The first catamaran to work on a fish farm was named on Achill Island, Co Mayo, at the weekend by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods.
The 50-foot "seacat", MFV Faoilean, was built for Clare Island Sea Farm at a cost of £251,000. Grant-aided by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the EU, it is a new design in fish farm service craft.
The launch was dedicated to the memory of the late Tom Ryan, the farm's former site manager who was killed in an accident last year. The ceremony was performed by his widow, Mrs Mary Ryan.
Dr Woods, who officiated at Saturday's naming at Darby's Point, Achill, congratulated Clare Island Sea Farm on the initiative as part of a £1 million investment plan which includes assistance from Udaras na Gaeltachta.
The farm, which was originally established in 1987 by the Norwegian company, Timar, in conjunction with Clare Island Co-Op, is now wholly Irish-owned and employs nine people from Clare Island and 29 from Achill.
Mr David Baird, managing director of Clare Island Sea Farm, said that the investment was vital for the development of a very successful company in a very remote region. Mr Donal Maguire, BIM aquaculture development manager, said that the low stocking densities of salmon in large offshore cages which were evident at the farm represented one of the unique advantages of the Irish salmon farming industry.
The Irish farmed-salmon industry currently produces 15,000 tonnes of fish annually, at a value of £42 million.
