Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Dec 1966

Vol. 226 No. 3

Committee on Finance. - Vote 39—Fisheries.

I move:

That a sum not exceeding £793,400 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31st day of March, 1967, for Salaries and Expenses in connection with Sea and Inland Fisheries, including Sundry Grants-in-Aid.

As will be seen from the details given in the Estimates Volume the sum provided by way of grant-in-aid to Bord Iascaigh Mhara has increased by £151,500; an extra £8,800 is provided for inland fisheries development; the grant-in-aid to the Inland Fisheries Trust Incorporated is increased by £5,000; the grant-in-aid to the Salmon Research Trust of Ireland Incorporated shows an increase of £500; and other increases amounting to £8,000 relate to salaries, wages, allowances and expenses. The total of all these increases is £173,800. The reason why the Vote as a whole is slightly smaller than for 1965-66 is that it was necessary to include in that year's Vote a write-off provision in relation to advances from the Central Fund to Bord Iascaigh Mhara. So far as direct State assistance for the development of the fishing industry is concerned, the Vote shows a substantial increase.

During 1965 the steady expansion which had been recorded in the previous two years in the development of our sea and inland fisheries was more than maintained. The total value of landings of sea fish and shellfish in 1965 was the highest on record and the total value of all fish exports, including salmon, trout and eels, at £1,971,000 was over £20,000 higher than the 1964 figure which itself had constituted a record. For the first nine months of 1966 the upward trend of exports continued, the value at £1,800,746 being almost 14 per cent greater than for the same period of 1965. The estimated income from angling tourism rose by £500,000 during the year to the value of £3,600,000. Thus exports, both visible and invisible, arising from our fisheries were valued at over £5,500,000 in 1965. And finally home consumption of fish increased by an estimated 13 per cent during the year.

Landings of sea fish, excluding shellfish, which are recorded partly by weight and partly by numbers, amounted in 1965 to 563,000 cwt. representing an increase of 75,000 cwt. on the figure for the previous year. The total value of landings, including shellfish, rose by almost £200,000 or 13 per cent to the record figure of over £1,700,000. The expansion was spread over the entire range of fishing endeavour, the value of the pelagic catch, mainly herrings and mackerel, rising by £100,000 on the 1964 figure, while the demersal landing such as whiting, plaice, haddock, etc. showed an increase of £83,000 and shellfish an increase of £11,000. The varieties which contributed most to fishermen's earnings were herrings, whiting, plaice, lobsters, cod, crawfish and haddock in that order.

Figures for the first nine months of 1966 show a still further improvement. While the landings of sea fish, other than shellfish at 390,542 cwt. remained steady, the total value of landings, including shellfish, for the nine months was £1,424,539. This was £191,425 or 16 per cent above the figure of £1,233,114 for the first nine months of 1965.

It is regrettable that, in regard to the variety which showed the greatest expansion in 1965, namely herrings, where the value of the catch increased by almost £100,000 deepest disappointment must be expressed. It was hoped that last season would see an end to the discord which has existed at Dunmore East for the past few years but unfortunately these hopes were not realised. The new season has started and I would appeal to all concerned to secure a return to harmony at the port which would enable the full potential of the fishery to be realised.

The grant-in-aid to Bord Iascaigh Mhara has again been increased this year to £304,000 for administration and development work and to £137,500 for capital purposes. The capital provision is, as usual, mainly for the payment of grants of 25 per cent towards the cost of new boats and new engines, including grants for two stern trawlers recently acquired by an Irish company. Advances from the Central Fund of up to £205,000 have also been authorised mainly for financing the purchase of boats and gear. During 1965 31 new fishing boats were issued on hire-purchase by the board which also helped to finance the purchase abroad of four second-hand boats of approximately 70 feet in length. A satisfactory feature of the board's operations in 1965 and to date in the current year was the increase in hire-purchase repayments, indicating the improving position of the fishing skipper.

