May 2024 ARG meeting and farm visits
The Aquaculture Representative Group met in May 2024 to share information and raise issues. DAERA attended to provide an update on their activities. This included an introduction to the policy team that will develop a new Northern Ireland Fisheries Act, which is long-overdue as the current act dates from 1966! A co-design approach is being adopted with the ARG, which will involve a series of meetings with the different NI aquaculture sectors to listen to operator concerns related to current licensing and management of the sector.
The meeting welcomed Dr. Eleanor Adamson of The Fishmongers Company Fisheries Charitable Trust (who kindly provide funding for the ARG), followed by field visits to see oyster and trout farming operations first-hand. Our thanks to the hosts for the informative visits and the sun even shone!
ARG thanks the Fishmongers Company Fisheries Charitable Trust for their continued support and hope to welcome Eleanor and colleagues back to Northern Ireland in 2025.
