The total value of the landings, including shellfish, came to £1,505,000 made up of £877,000 for demersal fish (plaice, whiting, cod et cetera), £208,000 for pelagic fish (herrings, mackerel etc.) and £420,000 for shellfish.
The ten species, which contributed most to fishermen's earnings were plaice, whiting, lobsters, herrings, cod, ray/skate, haddock, Dublin Bay prawns, crawfish and soles in that order. The most significant increase was in the value of the shellfish catch which was over £66,000 in excess of that for 1963. This increase was reflected in the appreciable expansion of shellfish exports during the year, the value being £590,000 as compared with £476,000 in the previous year.
While the figures of landings for 1964 were generally satisfactory I must, I confess, express disappointment with the herring catch particularly that from the Dunmore East fishery. When in 1962 the Government decision was taken to construct a major fishery harbour at Dunmore East landings of herring at the port were of the order of 250,000 cwt. for the season. Unfortunately owing to a dispute which has arisen the number of boats working into Dunmore has dropped from approximately 100 to 25 in 1964-65 when landings amounted to about 60,000 cwt. This decrease in the catch is reducing the status of Dunmore East as a major herring port and results in a decline of interest by foreign buyers.
Promotional activities, aimed at achieving a greater home consumption of fish, were intensified during the year. The National Fish Cookery Competition, sponsored by the Fishing Industry Development Committee, for secondary and vocational school students increased in popularity and attracted some 20,000 competitors. A similar competition confined to members of the Irish Countrywomen's Association was again held in 1964 with expanding interest being shown at all stages. In addition, an intensive programme of public fish cookery demonstrations at various centres throughout the country was undertaken in co-operation with fish processors, wholesalers, retailers, hotels and institutions. Further promotional activities included fish exhibitions and fish-weeks in Dublin and main provincial centres. To supplement all these undertakings television, radio and newspaper advertising was availed of throughout the year and specially designed display material was placed at the disposal of the trade in order to carry the national advertising theme to the point of sale.
Side by side with the expansion of the home market, the promotion of export sales of fish and fishery products is being encouraged and assisted and the results of this policy in 1964, when the total value of all fish exports (including salmon, trout and eels) was almost £2,000,000, have been encouraging.
There is a further increase to £290,000 in the grant-in-aid to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara—£211,000 for current operations and £79,000 for capital purposes. The main capital items are as usual grants of 25 per cent of the cost of new boats, new engines and new winches. Repayable advances from the Central Fund of up to £281,000 have also been authorised, chiefly for financing the purchase of boats and gear. Nineteen new boats ranging from 26 to 56 feet in length were issued by the Board to hire purchasers during 1964. The Board also helped to finance the purchase of three second hand boats from abroad of 63', 65' and 85'.
The Board are continuing production in their factories at Killybegs and Galway in co-operation with members of the fish trade. As Deputies will be aware it has been necessary to permit the import of fish from externally registered boats in order to maintain production when home landings are not available. These landings are to supplement not to supplant local catches and as it is a condition of any licence granted that suitable home landings are to be given priority over imported fish, sales of the Irish fishermen's catches are not in any way affected.
The object of granting these licences is to ensure that the factories can continue to retain their staffs in employment so that when our own fishermen land large catches the factories will be able to handle them. I am convinced that for the more rapid development of the sea-fishing industry on rational lines, the processing sector will have to occupy a front line position in our national economy. As a corollary, existing processing factories and others that may be established will have to be assured of regular and adequate supplies for economic working.
I am hoping to promote contractual arrangements between Irish fishermen and factories to ensure that at least basic factory needs are met. I have explicit faith that Irish fishermen will in time and with improved State aid and encouragement be well capable of playing their full part in this aspect of the industry. I think that the majority of Irish fishermen now realise that these imports do not constitute a threat to their livelihood but in fact will in the long term be to their advantage.
The reorganised Board continued during the past year to extend their development functions, embracing, inter alia, fleet maintenance scheme, expansion of markets at home and abroad, encouragement of increased fish processing and the imparting of general advice to fishermen with particular reference to the employment of new fishing techniques. Good progress was made in 1964 in the introduction of improved fishing methods and in the promotion of co-operation among fishermen.
