Working with the seafood industry in Northern Ireland

How we work in Northern Ireland

Our work in Northern Ireland is guided by the Seafish Northern Ireland Advisory Committee (SNIAC). Our annual bespoke work programme is agreed in consultation with them.

Our aim is to partner with industry to provide timely support on the issues they face locally. We create projects, events and initiatives that celebrate the fantastic seafood available in Northern Ireland and those who supply it. 

Our Seafish Industry Engagement Manager for Northern Ireland, Sally Cunningham, works with the Northern Irish seafood industry and its SNIAC representatives to ensure the local coordination of our activities.

What we do in Northern Ireland

We work closely with the seafood industry to help give them the information and support they need. We work with seafood businesses, organisations and individuals across the supply chain. This includes working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). As the industry changes our work adapts and evolves.

 These currently include:

• Fisheries Science - We provided information on the impacts of Marine Protected Areas on fishing opportunities for the local fleet. We are also working with industry on a project aimed at enhancing scallop fisheries in Northern Ireland.
• Seafood Promotion - We received EMFF funding for an initiative called MaSTE- Marketing Seafood through Education. Through MaSTE we are working with local colleges, schools and industry to get more seafood on menus across Northern Ireland. Every year we promote the fantastic seafood available in Northern Ireland at the Balmoral Show.
• Fishing Safety - We facilitate the Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Safety Forum (NIFSF). This brings together every fishing group in Northern Ireland and all organisations with a remit for fishing safety. The aim is to make fishing safer through training, raising awareness of fishermen’s issues and developing fishing safety projects. These have included: Developing safety awareness stickers, piloting man overboard recovery equipment and engaging fishermen across Northern Ireland through Facebook.

Regular email updates

We email a regular update with links to relevant articles, services or meeting dates, which anyone connected to the Northern Irish seafood industry can receive. Sign up for our updates.