Written answers

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food

Fishing Industry Development

4:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects the fishing industry to develop over the next four years with particular reference to likely fish catches under various species headings and the anticipated added value to processing arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28890/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The levels of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quotas for each fish stock each year are determined at the December Council of Fisheries Ministers. The Council makes decisions based on scientific advice from ICES (the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas), and also on the views of the STECF (the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries), which gives the Commission its views on the economic and social impacts of the scientific advice. The decisions made annually take account of the available scientific advice and the results of various external international fisheries negotiations and cannot be predicted in advance.

Both Food Harvest 2020 and Action Plan for Jobs 2012 recognise that most of the growth and employment potential 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 and to increase revenue from €700 million to €1 billion by 2020.

On 25 May I announced €3.2 million in grants to 21 seafood processing companies to support investments worth €15.5 million in 2012. These investments are projected to generate over 142 additional jobs and increased sales of value added seafood products of nearly €44 million by 2015. These plans add to investment worth €7 million by 21 companies in 2011 and further investment worth €2.7 by 8 companies in 2010. Together these forward looking developments are setting a clear path to achievement of the value adding potential of the seafood sector, as identified in Food Harvest 2020 and Action Plan for Jobs 2012.

The aquaculture sector is crucially important in achieving our value adding targets for the seafood processing sector as it has the potential to significantly increase raw material supply, independent of the annual TAC and quota negotiations and to provide significant direct and indirect employment in peripheral coastal communities. 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.

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