Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 76: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will press the European Commission for an EU strategy to support a sustainable fish and shellfish farming sector to redress the balance of seafood imports in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13069/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In December 2006 the Government and Industry both welcomed the launch of the strategy for a restructured, sustainable and profitable Irish seafood industry for the period 2007 to 2013. More commonly known as the Cawley Report, it set out the strategy and recommendations which are now very much Government policy and which have my full and wholehearted support. A very important part of this strategy of course includes the development of the aquaculture industry to its full potential. To ensure its implementation, I established the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) under the chairmanship of Dr Cawley himself and I am very pleased to inform you this group has been very active in the last year.

The Cawley Report recognised the key challenges facing the aquaculture sector as:

The current licensing and regulatory regime

Prevention/control/monitoring of disease outbreaks/biotoxins

Improved marketing performance on the basis of eco-quality and innovative products.

The Report clearly identified a market led opportunity for aquaculture derived seafood products to fill the widening gap between supply and demand particularly with the constraints on the capture fishery under TAC's and quotas. The key focus areas were identified as Marine and Freshwater Farmed Finfish, Bottom and Rope Grown Mussels and Pacific Oysters.

The Cawley Report envisages a 30% increase in the value of the output of the Irish seafood sector, from its current value of €702 million to €911 million in 2015. This projected increase is calculated on the basis that there will be a 54% increase in the volume of farmed shellfish and a doubling of the volume of farmed finfish.

At EU level a review process in relation to the aquaculture industry is already in hand and is at a reasonably advanced stage. DG MARE, the directorate of the EU Commission with responsibility for fish and shellfish farming, is currently engaged in an extensive review and consultative process with a view to bringing forward a revised policy and strategy for the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in Europe. The issue of the trade imbalance of seafood imports is an integral part of the process and the Commission have stated that it is a priority to attempt to improve the current situation.

Ireland is actively participating in this process and officials and industry representatives attended a major conference on the new EU strategy at the end of last year.