Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency, launched a new schools programme last Thursday, 26th February, to increase students’ understanding of seafood and its journey from sea to plate.
The new programme introduces students to the seafood value chain in Ireland from production and supply to preparation and consumption, helping to build knowledge, confidence and appreciation of Irish seafood.
The schools’ initiative forms part of the BIM Seafood Academy, a national support and development programme created to strengthen Ireland’s independent seafood retail and foodservice sectors. The programme is supported by the Government of Ireland and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and was successfully piloted in four schools last year.
The programme will see skilled, experienced fishmongers deliver structured modules directly to students, sharing real-world insights into the supply chain and seafood preparation.
Richard Donnelly, Interim CEO at BIM, referred to the BIM Seafood Academy and how it is supporting independent retail fishmongers and seafood foodservice. That wider initiative has been providing a collaborative forum for the two sectors, focused on business development supports, skills development, and knowledge sharing across the seafood industry.
“The (schools) programme is a natural extension of our wider Seafood Academy Programme, created to strengthen the independent retail fishmongers and foodservice sectors. By investing in education, we’re also investing in the long-term sustainability of these two sectors.”
Following the positive response from schools to last year’s pilot, BIM plans to roll out the schools’ programme more widely from March onwards. For more information, visit bim.ie
