BIM Launches Schools Programme to Bring Seafood Education into Irish Classrooms
BIM launches new schools programme to bring seafood education from sea to plate across Ireland, with a wider rollout planned from March.
Ireland's seafood development agency has launched a new initiative to connect students with the story behind their seafood, from the moment it leaves the water to the moment it reaches the plate.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) officially launched the programme today, Thursday 26 February, as part of the broader BIM Seafood Academy, a national support and development programme designed to strengthen Ireland's independent seafood retail and foodservice sectors.
The new schools initiative introduces students to the full seafood value chain in Ireland, covering production, supply, preparation and consumption. It aims to build knowledge, confidence and a genuine appreciation of Irish seafood among the next generation.
Skilled fishmongers will deliver structured modules directly in classrooms, bringing real-world experience of the supply chain and seafood preparation to students in a hands-on way.
The programme is supported by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. It was successfully piloted in four schools last year, with BIM now planning a wider rollout from March onwards.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, TD, said:
"This programme is about education, connection and skills. That's where the real learning starts. By bringing fishmongers into schools, we're helping students understand where seafood comes from, how the supply chain works, and how it can be prepared and enjoyed as part of a healthy diet. These actions are supporting the long-term sustainable development of our seafood industry."
Richard Donnelly, Interim CEO at BIM, said:
"The 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."
For more information, visit bim.ie.
