The annual Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) report for 2017 has revealed that sales of Irish seafood exceeded €1 billion for the first time ever last year, with domestic sales rising 4% to €429 million and seafood exports increasing 10% to €666 million.
As reported by The Irish Independent, BIM chairman Kieran Calnan stated that the seafood sector "contributed a sizeable €1.15 billion to the nation's economy in 2017, a significant increase of 6.4% on the previous year".
Taking Advantage Of Opportunities
Meanwhile, BIM CEO Jim O'Toole commented that Ireland was "well-placed to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the current global seafood trends".
O'Toole added, "As the world's population grows, seafood remains the protein source of choice for many in Africa and an increasing number of middle-class consumers in the Asia-Pacific region, where per capita consumption of seafood has trebled in the last 25 years alone."
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
