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CASTLETOWNBERE FISHERMEN’S CO-OP
Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd was founded in 1968 by a group of
fishermen who came together with the initial aim of purchasing fuel in bulk. This idea expanded,
resulting in the group forming a sales company to sell their fish.
In 1983, the Co-op opened its first fish processing unit at the main pier in Castletownbere. Seven
years later, it purchased the Riocht Fish Processing Plant in Dinish from the Hal-Lal group. The year
2004 saw the plant extended to 5000sq.m. where it can now process in large quantities, therefore
reducing the number of links in the supply chain from fisherman to consumer.
Castetownbere Co-op is based in the South West coast of Ireland adjacent to some of the richest
fishing grounds in the world, landing a high-quality product direct from its own fleet of fishing
trawlers. It operates its own processing plant which has 60 tonnes of chill, 200 tonnes of cold
storage and 50 tonnes of freezing capacity. It operates full HACCP and traceability with full time/
part time staff of 70 people trained to the highest standard of Food Hygiene. Over 40 years of
trading in fish, it has built up markets for its products all over the world, from Japan to Africa, as
well as Ireland and Europe. It handles all the species landed by its members including all types of
white fish, pelagic species, including Albacore tuna and Langoustines.
The Co-op is owned exclusively by its members as a body. The members are represented by a
committee and the day-to-day running of the society is carried out by the General Manager who
is answerable to the committee. The Co-op is built on a tradition of supplying quality seafood
products from its state-of-the-art premises in Castletownbere.
Contact: John Nolan
Business Phone: +353 27 70045
Email: john@ctbfishcoop.eu
Website: www.castletownberecoop.com
Address: Dinish Island, Castletownbere, Co. Cork
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