Marine Institute Boost for Seafood Research
The Marine Institute has secured €800,000 research funding from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine to carry out three significant research projects that address the needs of the aquaculture and seafood industry - in the areas of shellfish health and seafood safety. The funding was announced today by Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine as part of the FIRM (Food Institutional Research Measure) competitive research funding programme.
The collaborative projects which have a total value of €1.2million include research partners in the National University of Ireland, Galway, University College Cork, and University College Dublin. The projects will address current challenges in aquaculture and aim to further enhance the health status and food safety standards of farmed Irish shellfish; and ensure compliance with food/feedstuff standards for seaweed.
Dr Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute welcomed the announcement saying, "These projects will build on the work we are doing in the areas of fish health and seafood safety, together with our research partners. We have a strong seafood safety regime in Ireland and these research awards will help to increase our knowledge and further enhance the quality and safety of Irish seafood products." Dr Heffernan also acknowledged two further research award recipients in NUIG and DCU who will focus their research on sustainable aquaculture production systems and mining marine material for novel functional ingredients.
The Marine Institute, in early 2015, will seek to fill the three research posts arising from these projects.
ENDS
Contact: Communications Office. Phone: +353 (0)9 138 7200. Email: lisa.fitzpartick@marine.ie