species), Trout and aquatic plants.

^{Source: 2023, EUMOFA; 2022, STECF; Ireland, personal com., January 16, 2023}

Type of production method

According to Eurostat, in 2021, 99% of Irish production occurred in sea and brackish water while only 1% in freshwater. The following main production methods were used:

^{Source: 2023, EUMOFA}

Trends (past and future)

• Food Vision 2030 Strategy: Its Vision is that Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) over the next decade. The Strategy has set the objective of achieving a carbon-neutral food system by 2050, with verifiable progress by 2030, encompassing emissions, water quality and biodiversity. The Strategy also foresees the seafood sector continuing on a path of sustainable economic and environmental development by carefully managing the utilisation of sea fisheries and aquaculture.
• Foodwise 2025 Strategy: Is a ten-year (2016 – 2025) strategy for the development of Ireland’s agri-food sector, including seafood production and aquaculture. The goal is to ensure that the agri-food sector maximises its contribution to economic growth and exports in an environmentally sustainable manner up to 2025.

^{Source: MNSPA}

Impact of aquaculture in the country’s economy, food market and labour market

Aquaculture in Ireland has grown from a cottage industry in the 1980s, now producing around 40,000 tonnes of high value finfish and shellfish whilst directly employing around 1,800 people mainly in rural locations. Worth around EUR 175 million in 2021, aquaculture is a major contributor to national seafood production and food security. While the ocean economy has been on an upwards trajectory since 2008, compared to 2018, turnover of Ireland’s ocean economy was down 7% in 2019, mainly reflecting declines in shipping, tourism and seafood sectors. Global economic developments that will most affect the performance of Ireland’s ocean economy in both the near term and medium-term: Covid, Brexit and the transition to a low-carbon economy. The indirect economic activity generated from Irish ocean economy is double that of the direct contribution. 

^{Source: MNSPA}

Challenges and opportunities

^{Source: MNSPA}

Employment and number of enterprises

The number of enterprises ranged from 279 to 306 over the ten years 2011 to 2020 and the number of employees in 2020 was 1.849. 

^{Source: MNSPA}

• Aquaculture is mainly regulated through the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2001
• Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006
• Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998 as amended
• Foreshore Act 1933 as amended 

The information can be obtained from the Aquaculture & Foreshore Management

• Irish Farmer Association (IFA)
• Irish Salmon Growers Association (ISGA)
• Irish Shellfish Association (ISA)
• Irish Trout Growers Group (ITGG)