The Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, has approved €10 million in EU and State funding for a series of inshore marine projects.
The programme is the first of its kind in Europe and is aimed at encouraging diversification in coastal areas. The Minister has also initiated the new scheme for licensing small inshore fishing vessels which will apply to craft of 12 metres and under.
The 22 projects range from experimental trap fishing for deep water crab to identification of tuna feeding grounds to improving the quality of whitefish landed in the south-west region. Eight of the projects are aimed directly at the inshore fleet, and provide for "conservation and localised management" of many valuable shellfish species, including lobsters, crab, crayfish and scallop.
Several of the projects have been co-funded by private investment, and there is a significant involvement by third level institutions and marine technology companies, along with the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
The Minister said that the projects would ensure a future for the industry through "sustainable harvesting", and would form part of a wider €25.4 million grant-aid programme which would benefit every coastal area in future.
The licensing of small vessels is also aimed at conserving stocks and grounds, the Minister said, and the regulation will ensure that only "bona-fide" fishermen work in the sector.
The closing date for the scheme is March 28th, and the applicants must have a track record in sea fishing in any two of the four years leading up January 1st of this year.