The fish processing factories at Galway and Killybegs must in the general interest of the industry continue to operate. As indicated in the programme of sea development set out in the White Paper of April, 1962, the board were prepared to lease or sell them to private or co-operative interests. The board have in recent months leased the two factories to a private concern. Thus the board have completely withdrawn from fish processing and can devote their entire energies to their functions as a development body. I am confident, however, that with the continued build-up of catching power, fish processing factories operated by co-operatives and by private enterprise will as time goes on have a role of ever-increasing importance in the industry.

The board continued during the past year to extend their development functions. Fishing methods were improved with the assistance of an expert technical adviser. The influence of contacts with fishing operations in other countries, facilitated by study tours arranged by the board, was evident in the progressive attitudes of our skippers towards modernisation of craft and fishing methods. Existing co-operative societies of fishermen made progress and the ground work was laid for establishment of new societies.

One of the major aims of fishery policy in recent years has been the provision of trained personnel at all levels —a necessary prerequisite towards any expansion of the industry. The scheme for training boys as fishermen continues to make satisfactory progress but an even more dynamic approach to the problem is needed. I will refer to this later when I speak of our plans for the future.

During 1965, 38 boys were admitted to training to supplement the 54 boys in training at the beginning of the year. At the beginning of 1966, there were 40 boys in training and, as a result of the recruitment campaign carried out in the spring and summer months, further trainees were selected. Fifty-eight of these new recruits have already been placed on vessels. The training covers a two-year period commencing in each case when the boy is placed aboard a vessel. The number of trainees from time to time is, therefore, a fluctuating one. In addition to practical training on board selected fishing boats, trainees attend a shore course at Haulbowline naval base and Cobh vocational school. Boys admitted under the scheme are paid an allowance of £5 per week over two years— the equivalent of a £500 scholarship.

Under the scheme for training experienced fishermen as skippers, nine fishermen qualified in 1965 and seven in 1966 for certificates of competency under the Merchant Shipping Acts— bringing to 67 the number who have obtained such certificates following attendance at courses under the scheme. Not only does successful completion of these courses make the fisherman more competent at his job, but it also opens the door for him to the acquisition of a large fishing boat under the Marine Credit Plan operated by Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

I hope to see a worthwhile increase in the number of boys and men coming forward for training each year and I also look to the continued goodwill of all who have co-operated so whole-heartedly in the operation of the schemes. I should like to record particularly my appreciation of the continued assistance of the Galway Vocational Education Committee and of the Cork County Vocational Committee.

Progress is being made in the development of Killybegs, Castletownbere and Dunmore East as major fishery harbours and provision is made in the Estimate for Public Works and Buildings for the continuation of work at the three centres throughout 1966-67. It is my intention to introduce shortly in the House proposals for legislation to facilitate the management and control of all five major fishery harbours—the three I have just mentioned, plus Galway and Howth.

Harbour improvement schemes which were commenced last year at Cahirciveen and Renard Point, County Kerry, and which are partly financed by State grants, have recently been completed. Other marine works at small landing places around the coast are also due for completion this year. A boring survey has been completed at Reen Pier, County Cork, this year as part of approved works. The improvement of other harbours and landing places is also being considered where works—some large, some small —may be involved. Among those under active examination are Burtonport, Darby's Point, Dingle, Killala, Kilmore Quay and Skerries. In Dingle, where conditions at the harbour have deteriorated due to the silting, and at Darby's Point on Achill Island, preliminary boring surveys have recently been carried out to enable detailed designs and estimates of costs of any necessary improvement works to be prepared on a realistic basis. I am not yet in a position to detail the new works that may finally be approved or to indicate when they may be undertaken. I can, however, assure the House that the improvement of harbours and landing facilities around our coast, where present or potential fishing activities so warrant, will receive top priority.

