Our Work
Our project overviews and case studies outline the work we do in the industry.
A sustainable future for Ireland's coastal and island communities
BIM is applying for a licence to farm Atlantic salmon off the west coast of Ireland. We aim to facilitate the development of three deep sea organic salmon farms that can accommodate safe, efficient, and sustainable fish farming to meet market demand and create sustainable jobs in an area where they are badly needed.
Developing seaweed farming to produce a high-value product
BIM working with industry and researchers from Queen’s University Belfast and NUI Galway developed cultivation techniques for farming native seaweed usilised in high value products such as medicines, cosmetics and functional foods.
Project aim: the commercial cultivation of Kelp (Laminaria digitata)
Ireland’s seaweed and biotechnology sector is worth €18m annually. Supplied mainly from the wild resource there is great commercial potential for Irish aquaculture through the farming of seaweed for use in this high value sector.
Reducing operating costs through improved water use
BIM in partnership with the EPA worked with Atlantis Seafoods, Wexford to identify and fix leaks in their water system saving the company thousands annually in water charges.
Project aim: reduce environmental impact and operating costs of seafood processing
BIM, Irish Water Safety and RNLI drive Lifejacket Safety Awareness campaign
BIM are continuing to promote the importance of safety to industry and to encourage more fishermen to wear their lifejackets at sea with a targeted media campaign.
Project aim: encourage more fishermen to wear their lifejackets at sea
Group marking of aquaculture sites improves navigation
We assisted oyster farmers in Dungarvan Harbour to incorporate their sites' boundary marks into one enhanced marking scheme for the production area to improve navigation.
Project aim: improve navigation and safety
Water quality monitoring on Irish oyster farms
Updated 02 Feb 2011
We're tracking the temperature and salinity of bays in Ireland in order to understand the impact of these factors on the performance of oyster stock.
Project aim: identify ideal conditions for oyster farming
In 2009, high death rates in juvenile oysters around the Irish coast were linked to the ostreid herpes virus OsHV1 uvar.
Assessment of the effect of the Swedish Grid on commercial fishing for Nephrops.
Our trials assessed the effect to the nephrops catch when using the pioneering ‘Swedish Grid’ to allow unwanted cod escape the net. The grid had minimal impact on the important prawn fishery but significantly reduced by-catch helping to rebuild cod stocks in the Irish Sea.
Project aim: access any losses to the nephrops catch
Innovative mussel farming technology introduced to Irish industry
We imported and trailed the innovative New Zealand’s rope mussel on-growing system to help develop the Irish mussel farming industry, successfully adapting it for use under Irish conditions.
Project Aim: To develop Irish mussel farming through the introduction of new technology.
Cockle fisheries reopen in Dundalk after Natura 2000
BIM assisted with the reopening of the cockle fisheries in Dundalk Bay in 2009 after it was designated a Natura 2000 site.
Project aim: Reopening fisheries in a Natura 2000 site.
Increasing productivity and reducing visual impact of mussel farms
BIM, the Ardgroom CLAMS group, and local farmers worked together to improve the environment of Ardgroom Bay, with the dual aim of increasing mussel growth and reducing the visual impact of mussel farms.
Project aim: Improve mussel growing environments in Ardgroom Bay
New species, new opportunities
BIM aims to diversify Ireland’s aquaculture production base with new and exciting species. Our development plans are always market led and when deciding which species to farm, we choose those with the greatest potential for profitable production.
Project aim: Create opportunities in Irish aquaculture by farming new species
Improvements to the deployment of 'pingers' to reduce porpoise bycatch
We carried out trials to assess the suitability, ease of use, and cost of using acoustic deterrents (pingers) in commercial fishing, prior to a legal requirement to use the devices on Irish vessels.
Project aim: To assess the implications of using pingers in commercial fishing.
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