The Seafood Development Programme (SDP) is one of three stands of the Peace II Programme and is managed jointly by Northern Ireland Seafood and the Irish Sea Fisheries board, BIM. It is funded under the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation for Northern Ireland and the six Border Counties.

The objective of the Seafood Development Programme under Peace II is to encourage seafood companies to group together on a North/South basis, by offering quality market research information and intelligence in order for the companies to develop their export markets. In addition to this the SDP will also seek to address the raw material shortages within the industry.

The need for the SDP has been recognised to enhance the growth potential and viability of the processing sector in the PEACE region.

There are approximately 95 processing companies in the PEACE region who will have the opportunity to participate in the SDP. The programme will focus on establishing 5 different species/product groups i.e. Pelagic Group, Whitefish Group, Processed Shellfish Group, Live Shellfish Group and a Trout and Salmon Group.

Each processor will be allocated to a their relevant group in accordance with what processing activities they are involved in. It is also possible that a processor may actually be involved in more than one of the species group depending on what they process.

The SDP will be proactive in the areas of market research and raw materials sourcing and be cable of disseminating quality information, advisory services and contacts to the species groups. The species groups will be invited to meet twice a year to collect results from the market research carried out by the SDP and to choose future market research, which they require. It is understood that no work will be required from the group members, however they will also be responsible for engaging in regular dialogue and project activity.