The Maritime Jurisdiction (Amendment) Act, 1965, which provided for the extension of the exclusive fishery limits from three to twelve miles, came into operation on 1st October, 1965. While, in accordance with international agreement, certain concessions have been granted to fishery vessels from six countries whose vessels have habitually fished in our waters, the inner six-mile zone of the extended limits will be reserved completely to Irish fishing boats from the outer 1966. In addition, fishing in the outer six-mile zone will be available only to Irish boats and those of the six countries with habitual rights therein. All in all, this should be of considerable benefit to our fishermen and I hope they will make the maximum use of the extended fishing area thus provided.

While the figures I have given in this review for 1965 showed satisfactory increases on the previous year, I think most Deputies would agree that our sea fishing industry has the potential to make a still greater contribution in the future to our economic advancement. For this reason my predecessor initiated some time ago, in conjunction with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, a comprehensive and detailed study of the industry with a view to planning its expansion to a level that would be in line with the Second Programme for Economic Expansion generally and related to what might reasonably be expected from a country in our situation. This examination, which involved a review of all aspects of the Government's White Paper of April, 1962, has now been completed and a full-scale development programme drawn up. This programme is already under way and will be pressed ahead vigorously during the next few years. The achievement of the targets set will, I believe, create a momentum which will greatly facilitate the realisation of our full potential.

In broad outline, we plan an increase in landings from the 1965 level of £1.7 million to £4 million by 1970, doubling employment in the industry and building up a processing industry with an output of £4 million mainly for export.

In planning the development of our sea fishing industry, we must take into account our own circumstances and also international trends and developments. We must also try to assess what are our particular advantages and limitations so that we can exploit the former and work within the latter.

The sea fishing world today presents a picture of a no-man's land of international waters being exploited intensively by the fishing vessels of many countries. Some of these countries are developing their fisheries on a commercial basis while others look to the sea as a valuable source of protein and do not apply the normal commercial criteria to their fishing industry. The capital investment by all these countries in boats and gear is enormous and is resulting in many instances in an over-intensive exploitation of fishing grounds. This brings about lower catches per unit and because of this more investment in an effort to sustain catch rates.

It is obvious that we cannot in the near future increase our landings of fish to anything like the level of landings by the bigger fishing nations of the world which, as I mentioned, have vast capital resources to invest in the maintenance and development of their fisheries. However, what we may lose in quantity we can certainly make up for in quality and in this connection we must establish a quality image for our fishery products so that they can command premium prices whether they are marketed fresh or in a processed form.

We have natural advantages which can be developed in pursuit of this policy. Within our territorial waters we have good exploitable shellfish resources for which a world demand exists. We have very good inshore fishing grounds and we are also geographically located near good pelagic and demersal fishing grounds outside our territorial waters on the Continental Shelf. Although the latter are being heavily fished by fleets of other countries, our proximity to the grounds should give us an economic advantage over boats of other countries that have to travel further from their home base.

On the marketing side, we are also in a favourable position in relation to the United Kingdom. The recent Free Trade Area Agreement with Britain gives us unqualified free entry for all our fish to the British market. This will be of particular value in the years ahead.

The full scale development programme which has been drawn up covers all facets of the industry and it is desirable that I should give some indication of what exactly we have in mind.

The present fleet, which is in the main skipper-owned, will be expanded by the addition of suitable vessels in all classes from those suitable for shell-fishing to vessels larger than those hitherto in our fleet and capable of operating in all seas within reasonable distance of our coast. Progressive skippers will be encouraged to invest in larger vessels and Irish companies will also be encouraged to operate such vessels as part of a combined fishing, processing and marketing activity. Private enterprise will be encouraged to invest in a limited number of modern vessels of the middle-water class and on the results of their operations we will judge the extent to which further expansion along this line should be undertaken.