I must now refer to a new Subhead D.2 showing a provision of £217,600 for repayment to the Central Fund of advances made under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1952 for the provision of boats and gear where repayment by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara has been waived under the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1963.
Deputies may recall that in 1961-62 a similar write off was necessary in the case of the Board's predecessor, the former Sea Fisheries Association. Advances of the order of £2 million were made to the Board between 24th April, 1952 and 31st March last for the provision of boats and gear. Neither the Association nor the Board has been able to recover all payments due for boats issued to hire purchasers—some of whom unfortunately have failed to meet their commitments. In the worst cases it has been necessary to resume possession of the boats and re-issue them or sell them at a loss. Also provided for are capital losses of £68,370 incurred on the sale of the three offshore fishing vessels in 1960. While these losses have been accumulating over the years the Board have continued to remit the annuities as they fell due. Had the liability to the Exchequer been reduced as each loss occurred, the total amount to be written off would be much smaller than the figure of £217,600 which is inflated by the inclusion of interest of more than £35,000 which has been accruing over the years.
While it is inevitable that such losses will continue to some degree, I hope that the improved hire purchase facilities by way of grants and subsidised interest rate together with the fleet maintenance and advisory services schemes operated by the Board will help to keep losses to a minimum.
One of the major aims of fishery policy is the provision of trained personnel at all levels. The scheme for the training of boys as fishermen is making steady progress. During 1964 54 boys were admitted to training and 50 boys have now completed residential shore courses at the Naval Base, Haulbowline and Cobh vocational schools. I would like to take the opportunity to convey my appreciation to all who have contributed to the success of these shore courses and also to the skippers who have provided facilities for the practical training of boys on their boats. Further applications from boys of not less than 16 years of age were invited recently and interviews at convenient centres will be held in due course.
Under the scheme for training experienced fishermen as skippers 11 fishermen qualified in 1964 for certificates of competency under the Merchant Shipping Acts bringing to 51 the total number who have obtained such certificates since the introduction of the scheme in 1958. A further nine fishermen are at present attending a course at Galway under the scheme. Three experienced fishing skippers also completed a special course of eight weeks' instruction in navigation at the Irish Nautical College, Dún Laoghaire. In the long term the training scheme will provide a nucleus of skilled men who will be able to hold their own with fishermen anywhere in the world.
Work is progressing satisfactorily on the development of major fishery harbours at Killybegs, Castletownbere and Dunmore East; final decisions have yet to be reached on revised proposals for Howth and Galway. Legislation is being drafted to confer powers for the compulsory acquisition of property required for these projects and to provide for the control and management of the major fishery harbours when completed. Improvement schemes to be partly financed by State grants were approved during the past year for the harbours at Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, Cahirciveen and Renard Point, County Kerry, as well as for some smaller landing places around our coast. Proposals for other landing places are being considered.
Provision is made in the Estimate for extended scientific investigation of the species of fish in our waters with particular reference to shellfish. Continued collaboration between the scientific team of the Fisheries Division and their counterparts in other countries is also proposed. Recommendations by the American survey team in this field are particularly relevant. The work is going ahead on the construction of a second research vessel which is expected to be commissioned during the year. An alternative site is being sought for the fisheries research station at Galway; final steps in this matter are being pressed ahead and arrangements for the design of the building are in hands.
Arising from the recent extension of the exclusive fishery limits under the Maritime Jurisdiction (Amendment) Act, 1964, more scope will be provided for the operations of Irish fishermen. While in accordance with international agreement certain concessions are being granted to fishermen from countries which have habitually fished our waters, foreign vessels will only be allowed to fish in the belt between three and six miles to the end of 1965 in areas where the limits are measured from the coastline, and to the end of 1966 elsewhere. In the belt between six and twelve miles only fishermen from countries, the fishing vessels of which have habitually fished in that area in the ten year period before the end of 1962, will be permitted to fish.
On the inland side I am glad to report that the high salmon catches of the previous two years were exceeded in 1964. The total catch of salmon by all fishing methods was 3,012,664 lbs. in 1964 compared with 2,836,640 lbs. in 1963 which in itself was a record; thus for three successive years a high catch of salmon had been maintained due to very good runs of grilse. In general the runs of spring fish were better than in the previous year but the small summer fish which formed the mainstay of the salmon runs in May and early June and the grilse run later in the year were really responsible for the increase. Grilse continued to run up to October in many areas.
