Ireland’s seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), has appointed a new chief executive.
Caroline Bocquel has held the role of interim chief executive at BIM since November 2022 when Jim O’Toole stood down after five years.
The change in leadership comes at a time when BIM is seeing through a range of schemes to meet the recommendations of the Seafood Taskforce.
These schemes, funded by €265 million from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, aim to make the sector more profitable, innovative and sustainable. This year will see the launch of new European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund schemes, with additional funds worth €258 million.
“The Irish seafood industry has shown enormous resilience and ingenuity in the face of challenges, turning them into opportunities in many cases,” said Ms Bocquel.
“I am confident we can use the industry’s skillsets to deliver BIM’s vision to significantly boost value creation of an Irish sustainable seafood sector, across the supply chain, from catch to consumer.”
Prior to joining BIM in 2021 as director of corporate services, Ms Bocquel held senior executive roles at GOAL and the Marine Institute.