The very attractive terms offered under the existing Marine Credit Plan will continue and the Plan which hitherto applied to vessels up to 65 feet in length is with some minor modifications now extended to cover vessels up to 90 feet. Grants of up to 25 per cent of the capital cost, but no loans, will also be provided for vessels larger than 90 feet. Where capital investment from the private sector in the larger vessel needs to be complemented by loan capital, efforts will be made to negotiate the most favourable terms possible from commercial sources.

Lest there should be any misapprehension about the effects on the smaller fishermen of the operation of the larger vessels envisaged, I want to make it clear that these larger vessels would operate mainly to provide the necessary raw material on a regular basis for the efficient operation of our processing factories, the products of which would largely be for export. They would not be permitted in any circumstances to operate to the detriment of the existing fleet on which the livelihood of so many of our fishermen depends. Many of our leading skippers have, I am glad to say, already reached a standard of competency which enables them to change to bigger boats and we will encourage more of them to do likewise. The interests of the small fishermen will, however, continue to be safeguarded at all times.

Side by side with increasing the size of our fleet, Bord Iascaigh Mhara will, through intensified advisory services, bring about the maximum possible increase in output of the existing vessels. Educational trips to other fishing countries will continue to be organised for our skippers and constant improvement in vessel design, in gear and in equipment will be sought.

Manpower in the catching sector is the most important single factor in increasing production and, accordingly, everything possible will be done to improve personnel training schemes and to encourage increased participation in them. We propose to introduce a new comprehensive educational programme to ensure the most efficient utilisation of available and future manpower. My predecessor set this in motion by establishing a Committee of Education for the Fishing Industry which will advise me on the manpower requirements, on the educational programme necessary to meet those requirements and on the implementation of that programme. The short-term aim of the programme will be to provide skilled manpower to meet our immediate requirements for fleet expansion and a crash programme for skipper training. In the long term the programme should ensure that a growing pool of well trained officer personnel and deck personnel is available.

My predecessor also initiated, as part of the programme, a survey of what are described as part-time fishermen with a view to seeing to what extent these part-timers could with advantage to all concerned be absorbed whole-time into the industry.

While there are complex problems involved in the production of fish, we must remember that the end product must compete against other primary products in the food markets of the world. If we are to succeed in obtaining a worthwhile share of markets in other countries and in commanding premium prices for Irish fishery products, the quality of all our fish and fish products must be raised to the highest status. Our fishermen, distributors, processors, wholesalers, retailers and exporters have a responsibility to ensure that we market only products of the highest quality.

To this end, I intend to introduce compulsory standards for the handling and distribution of fish from the catching point right through to the end of the distribution chain and I will ensure that the standards are fully maintained both for the home and the export trade. In the case of processed fish products, my Department are co-operating with Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Institute of Industrial Research and Standards in the preparation of standards for fish products, the first of which has recently been published by the Institute.

Another aspect of marketing which is provided for in the programme involves the stimulation of demand, the improvement of design and quality of our fishery products to meet market requirements and through promotion, efficient distribution and hard selling, ensuring that we increase our home consumption and get an adequate share of world markets. As a well developed home market is a sound basis for successful exporting, fish distribution in the Irish market will be rationalised so that fish is distributed efficiently from port to consumer. The programme also aims at greater involvement by fishermen's co-operatives in the marketing of their products thus ensuring that the primary producer will get a greater share of the end price.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara will continue its policy of assisting co-operatives with their management and organisational problems while distributors will be encouraged to draw their supplies direct from ports and to deliver direct to markets. There will also be intensified promotion through publicity, advertising, public relations and consumer education to secure the needed increase in our home consumption of fish. Already various promotional activities such as the National Fish Cookery Competition, a similar competition for ICA members, public fish cookery demonstrations, fishery exhibitions and television, radio and press advertising have paid good dividends in boosting home consumption of fish but there is still ample scope for greater activity in this field.

