Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the fishing catch for the various species has fluctuated over the past five years; the degree to which this has impacted on employment in the sector; the future potential in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23568/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is the body within the State responsible for gathering data and reporting on the landings of sea fish by Irish Sea Fishing Boats and other fish landings into Irish ports. I have asked the Authority to directly provide the Deputy with the data requested.

In relation to employment in the sector, both Food Harvest 2020 and Action Plan for Jobs 2012 recognise that most of the potential for increased employment in the seafood sector is in the areas of processing and aquaculture. Food Harvest 2020 aims to increase employment in the seafood sector as a whole, from 11,000 to 14,000 by 2020.

I am advised by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara that some 2,870 people are presently employed in the Irish seafood processing industry. Arising specifically from an investment of €7.4 million by 18 seafood processing companies in 2011, with financial assistance under the Seafood Processing Scheme operated by BIM, 158 jobs are expected to be created in the processing sector by those companies by 2014. A new call for proposals under the 2012 Scheme has taken place, with grant aid decisions to be made by a selection board in the coming weeks and further jobs can be expected to be created over the next 4 years by companies expanding and modernising with the assistance of the Scheme.

The aquaculture sector has been identified as having particularly significant potential for growth and employment creation. To achieve that potential, BIM is promoting the development of 3 deep sea salmon farms. It is expected that each farm will be capable of producing up to 15,000 tonnes of Irish organic farmed salmon annually, valued at €102 million. If we can have just one deep sea aquaculture production licence in place by 2015, up to 300 direct and 150 indirect jobs can be created.