Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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890. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of the lobster industry here in terms of landings by weight and value to ports and lobster export value in view of the recent announcement on the removal of tariffs on lobster imported from the United States of America; the number of vessels engaged in the fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25332/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Like many elements of Irish seafood, the lobster fishery relies on a healthy export market. BIM’s Business of Irish Seafood report, which is available online, values Irish lobster exports in 2019 at €15m and quantifies landings of 100 tonnes by the Irish Fishing Fleet in 2019.

Lobster is a particularly important species for the inshore fishing fleet and is fished predominantely using pots right around the coast. Any Irish sea-fishing boat with the appropriate licence conditions is eligible to fish for lobster. The Report of the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats for 2019 indicates that this may number up to 1,400 vessels. However, these vessels are also eligible to fish for certain other species and the business model varies from boat to boat.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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891. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to harmonise brown crab export health certificate requirements across Europe for the export of crab to China to ensure a level playing field for fishers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25333/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should be aware that China, as a third country, outside of the European Union, sets its own health standards for incoming food products and notifies the WTO of the standards in place. I understand that the Chinese authorities have recently launched a consultation on the health standards that will apply for crab as a food product and my Department is actively examining what the potential change may mean for trade in Irish crab products.

With regard to harmonising health certificate requirements for Member States of the European Union with third countries, EU Regulation 625/2017 (Official Controls Regulation) sets down the requirements which the competent authorities in each Member State must meet. As with other areas of European law, the European Commission conducts audits or inspections to ensure the national authorities are fulfilling their legal obligations.