Written answers

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Aquaculture Data

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

313. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual production outturn for marine finish aquaculture and, separately, for marine shellfish aquaculture for each of the years 2004 to 2014, inclusive. [14919/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The information requested by the deputy is set out in the table.

IRISH AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION 2004-2014 VOLUME (tonnes)

Year Shellfish Finfish Totals
2004 43,091 15,263 58,354
2005 47,454 15,384 62,838
2006 44,696 12,726 57,422
2007 41,266 11,238 52,504
2008 33,887 11,119 45,006
2009 33,865 13,842 47,707
2010 29,744 17,216 46,960
2011 30,843 13,942 44,785
2012 22,718 13,723 36,441
2013 24,044 10,586 34,630

The decline in production as illustrated by the table has occurred because of a shortage of seed mussel availability in the Irish Sea Fishery due to weather related conditions and also, due to a drop in the volume of output from salmon farming because of an unexpected health challenge to the stocks in 2012.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) estimates that 2014 will mark a low point in the volume output from the sector and that the outturn from the sector will begin to increase once again in 2015 and beyond.  This is because there has been a substantial recovery in the seed mussel fishery in the Irish Sea in 2014 which will begin to feed through into increased harvest volumes in 2015 and 2016.  Also, the salmon industry has developed techniques and technologies to deal with the health challenges it was encountering with stock and the indications are that output from this sector will also increase in 2015.

In addition, the economic value of the sector has stayed at a relatively high level due to increased prices and increased market demand for the product.

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

314. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons directly employed in the operation of marine salmon farms; if the employment is seasonal; and if employment is full-time or part-time. [14920/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

According to the 2013 Annual BIM Employment and Production Survey of the Irish aquaculture sector, there were 416 people employed directly in the salmon farming industry.  Of these, 230 were full-time year round employees and 186 were classed as part-time employees. Food Harvest 2020recognises the potential of the seafood sector, in particular aquaculture and seafood processing, to contribute to employment growth and aims to increase employment in the sector from 11,000 to 14,000 by 2020. This potential is echoed in Action Plan for Jobs 2015.

On 27 March 2015, I announced plans for a new €241 million development programme for the seafood sector for the period up to 2020, co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. I am inviting submissions on that draft Programme by 1 May 2015. The draft Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 proposes investment of €30 million in a number of measures specifically intended to support the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector. Those investment plans will be supported by a new National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture, which I am finalising with Bord Iascaigh Mhara and will publish for public consultation shortly. Through that National Strategic Plan and targeted investment under the Seafood Development Programme I will be seeking to identify all of the issues affecting the sustainable growth of the sector and the policy actions and supporting investment needed to address those issues. These initiatives can be expected to contribute significantly to achievement of the employment creation targets for aquaculture specified in Food Harvest 2020.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.