McHugh welcomes Seafood Grant Awards To Donegal Seafood Companies

Minister Joe McHugh has welcomed substantial funding released today to a number of Donegal seafood companies.

Six local companies received €721,188 of the total national grants announcement of €1.3M.

Four companies received substantial funding under the Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme. They are:

Donegal Oysters Ltd (Rossylongan, Donegal Town) €244,352

Donegal Ocean Deep Oysters Ltd (Rossylongan, Donegal Town) €323,821

Racoo Shellfish (Tullyearl, Donegal Town) €47,880

Ostre’an Teoranta (Dungloe) €25,135

In addition Jade Ireland Seafood Ltd which has bases in Donegal, Cork and Dublin is receiving €60,000 towards new markets development.

And Biomarine Ingredients Ireland (Killybegs) is getting €20,000 under the Seafood Innovation and Business Planning Scheme.

“The Donegal Oysters and Ocean Deep companies are investing a total of €1.4M, helped with more than €550,000 in this grant aid,” said Minister Joe McHugh.

“The grants are co-funded by the Exchequer and EU. This funding announced today is on top of major funding to the Donegal seafood sector already announced in March.

“The Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme remains opens for applications and I am optimistic that we will see yet more aquaculture projects coming forward as the year progresses.

“The Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme supports capital investments in licensed aquaculture sites to grow our production and mitigate environmental impact.

“These grant awards contribute to the Action Plan for Rural Development. I wish to thank Minister Michael Creed for grant approvals to so many great Donegal businesses in this round of funding.”

ENDS