Question 1

What is the difference between aquaculture and mariculture?

Accepted Answer

Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants, and involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions- in contrast to commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. Mariculture refers to aquaculture practiced in marine environments and in underwater habitats. Particular kinds of aquaculture include fish farming, shrimp farming, oyster farming, mariculture, algaculture (such as seaweed farming), and the cultivation of ornamental fish. Particular methods include aquaponics and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, both of which integrate fish farming and plant farming.

Question 2

How many types of fish are farmed?

Accepted Answer

About 580 aquatic species are currently farmed all over the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which says it is "practised by both some of the poorest farmers in developing countries and by multinational companies".

Question 3

Why is aquaculture so important?

Accepted Answer

Increasing global demand for protein through seafood is driving increasing demand for aquaculture, particularly given the pressures on certain commercially caught wild stocks of fish. The FAO says that "eating fish is part of the cultural tradition of many people and in terms of health benefits, it has an excellent nutritional profile, and "is a good source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and essential micronutrients". Aquatic plants such as seaweed are also an important resource for aquaculture as they provide nutrition, livelihood and other important industrial uses, it says, and 80 per cent of current aquaculture production is derived from animals low in the food chain such as herbivorous, omnivorous fish and molluscs. It is predicted over 60 per cent of fish eaten by humans will come from aquaculture by 2030.

Question 4

How much of the world's fish and shellfish is now farmed?

Accepted Answer

Aquaculture now accounts for 50 per cent of the world's fish consumed for food, and is the fastest-growing good sector.

Question 5

Who are the leading producers of farmed fish?

Accepted Answer

China provides over 60 per cent of the world's farmed fish. In Europe, Norway and Scotland are leading producers of finfish, principally farmed salmon.

Question 6

What is the conversion rate for farmed fish?

Accepted Answer

For farmed salmon, the feed conversion ratio, which is the measurement of how much feed it takes to produce the protein, is 1.1, as in one pound of feed producing one pound of protein, compared to rates of between 2.2 and 10 for beef, pork and chicken. However, scientists have also pointed out that certain farmed fish and shrimp requiring higher levels of protein and calories in feed compared to chickens, pigs, and cattle.

Question 7

What is the most profitable aquaculture business?

Accepted Answer

Tilapia farming which originated in the Middle East and Africa has now become the most profitable business in most countries. Tilapia has become the second most popular seafood after crab, due to which its farming is flourishing. It has entered the list of best selling species like shrimp and salmon.

Question 8

How big is Ireland's aquaculture industry?

Accepted Answer

There are 278 aquaculture production units in Ireland, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) *, producing 38,000 tonnes of finfish and shellfish in 2019 and with a total value of €172 million

Question 9

How many people are employed in Irish aquaculture?

Accepted Answer

There are currently almost 2,000 people directly employed in Irish aquaculture in the Republic, according to BIM.

Question 10

What is the value of the main Irish aquaculture sectors?

Accepted Answer

BIM figures for 2019 recorded farmed salmon at almost 12,000 tonnes, valued at €110 million; rock oysters reached 10,300 tonnes at a value of €44 million; rope mussels at 10,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; seabed cultured mussels at 4,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; "other" finfish reached 600 tonnes, valued at €2 million and "other" shellfish reached 300 tonnes, valued at €2 million

Question 11

Does Irish aquaculture have an export market?

Accepted Answer

Irish aquaculture products are exported to Europe, US and Asia, with salmon exported to France, Germany, Belgium and the US. Oysters are exported to France, with developing sales to markets in Hong Kong and China. France is Ireland's largest export for mussels, while there have been increased sales in the domestic and British markets.

Question 12

Is Ireland's aquaculture industry growing?

Accepted Answer

The value of the Irish farmed finfish sector fell by five per cent in volume and seven per cent in value in 2019, mainly due to a fall on salmon production, but this was partially offset by a seven per cent increased in farmed shellfish to a value of 60 million euro. Delays in issuing State licenses have hampered further growth of the sector, according to industry representatives.

Question 13

How is the Irish aquaculture industry regulated?

Accepted Answer

Fish and shellfish farmers must be licensed, and must comply with regulations and inspections conducted by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute. Food labelling is a function of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There is a long backlog of license approvals in the finfish sector, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine says it is working to reduce the backlog in the shellfish sector.

Question 14

Are there plans to reduce the aquaculture licence backlog, given the potential of the sector to coastal communities?

Accepted Answer

The department says it is working through the backlog, but notes that an application for a marine finfish aquaculture licence must be accompanied by either an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). As of October 2020, over two-thirds of applications on hand had an EIS outstanding, it said.

Question 15

Is there a more efficient aquaculture licence system in train?

