Bord Iascaigh Mhara

What Bord Iascaigh Mhara does

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is Ireland's statutory Seafood Development Agency, operating as a state-owned public body under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Founded in 1952 and headquartered in Dún Laoghaire, the agency delivers services across three core verticals — fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing — providing grant aid, technical and business advisory, accredited training, and sustainability/certification support to the Irish seafood industry. Funding flows to BIM from the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027, which the agency then disburses as grant aid to industry participants. Since mid-2024, BIM has administered over €21.9 million across more than 1,600 operations under schemes such as the Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme and the Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme.

Name

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

Legal name

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

Website

https://bim.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bord Iascaigh Mhara is Ireland's statutory Seafood Development Agency, providing grant aid, advisory services, and training to the Irish fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors, funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under EMFAF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seafood Industry Development Services

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood & Aquaculture Certification Services (MSC/ASC/BAP) (AFALAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH), Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

Keywords

• Seafood industry development
• Fisheries grant funding
• Aquaculture advisory services
• Seafood processing support
• Marine training programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and EU Funding: BIM is a public body funded by the Government of Ireland and European Union under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The agency provides grant aid to the seafood industry rather than generating commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is Ireland's Seafood Development Agency, providing grant aid funding, technical and business advisory services, accredited training programmes, and sustainability and certification support to Ireland's fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors. The agency administers European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and Irish government grant schemes including the Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme, Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme, Sustainable Fisheries Scheme, Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme, and Fleet Safety Scheme.

Product overview

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is Ireland's Seafood Development Agency, operating as a multi-service platform that provides technical expertise, business support, funding, training, and advisory services across three core sectors: Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Seafood Processing. Rather than a single unified product, BIM offers a portfolio of interconnected services including grant aid schemes (Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme, Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme, Sustainable Fisheries Scheme), accredited training programmes, sustainability and certification advisory services, and industry projects. The agency also runs specific initiatives such as the AquaScale programme for aquatech companies, the Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC), and Taste the Atlantic experience programme. These services work together to support the Irish seafood sector's sustainable development from catch to consumer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fisheries Services Technical, business, and advisory services for Ireland's fisheries sector, including funding support, training programmes, sustainability and certification, and industry projects, delivered to commercial fishing operators and inshore fishermen.
• Aquaculture Services Technical, business, and advisory services for Ireland's aquaculture sector, including funding support, training programmes, sustainability and certification, and industry projects, delivered to fish and shellfish farming operators and aquatech companies.
• Seafood Processing Services Technical, business, and advisory services for Ireland's seafood processing sector, including funding support, training programmes, sustainability and certification, and industry projects, delivered to seafood processing companies and value-added seafood producers.
• AquaScale Aquatech Innovation Studio An intensive three-day Aquatech Innovation Studio programme delivered in Galway that helps established aquatech companies scale internationally and prepare for their next phase of commercial growth.
• Seafood Training Programmes Accredited training programmes across fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors, including sea survival training delivered at the Greencastle Sea Survival Pool.
• Grant Aid Schemes Grant funding programmes administered by BIM including the Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme, Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme, Sustainable Fisheries Scheme, Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme, and Fleet Safety Scheme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and European Union under EMFAF.
• Sustainability and Certification Advisory Services Advisory services to help seafood businesses achieve the highest standards in environmental management, food safety, and quality certification across fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors.
• Greencastle Sea Survival Pool Training Facility A dedicated training facility providing sea survival training programmes for fishermen and seafood workers in Ireland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €21.9 million awarded to 1,600+ operations since mid-2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Donegal County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Collaborated on study examining how blue bioeconomy could help diversify Northwest Ireland's fisheries sector, prompted by major quota cuts including 70% reduction in mackerel, 41% in blue whiting, and 22% in boarfish.
• Atlantic Technological University (ATU) GalwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint report analyzing 12 years of data on interactions between fisheries and offshore wind farms across European waters, examining impacts on static-gear and towed-gear fishing effort.
• Gatsby AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration at Blue Food Innovation Summit in London to share approaches on patient capital and de-risking strategies for aquaculture's next wave of growth.
• Seafood ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared platform at Blue Food Innovation Summit discussing bridging gap between technological innovations and commercial viability in aquaculture.
• Canada Ocean SuperclusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration at Blue Food Innovation Summit sharing approaches using philanthropy, co-investment, and accelerator programs to absorb early-stage risk in aquaculture innovation.
• Government of IrelandcoreOthersCo-funding partner for seafood sector grant schemes including Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme and Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme.
• European UnioncoreOthersCo-funder under European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for grant schemes administered by BIM.
• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)coreOthersBIM shares data with DAFM for audit and verification purposes; DAFM has responsibility for marine and aquaculture policy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC): Global certification body for responsible aquaculture. Comparable to BIM's certification advisory activities, but international and NGO-led rather than domestic state-led.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): Global non-profit setting seafood sustainability certification standards. Comparable to BIM's certification advisory work but operates internationally as a private NGO rather than a national state agency.
• NOAA Fisheries: US federal agency managing fisheries and aquaculture science, policy, and grant programmes. Comparable in mandate (fisheries/aquaculture support) but vastly larger scale and broader regulatory scope.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Canadian federal department managing fisheries, aquaculture, and marine ecosystems. Comparable in role to BIM as a sovereign fisheries/aquaculture administrator, though at national-federal scale.

Direct peers

• Marine Institute Ireland: Ireland's national marine research agency, operating alongside BIM as a sister state body. Directly comparable as a publicly funded Irish institution supporting marine science, fisheries, and aquaculture with government and EU backing.
• Seafish UK: UK non-departmental public body supporting the seafood industry across fishing, aquaculture, and processing. Closest functional analogue to BIM — grant administration, training, R&D, and industry support funded by government.
• Marine Scotland: Scottish government directorate responsible for marine policy, fisheries management, and aquaculture development. Comparable as a national government body administering fisheries/aquaculture programmes in a neighbouring jurisdiction.
• Norwegian Seafood Council: Norwegian state-backed organisation promoting seafood and supporting the Norwegian seafood industry. Comparable as a sovereign seafood development and marketing body, though with a stronger international promotion remit than BIM.

Regional players

• Scottish Fishermen's Federation: Representative body for Scotland's fishing fleet, providing industry advocacy and engagement with government. Adjacent peer to BIM in serving UK/Irish fisheries operators, though focused on representation rather than grant administration.
• Irish Fish Producers Organisation: Irish fishermen's Producer Organisation managing quota, marketing, and collective representation. Adjacent peer operating in BIM's domestic fisheries segment from the industry side rather than as a state agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BordIascMhara
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgZwNqI3K8mEL0SVMqW3G_w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bord-iascaigh-mhara-bim
• Facebookfacebook.com/BordIascaighMhara

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments2 records

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Frequently asked questions about Bord Iascaigh Mhara