Written answers
Thursday, 15 December 2022
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Fishing Industry
Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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399. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the producer organisations relating to the fishing sectors, including the number of members in each producer organisation. [62972/22]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Producer Organisations are officially recognised bodies established by fishery or aquaculture producers in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 on the Common Organisation of the Markets in Fishery and Aquaculture Products (CMO Regulation). Recognition can be achieved through a relevant group applying to the national competent authority which, in the Irish case, is my Department.
Producer Organisations are responsible for the day-to-day management of fisheries for which their members are involved. They are also responsible for guiding producers towards sustainable fishing, taking measures to channel the supply and marketing of their members’ products, promoting their members’ products through certification schemes and working towards reducing the environmental impact of the fishing activities of their members.
Producer Organisations are supported by my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme with grant aid provided for the preparation of their annual Production and Marketing Plans and for other related expenses.
Five Producer Organisations have achieved recognition as follows:
| Producer Organisation | Location | Number of Members per the PO's most recent Annual Report |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Fish Producer Organisation (IFPO) | Killybegs, Co Donegal | 39 |
| Killybegs Fisherman's Organisation Ltd (KFO) | Killybegs, Co Donegal | 36 |
| Irish South and West Fisheries Producer Organisation Ltd (IS&WFPO) | Castletownbere, Co Cork | 53 |
| Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation Ltd (IS&EFPO) | Waterford City, Co Waterford | 33 |
| Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation Cooperative Society Ltd (IIMRO ) | Arranmore Island, Co Donegal | 41 |
In addition to these five, one further organisation has applied for recognition as a Producer Organisation in June 2020. My Department was informed by the organisation in November 2022 that its members had adopted its Constitution and Rules. Now that this step has been completed a final assessment can be conducted, after which formal approval can be made. This organisation will represent 112 members.
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