Accepted Answer

The EU requires member states to have marine spatial plans by 2021, and Ireland has assigned responsibility to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF). Legislation has been drawn up to underpin this, and to provide a "one stop shop" for marine planning, ranging from fish farms to offshore energy – as in Marine Planning and Development Management Bill. However, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine confirmed last year that it intends to retain responsibility for aquaculture and sea-fisheries related development – meaning fish and shellfish farmers won't be able to avail of the "one stop shop" for marine planning.

Question 16

What are the challenges in the Aquaculture industry?

Accepted Answer

Fish and shellfish health is a challenge, with naturally occurring blooms, jellyfish and the risk of disease. There are also issues with a perception that the sector causes environmental problems.

Question 17

Why do environmentalists have an issue with aquaculture?

Accepted Answer

The industry has been on a steep learning curve, particularly in finfish farming, since it was hailed as a new future for Irish coastal communities from the 1970s – with the State's Electricity Supply Board being an early pioneer, and tobacco company Carrolls also becoming involved for a time. Nutrient build up, which occurs when there is a high density of fish in one area, waste production and its impact on depleting oxygen in water, creating algal blooms and "dead zones", and farmers' use of antibiotics to prevent disease have all been concerns, and anglers have also been worried about the impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild fish populations. Sea lice from salmon farmers were also blamed for declines in sea trout and wild salmon in Irish estuaries and rivers.

Question 18

Are these still environmental concerns about Irish aquaculture?

Accepted Answer

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

Question 19

Is there a move towards land-based fish farming here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as it is considered to have better potential for controlling environmental impacts, but it is expensive. As of October 2020, the department was handling over 20 land-based aquaculture applications.

Question 20

Does the aquaculture industry have a collective voice?

Accepted Answer

The Irish Farmers' Association has represented fish and shellfish farmers for many years, with its chief executive Richie Flynn, who died in 2018, tirelessly championing the sector. His successor, Teresa Morrissey, is an equally forceful advocate, having worked previously in the Marine Institute in providing regulatory advice on fish health matters, scientific research on emerging aquatic diseases and management of the National Reference Laboratory for crustacean diseases.

Question 21

Where does one train for aquaculture?

Accepted Answer

BIM provides training in the national vocational certificate in aquaculture at its National Fisheries College, Castletownbere, Co Cork. It also trains divers to work in the industry. The Institute of Technology Carlow has also developed a higher diploma in aqua business at its campus in Wexford, in collaboration with BIM and IFA Aquaculture, the representative association for fish and shellfish farming.