Despite the projected increase in home market consumption, it is to export markets that we must look for our real growth. It is an objective of the programme to ensure that the maximum possible amount of fish exports will be in processed form, thus increasing the contribution of the industry as a whole to the wealth of the country and ensuring a much higher level of factory employment ashore. Bord Iascaigh Mhara will appoint a trade officer in Britain and further officers will be appointed in other countries if this is considered necessary. This will intensify promotion and feed back necessary market information. The board will also establish a technological and product development unit which will advise the industry on handling and processing problems and assist Irish processing companies in providing high grade products for all markets. In this the board will also assist processors in the day to day problems that may arise in complying fully with the official quality standards I will introduce. Second only to the proposals designed to increase the volume of our fish landings, I rank improvement in fish quality as the next most important aspect of the whole programme for improving the economy of the industry.

On the scientific side, my Department has an important role to play in the implementation of the programme of fishery development. A second exploratory fishing vessel has been built for the Department in Killybegs and is in operation since last June. This will enable important research and exploratory work to be intensified in the interests of the fishing industry and the exploratory fishing operations should assist greatly in the opening up of new fisheries for our fleet.

The purpose of the Department's research work is to gain the maximum amount of knowledge about the nature, extent and magnitude of the resources of the fish stocks around our coast and in our rivers and inland waters. The Department's scientific staff will, as heretofore, continue to work in close co-operation with their opposite numbers in other countries. We are closely associated with many international bodies in whose work we fully participate, such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and FAO. To translate the results of the important basic research into commercial exploitation, the programme provides that Bord Iascaigh Mhara will have shortly on its staff personnel for liaison with the Department's scientific staff, so that the fruits of research can more readily be made available for the practical use of the working fisherman.

The programme also places particular emphasis on the development of our shellfish resources, the produce of which finds a lucrative market abroad. Increased attention will be given to the development of new and improved catching methods and the expansion of shellfish farming operations will also be encouraged.

The proposals for the creation of five major fishery harbours have already been announced and, as I have mentioned, engineering work at three of them is progressing. In addition, attention will be given to the provision of improved landing facilities at smaller points around the coast where such facilities are required. This activity is going on all the time and some months ago my predecessor set up a survey team to examine fully the fishing harbour facilities in South Kerry. The work of this team, which has been making an on-the-spot appraisal of the facilities required to meet present and expected needs of the local fishing industry and where those facilities should be located, is now almost completed and will be followed by a similar survey of the Galway-Mayo coast.

In formulating our plans and in expanding them in the years ahead it is essential that we keep in close touch with international developments, particularly in the technological fields. In many instances solutions to production problems are dependent on the work of scientists and technologists. Consequently we must ensure that not only are we keeping abreast of what other countries are doing in this field, but that we are applying all available scientific knowledge for the purpose of commercial development. I am very pleased to announce that following consideration and discussion over the past few months agreement has been reached with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries of the United States Government for joint co-operation in specific fishery projects in which our two countries have a mutual interest.

The projects will include the study of varying productivity of Irish fishing vessels; United States assistance in the establishment of an Irish Gear Evaluation Unit to improve the gear on Irish fishing boats; a study of certain US boat designs and shell fish dredgers; a biological and scientific research project on shell fisheries; a study of US fish quality control regulations and standards; US assistance to Bord Iascaigh Mhara in the setting up of the product development unit to which I have referred including training of Irish personnel in food technology and product development in fish and fish products; and, on the Inland Fishery side, a study of control of fish movement and work on artificial spawning beds. At a later stage hydrographic and oceanographic research in relation to fisheries will be undertaken.

The joint co-operation on these projects will commence immediately. As a first step, it has been agreed that the United States will send two Bureau specialists to Ireland in the next few months to help to establish and co-ordinate the comprehensive programme of co-operation in fishery development.

The American authorities, like ourselves, have shown a keen enthusiasm for this proposal and we are both confident that the joint studies will show results of mutual benefit and pave the way for continued co-operation on fishery matters between the two Governments.

From what I have said on the subject of sea fisheries it is clear that we are making every effort on all fronts to ensure that under the new planned programme of development the full potential of the industry will be realised with the greatest possible benefit to our fishermen and the economy generally.

