Bigger Fish: Renowned Kilkenny business gets €500,000 to expand
A successful Kilkenny business has been awarded €500,000 in capital funding which will be used to improved its production facilities.
Goatsbridge Trout Farm Ltd received the funding as part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme, which provides support to the Irish Seafood sector.
The €500,000 is part of an overall €1.25 million investment in the trout farm, with previous funding already secured.
Goatsbridge Trout Farm Ltd produces fresh and smoked fish, patés and caviars for up market supermarkets overseas, which can also be bought direct from the farm.
The investment in Goatsbridge Trout farm represents more than 25% of the total €1.8 million in funding available in the current round of funding.
The grant awards will support total investment of €4.5 million in the aquaculture sector and support 28 projects across the country.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said: “I am delighted to be in a position today to provide €1.8 million in grants to 28 ambitious aquaculture companies to further the growth of their businesses and our aquaculture sector.
“These grants will support €4.5 million in investment in oyster, mussels, trout and seaweed farming. Despite two major challenges in the form of Covid and Brexit, these 28 aquaculture businesses are showing confidence in the future of their sector and are expanding their production to meet strong market demand for their quality products,” Minister McConalogue added.