Race No.	Time	Group	Event	Round	North Station	South Station	Next Race
1	9:30	WC1	WC1 4X+	QF1	Commercial A	Commercial B	16
2	9:35	MJ16X	MJ16 1X	QF1	Commercial, Lynch, M	Commercial, Meehan, E	39
3	9:40	MJ16X	MJ16 1X	QF2	3 Castles, Clune, O	3 Castles, Quinn, R	39
4	9:45	MJ16X	MJ16 1X	QF3	3 Castles, Irwin, A	3 Castles, McKnight, T	40
5	9:50	WJ16X	WJ16 4X+	SF1	Athlone B	NewRoss	41
6	9:55	WJ16X	WJ16 4X+	SF2	Athlone A	Commercial	41
7	10:00	WI	W Int 4+	SF1	Commercial	DULBC A	43
8	10:05	WI	W Int 4+	SF2	Carlow	DULBC B	43
9	10:10	MX	M Int 1X	QF1	Commercial, Gahan, N	UCDBC, Toland, S	33
10	10:15	MX	M Int 1X	QF2	UCDBC, Griffin, A	Commercial, Groome, F	33
11	10:20	MX	M Int 1X	QF3	Commercial, O'Toole, F	Commercial, Joyce, D	34
12	10:25	MX	M Int 1X	QF4	Commercial, Healy, J	Commercial, Baskerville, R	34
13	10:30	MC1	MC1 8+	SF1	Commercial A	UCDBC	69
14	10:35	WC1X	WC1 1X	SF1	Commercial, Edwards, C	NewRoss, Janet, W	47
15	10:40	WC1X	WC1 1X	SF2	Commercial, O'Neill, S	NewRoss, Doyle, J	47
16	10:45	WC1	WC1 4X+	SF1	Commercial A	Athlone	49
17	10:50	WC1	WC1 4X+	SF2	Carlow	Neptune	49
18	10:55	MJ16X	MJ16 4X+	SF1	Commercial A	NewRoss	50
19	11:00	MJ16X	MJ16 4X+	SF2	Commercial B	3 Castles	50
20	11:05	WJ15	WJ15 4X+	SF1	NewRoss	Carlow	65a
21	11:10	WJ15	WJ15 4X+	SF2	Commercial	Athlone	65a
22	11:15	WJ16X	WJ16 2X	SF1	NewRoss A	Commercial	51
23	11:20	MSX	MS2X	SF1	Commercial B	UCDBC	67
24	11:25	MSX	MS2X	SF2	Commercial A	Commercial C	67
25	11:30	WN	WN 8+	SF1	DULBC A	DULBC B	64
26	11:35	MJ15X	MJ15 4X+	SF1	Commercial C	NewRoss	67a
27	11:40	MJ15X	MJ15 4X+	SF2	Commercial B	Commercial A	67a
28	11:45	WS	WS4+	F	DULBC	Commercial
29	11:50	MC1	MC1 4+	F	UCDBC	Commercial
30	11:55	MS	MS 2-	F	Neptune	Belfast RC
31	12:00	WJ18 X	WJ18 2X	SF1	Neptune A	Neptune B	52
32	12:05	WJ18 X	WJ18 2X	SF2	Athlone	Commercial	52
33	12:10	MX	M Int 1X	SF1	Commercial, Gahan, N	Commercial, Groome, F	59
34	12:15	MX	M Int 1X	SF2	Commercial, O'Toole, F	Winner 12	59
35	12:20	WJ14	WJ14 4X+	F1	Athlone	NewRoss	1,000m
36	12:25	WJ14	WJ14 4X+	F2	Commercial	Carlow	1,000m
37	12:30	MJ14	MJ14 1X	F	Commercial, Hanley, R	Commercial, Keane, R	1,000m
38	12:35	WC1	WC1 8+	SF1	Commercial	DULBC	65
39	12:40	MJ16X	MJ16 1X	SF1	Commercial, Meehan, E	3 Castles, Clune, O	66
40	12:45	MJ16X	MJ16 1X	SF2	3 Castles, McKnight, T	3 Castles, Gilheany, D	66
41	12:50	WJ16X	WJ16 4X+	F	Athlone B	Commercial
42	12:55	W Int 1X	W Int 1X	F	DULBC, O'Neill, H	3 Castles, Feeley, A
43	13:00	WI	W Int 4+	F	Commercial	DULBC B
44	13:05	MC1	MC1 4X+	F	DUBC	Commercial
45	13:10	MJ15X	MJ15 2X	F	Commercial	3 Castles
46	13:15	WN	WN 4X+	F	Carlow	Commercial
47	13:20	WC1X	WC1 1X	F	Commercial, Edwards, C	Commercial, O'Neill, S
49	13:30	WC1	WC1 4X+	F	Commercial A	Neptune
50	13:35	MJ16X	MJ16 4X+	F	Commercial A	3 Castles
51	13:40	WJ16X	WJ16 2X	F	Commercial	NewRoss B
52	13:45	WJ18 X	WJ18 2X	F	Neptune A	Athlone
53	13:50	WJ15	WJ15 1X	F1	Commercial, Keogh, A	NewRoss, Flanagain, C
54	13:55	WJ15	WJ15 1X	F2	3 Castles, Darker, S	Commercial, Dolan, K
55	14:00	WJ15	WJ15 1X	F3	NewRoss, Brown, L	NewRoss, Coughlan, A
56	14:05	M Int	M Int 4+	F	UCDBC	DUBC
57	14:10	MJ168	MJ16 8+	F	Commercial A	Commercial B
58	14:15	WS8	WS 8+	F	DULBC A	DULBC B
59	14:20	MX	M Int 1X	F	Commercial, Gahan, N	Commercial, O'Toole, F
60	14:25	MJ15X	MJ15 1X	F1	Commercial, Holton, A	NewRoss, Becker, J
61	14:30	MJ15X	MJ15 1X	F2	Commercial, Browne, K	NewRoss, Sutton, L
62	14:35	WJ14	WJ14 2X	F1	NewRoss A	Carlow	1,000m
63	14:40	WJ14	WJ14 2X	F2	NewRoss B	Athlone	1,000m
64	14:45	WN	WN 8+	F	DULBC A	Commercial
65	14:50	WC1	WC1 8+	F	DULBC	Neptune
65a	14:55		WJ15 4X+	F	NewRoss	Commercial
66	15:00	MJ16X	MJ16 1X	F	3 Castles, Clune, O	3 Castles, Gilheany, D
67	15:05	MSX	MS2X	F	Commercial B	Commercial A
67a	15:10		MJ15 4X+	F	Commercial C	Commercial A
68	15:15	WJ168	WJ16 8+	f	Commercial	Athlone
69	15:20	MC1	MC1 8+	F	Commercial A	Commercial B
70	15:25	MSX	MS 1X	F	Commercial, Maher, M	Commercial, Dowling, C

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