I am glad to say that the high catches of salmon of the last few years continued during 1965 when the total weight of the catch by all fishing methods was 2,870,000 lb. — only slightly less than the 3,013,000 lb. in 1964 and greater than the 2,837,000 lb. in 1963. We have been fortunate in the very good grilse runs which we have had since 1962 and from reports the spawnings of recent seasons have maintained a satisfactory level for most areas. The quantity of salmon exported was 19,800 cwt. in 1965 as against 22,900 cwt. in 1964. These were valued at £759,400 as compared with £933,500 for 1964.

Complete returns of catches for 1966 are not yet in but reports generally indicate that while for the fifth year in succession they were at above-average level, the gradually declining trend which started in 1965 is continuing. This is borne out by the monthly figures of exports, the latest of which shows that 15,333 cwt. was exported for the first nine months this year compared with 19,049 cwt. for the same period last year.

Conditions for angling in 1965 were reasonably good and the number of rod licences issued at 12,805 was a new record, the previous best figures being 11,628 for 1964 and 9,745 for 1963. It was generally a wet season and waters continued fairly high and suitable for angling. Rod catches were successful in most parts. The weight of salmon taken by rod and line was 416,290 lb. compared with 390,000 lb. in 1964.

A matter of importance for the future of the salmon fisheries which recently came to the forefront was the increase in the Greenland catches of salmon. These rose in 1964 to a level of 1,400 tons compared with an average of about 200 tons over the five preceding years. Even though falling prices provided a disincentive to catch effort in 1965, the reduced yield of 770 tons in that year was still rather alarmingly high. Most countries touching on the North Atlantic remain apprehensive that these salmon, on which their rivers rely for breeding stocks, may be seriously depleted by exploitation in Greenland waters and ultimately brought to extinction. Admittedly the data for forming a firm judgment on the problem are not complete and the various countries concerned, under the aegis of the International Commission for the North Atlantic Fisheries and in co-operation with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, have organised study groups to acquire and examine as much data as possible to see what measures could be taken to preserve a proper balance in catches and escapements. The staff of my Department and of the Salmon Research Trust are, of course, participating in these activities and will continue to do so for as long as necessary.

Another problem nearer home bearing on the welfare of the salmon industry which arose during 1965 was the growing use of monofilament nets in some drift net fisheries. Many complaints have been made about the destructiveness of these nets compared with the traditional types and demands for their suppression were received. On the other hand, it was argued that as their capacity to catch fish was superior their use should be allowed. To deal with the situation my predecessor had a series of public inquiries held to ascertain all viewpoints, and, having considered all the evidence, it was decided to debar the use of these nets for five years. In this period, I propose to have control experiments carried out so that when the time comes for a review the pros and cons and the alternatives to a complete ban will be known to all concerned.

I would like to pay tribute to the work which the boards of conservators have done to protect and develop the fisheries in their areas. Protection is difficult as quite a number of people find illegal fishing a profitable sideline nowadays. Indiscriminate taking of fish can ruin any fishery in a comparatively short time and but for the work of the conservators and their success in securing fairly heavy penalties for poaching offences, the situation could easily get out of control. Other problems which the conservators have to deal with are pollution by sewage, industrial and other concerns and the removal of obstructions and clearing of spawning beds. In this latter work, generous grants are available for any project which will assist fish to move upstream to spawn. In many cases fish passes have to be constructed to help fish surmount obstacles and the engineers of my Department give every assistance in the design and execution of such works.

The expenses of the boards of conservators are unavoidably rising faster than the income which they receive from the sale of licences and from fishery rates and consequently they have to rely on administration grants paid from the fund to keep solvent. The state grant to the Salmon Conservancy Fund has been increased to £33,500, partly because of this growing imbalance of the conservator's accounts and partly in anticipation of the projected reorganisation of the key staffs of the boards. Certain proposals designed to meet this situation were included in the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill which my predecessor introduced in April last. He had intended to seek the approval of the House to withdraw that Bill and to introduce a revised measure. This I propose to do at a very early date, and the financial implications of full reorganisation of such staffs can, I suggest, best be considered at that time.