Although the catch was higher in 1964 the quantity of salmon exported was slightly lower than in 1963, that is 22,900 cwts. as compared with 23,700 cwts. in 1963. The prices obtained, however, were somewhat higher with the result that the value of exports in 1964 reached the record figure of £933,500. The 1963 exports were valued at £857,000. There were two factors which helped to maintain the high prices in 1964 that is the storing of large quantities of grilse taken late in the season for export at the beginning of the succeeding year and the smoking of suitable fish for export. In accordance with long established practice officers of Fisheries Division paid visits to some of the main marketing centres for salmon in Great Britain to keep a check on the standards of Irish salmon as exported.
Conditions for angling were reasonably good throughout most of the country last year and there were good escapements of fish into fresh waters. The spawning season was reported to be exceedingly good in most districts. A sharp rise in the number of rod licences issued took place in 1964 when a total of 11,600 licences were issued as compared with 9,700 in 1963 and just over 9,000 in 1962. The weight of salmon taken by rod and line was 390,000 lbs. in 1964, an increase of 48,500 lbs. over 1963.
These successful runs of salmon are in a big measure a tribute to the work of Boards of Conservators. I may refer in support of this statement to the problem of keeping poachers under control. The sale of salmon is a fairly lucrative trade and many people are tempted to take this fish illegally and dispose of it by irregular methods. The law requires that anyone taking salmon should have a licence and there are heavy penalties for infringements, including loss of gear and even of boats and vehicles used in the illegal fishing. The outlets for salmon are likewise strictly supervised and anyone possessing a salmon by way of trade is liable to be required to account for it. Even though the law against taking or having salmon illegally is quite stringent, the staffs of Boards are in many cases overtaxed in their efforts at protection. These Boards have to contend also with other forces which threaten the stocks such as dangers from pollution by sewage, peat silt and discharges from industrial concerns and also from agricultural by-products.
As well as the protection of stocks, Boards are expected to take in hand projects of development by river improvement measures, such as by increasing and improving spawning areas, providing easier access for fish to upper waters and other works beneficial to the stocks. Most of these are relatively small jobs which the Boards' staffs, sometimes in conjunction with angling associations, can tackle by themselves under suitable direction. My Department is able to give adequate grants towards the cost in each case. In addition to these lesser projects, there are others of a more elaborate nature which require expert planning and oversight; they usually are in the nature of overcoming formidable barriers in rivers to fish movements which prevent them ascending to higher waters where they would provide more sport for anglers and at the same time have access to additional spawning areas. The engineers of my Department give every assistance in the planning and execution of schemes like this. Details of other improvement works undertaken by the bodies concerned may be found in the report of the Foyle Fisheries Commission and of the Electricity Supply Board.
The State grant to the Salmon Conservancy Fund has been raised to £33,000 partly because the expenses of boards of conservators are unavoidably rising and partly in view of an intended scheme for reorganisation of key protection staffs of boards. It will mean increased pay and pensionability for the men concerned. The framework of the legislation necessary towards this end is at present being prepared. One of the major projects financed out of the Fund was the salmon hatchery and rearing station at Cong, County Mayo which was completed last year and was officially opened in January of this year. It went into operation on a limited scale and the output of ova during the 1964-65 spawning season was 210,000 ova. The capacity is 1,600,000 ova and 270,000 under-year-lings and it is hoped to have it in full production during next season.
I referred before to large-scale river improvement projects. One of these was the fish passes at Ennistymon on the River Inagh which had been completed in 1963. They were tested by means of an electronic fish counter and it was found that considerable numbers of salmon went upstream to spawn. Positive evidence of spawning was found in the upper reaches of the river. Investigations on other rivers have been undertaken and it is hoped that other major projects in this line may be put in hand shortly.
Among the investigations in hands by the professional staff of the Fisheries Division is the application of electricity to fishery management and development. An experimental station has been set up at Glenties salmon hatchery, County Donegal where various aspects of the practical application of electricity to fishery investigations, management and exploitation are being studied.
