Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the research he conducts on the final destination and use of fish stocks caught by the Irish fleet; his estimate of the percentage of the blue whiting catch in 2004 which was sold to be processed for human consumption and the percentage which was sold for processing for other uses. [3677/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The market development division of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, is responsible for the market development of the Irish seafood sector. To this end it monitors the species and market sectors into which Irish seafood is sold. It compiles statistics on the market and in particular comprehensive data are available on the Irish market, which is considered the most important market for Irish seafood. These data are broken down into fresh and frozen fish either whole or filleted and also on a geographical export-import basis. The overseas offices of BIM in France, Germany and Spain also liaise on an individual basis with buyers.

Provisional data available to me for 2004 indicate that 27% of the total landings of blue whiting were for human consumption while 73% of the landings were sold for fishmeal. I secured a substantial increase in the quota for blue whiting for 2005 and I have asked Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, in conjunction with the industry, to work on developing a significant human consumption market for vessels landing blue whiting into Irish ports to maximise the benefits of this fishery. To this end BIM and the industry are exploring ways of developing this market.

I understand that initial market investigations have indicated that the Chinese market for blue whiting is good and that significant quantities of blue whiting were exported to China in 2004. I am confident that this will remain positive for 2005 and that further investigation for market possibilities for blue whiting in Africa and eastern Europe will further boost the processing sector.