Payments are also made from the Salmon Conservancy Fund in respect of river improvement works referred to earlier. A major scheme at the Clifden Falls on the Owenglin River involving the construction of a fish pass is nearing completion. This will open up the upper reaches of the river to fish and bring into use valuable spawning grounds which hitherto were inaccessible to fish. In addition, many minor schemes are listed for attention during the year.

Investigations are being continued at the experimental station at Glenties into the application of electricity to fishery management and exploitation. These investigations include the development of electronic fish counters, electrical fishing apparatus and the study of the effects of various kinds of electrical stimuli on different types of fish.

Work on fish disease which has affected the stocks of over a dozen important salmon rivers is being carried on by a fish disease service which has been set up at my Department's Veterinary Research Laboratory.

My predecessor set up a scientific committee, drawn from the Department's technical staffs and outside scientists for the purpose of pooling information and concerting action during the progress of investigations. A co-ordinating committee broadly representative of salmon interests throughout the country was also set up to bring their knowledge and experience to bear on the planning and conduct of the investigations generally.

The investigations into the disease at the Veterinary Research Laboratory have disclosed the presence in affected fish of at least four types of pathogen capable of killing fish. Numerous experiments designed to reproduce the disease in healthy fish by utilising the cultures of the pathogens have failed to produce the true lesions of the disease. Quite recently, however, the disease has been successfully transmitted to healthy fish by water siphoned from tanks containing diseased fish. It is believed that water temperature is a significant factor in the propagation of the disease.

Further investigations are continuing in an effort to identify the causative organism of the disease and to determine the conditions under which it attacks and kills fish. Fish disease experts from other countries—Dr. Jensen, from Denmark and Dr. Sniezsko and Professor Ordal from the USA — have given our research workers the benefit of their experience in dealing with fish disease. Thanks to their guidance, it has been established that the disease occurring in our rivers is not columnaris as known in the USA where this condition is endemic and responsible for heavy losses of fish.

The expenses incurred in connection with these investigations including the cost of providing equipment services and experimental facilities at my Department's Veterinary Research Laboratory at Abbotstown and in the field fall to be met this year out of Subhead E (3) of the Vote. I am happy to acknowledge, however, that the burden of this expense is being lightened by the public spirited action of two concerns which are already known for their beneficent interest in the fisheries—the Guinness Company have provided £5,000 as an interest-free loan for spending by the Salmon Research Trust and the Electricity Supply Board have guaranteed a donation of £3,000.

For the present I may say that although the occurrence of the salmon disease has been more widespread than in 1965 the severity of the outbreaks has varied considerably in different river systems. Disease has occurred to a significant extent in the rivers Liffey, Slaney, Cork Blackwater, Lee, Bandon and Shannon; the Cumeragh river in County Kerry does not appear to be as seriously affected as it was in 1965 and some other Kerry rivers where there were outbreaks in 1965 have not been affected at all this year.

Consideration needs to be given to the desirability of obtaining statutory powers of control to prevent the spread of communicable disease and to enforce such remedial measures as may be found practicable. This is something that gives rise to many problems where we are dealing in the main with wild stocks which do not lend themselves readily to control and do not usually respond to any known methods of treatment.

It has been encouraging to note that in 1965, a high proportion of the stocks of some rivers affected by disease remained healthy, commercial catches were hardly affected at all, anglers had fair sport and escapement of fish to the spawning beds was generally found adequate. It will not be possible until returns are obtained after the end of the season to assess fully the extent to which stocks in the various rivers were affected this year.