Outbreaks of disease in different areas were investigated during the past year; that at Waterville, County Kerry has given rise to the greatest concern. In the Cummeragh River at Waterville, heavy mortality was experienced in salmon and sea trout and special efforts were put in train to ascertain the nature of the disease. Specimens of diseased fish were sent for bacteriological examination to the Veterinary College in Dublin where cultures were produced in an attempt to isolate and identify the organisms and, at the same time, specialists abroad were supplied with specimens and cultures in an all out attempt to solve the problem. So far the findings have been negative.
Under the ordinary programme of investigation work was carried out in a wide variety of fields of activity all of which are of significant practical importance and as usual the staff of the Department continued to read scales and identify fish sent for identification.
Rehabilitation of the salmon stocks of the River Lee continued to engage attention. The programme of work comprises the following main heads:
(i) assisting adult fish to move upstream past the hydro-electric dams to the upper spawning grounds and procuring the escapement of smolts downstream,
(ii) reduction of predators so as to secure the maximum survival of smolts.
The assistance of university students has been enlisted by the award of bursaries for this and other projects.
Investigations designed to encourage development of eel fishing and improved methods of fishing are also continuing. Exports of eels during 1964 amounted to 6,512 cwt. valued at £91,776 compared with 3,125 cwt. valued at £45,313 in 1963.
The decision of the Government last year to increase its investment in the development of angling waters in the interest of home and visiting anglers has, I am glad to say, been fully justified. Estimated income from angling tourism rose to over £3 million in 1964 as compared with £1,760,000 in 1963, but as part of this increase is accounted for by the fact that estimated expenditure per head is now being calculated on a revised basis a more realistic basis of comparison is the increase in the number of visiting anglers, which at 89,612 showed a rise of almost 20 per cent over the 1963 figure of 74,924.
These figures underline the importance of the angling development work being carried out by the Inland Fisheries Trust, Bord Fáilte and the various local development groups. I am confident that there is still plenty of scope for further development and I would appeal for a continuance and extension of the spirit of co-operation which has contributed so largely to the success achieved to date.
The State contribution to the Salmon Research Trust has been raised to a maximum of £2,000 in the present year representing roughly one-third of the running costs of that body. The balance is, as Deputies are doubtless aware, paid by Arthur Guinness Son & Co. Ltd., which also bears a large share of the capital cost of installations, equipment, etc. at the research centre at Newport, County Mayo. I feel that it is only right that I should pay public tribute to the generous manner in which the company has contributed in the field of fishery research.
Exports of rainbow trout continued to rise and in 1964 reached 3,092 cwt. valued at £60,921 as against 1,362 cwt. valued at £25,739 in 1963. Three commercial scale fish farms are now in operation in addition to five smaller units.
The provision for compensation under The Fisheries Act, 1939 is largely a tidying up one and is in respect of interest and costs in a small number of cases now in the process of final clearance.
A research fellowship is being offered for award in connection with a project of research into the water purity conditions in certain rivers and streams with particular reference to their fishery productivity. Irish rivers are, to a great extent, free from the damaging effects of industrialisation. However, to satisfy the requirements of the developing economy, the use of Irish water resources for industrial and domestic purposes is increasing. The need, therefore, of some fundamental research into the effects of pollution has been recognised in order to provide information on which to base future policy for dealing with the problem.
Provision is being made again this year for three studentships in fishery science relating to sea and inland fishery matters, valued at £400 per annum each, which will be offered for competition to University graduates. The studentship projects will be carried out in co-operation with the university authorities.
In addition, 14 bursaries in fishery science, at a total value of approximately £1,650, are being offered by the Department, Electricity Supply Board, Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Salmon Research Trust, for award to undergraduates.
As already mentioned the drafting of a Bill to deal with the Major Fishery Harbours Development Scheme is in hands and I hope that it will be possible to introduce it soon.
Proposals for a new Fisheries (Amendment) Bill are also under consideration in my Department at present. This Bill will provide for a number of miscellaneous amendments to the existing fisheries law, including improved conditions for key staff of boards of conservators, superannuation scheme etc.
To sum up, I feel that Deputies will agree that satisfactory progress has been made during the past year in the development of our sea and inland fisheries. I trust that with the full co-operation of all sectors of the industry this progress will continue at an increasing tempo during the coming years. Accordingly, I confidently recommend this Fisheries Estimate to the House.
