Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Table 1 shows the volume of all landings into Irish ports in the 10 years from 2013 to 2022. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is responsible for the collection of landings data and the data in Table 1 was taken from the Annual Statistics section of the SFPA website. This table indicates that in the 10 years between 2013 and 2022, 2020 was the year with the greatest volume of fish landings into Irish ports. In 2021 and 2022, there has been a year-on-year reduction in the volume of fish landings into Irish ports and 2022 was the year with the lowest volume of fish landings into Irish ports in this ten year period.

Table 1: Volume of all landings into Irish ports in the years 2013 to 2022 inclusive

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) publishes its "Business of Seafood" report annually, which provides a snapshot of Ireland's seafood sector, including seafood processing. The most recent report, ‘The Business of Seafood 2022’, sets out the challenges encountered by the seafood processing sector including challenges arising from the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement; constraints on raw materials; an increase in supply chain costs; and difficulties within the sector in the recruitment and retention of employees.

In addition, I am cognisant of prevailing market conditions and aware that seafood processors, which target high value shellfish in particular, have been impacted as a result of wider market issues in Europe and beyond due to the rising cost of living and its impact on consumer spending habits. However, I can advise the Deputy that Bord Bia, which has responsibility for the promotion and marketing of Irish food, works closely with key producers and processors to promote Irish seafood in both the domestic and international markets.

I am committed to the continued growth and development of the seafood processing sector. The seafood sector, including seafood processing, provides valuable employment opportunities in coastal areas where other employment opportunities may be limited. The most recent Business of Seafood report indicates that in 2022, 101 seafood processing provided employment for 3,425 people in full time, part time or casual employment.

In order to support the seafood processing sector into the future, a number of support schemes have been developed including the €45 million Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme. This Scheme is seeing large investments made in Ireland’s seafood processing sector to allow such enterprises to expand, focus on higher value-added output and in exploring new market opportunities, which may present new channels for output for the fishing sector.

In addition, a new scheme to support capital investment in processing is being developed under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), which will ensure continued support to the sector over the coming years of the EMFAF programme.