The boards of conservators have given full co-operation in the areas affected and their staffs have been removing all diseased fish from the rivers and ensuring that they are burned or buried away from the river bank. During the spawning season, now at hand, a certain discreation is necessary in this work so as to avoid premature destruction of potential spawners which even though lightly infected may be able to spawn successfully and produce disease free progeny. Licensing control over exports of salmon and rainbow trout has been tightened up and an inspection service is in operation to ensure that no diseased fish are exported.

Work is continuing on rehabilitation of salmon stock in the River Lee in the light of the results of experiments carried out in previous years. The carrying out of this work has been made possible by the valuable assistance and co-operation of the Electricity Supply Board, the Inland Fisheries Trust and the Cork Board of Fishery Conservators. Owing to the presence of salmon disease in the river measures to facilitate the movement of adult salmon and smolts have to be modified this year.

Investigations concerned with the improvement of methods of fishing for eels have been continued, with encouraging results. Exports of eels in 1965 amounted to 8,400 cwt. valued at £121,000 as against 6,500 cwt. in 1964 valued at £92,000.

Provision is again made for the award to honours graduates in science of studentships which will enable them to take up the study of sea and inland fishery problems for the purpose of their work for a higher degree. Three studentships have been offered this year and three studies which were initiated in 1965 were continued in 1966. These studentship projects are worked out under the supervision of the university professors and the scheme is administered with the assistance of an advisory committee comprising representatives of the universities and of my Department.

Last year's Vote contained provision for a project for research into the water quality conditions in streams, with particular reference to their fishery productivity. After some delay because of difficulty in recruitment this project has only recently got off the ground with the appointment of two honours graduates as research fellows. These workers have completed an intensive course in water investigation techniques, and so on, at the Water Pollution Research Laboratory of the British Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The research fellows are now carrying out the investigation proper on the selected river systems — the Cork Blackwater and the nearby Martin, a tributary of the River Lee. In this venture they have been assured of the co-operation of University College, Cork, Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann, the Institute of Industrial Research and Standards and the boards of fishery conservators for the Lismore and Cork districts. This research into the effects of pollution, which will continue for about three years, is of a fundamental nature, and the information which it is hoped to obtain from it should be invaluable in the formation of future policy on pollution. It could also serve as a pilot scheme for planning a national water quality service, should circumstances in the future favour the setting up of such a service.

The investment made by the Government in development of angling waters in the interests of home and visiting anglers has continued to show dividends. The estimated income from angling tourism which just topped the £3 million mark in 1964 rose further, as I mentioned earlier, to about £3,600,000 in 1965. The number of angling visitors increased from some 89,600 to about 102,000 over the two years 1964-65. I must pay tribute to the spirit in which many local angling and development associations are co-operating with the Inland Fisheries Trust and Bord Fáilte in the building up of our angling tourist industry to such satisfactory proportions.

The grant to the Inland Fisheries Trust had stood at £90,000 for the past two years and it is worth noting that over 50 per cent of the Trust's expenditure is devoted to the western areas with considerable benefit to the economy of many districts which have little alternative source of new income.

The Trust's commitments for development work are very widely spread but even when these are met the danger arises that the opening up of trout and coarse fishing waters for angling may not be able to keep pace with the growing tourist demand. It has, therefore, become evident that the Trust needs to be provided with increased funds to finance its development activities. The grant-in-aid has, therefore, been increased by £5,000.

In considering the financial problems of the Trust it is necessary to recall that when this body was established it was envisaged as deriving its main income from the subscriptions of its members and enjoying certain supplementary grants of fisheries and on occasion of cash donations from an assumed body of well wishers including the Minister in charge of fisheries. In the event the State has become virtually the sole source of financial assistance. At the same time the objectives of the Trust have widened so that it now endeavours to serve the interests of tourist anglers as well as home anglers in a manner not contemplated originally. At the present time I can only say that the immediate problems of the Trust are having my most earnest attention and that the long-term solution of the financial problem calls for a reappraisal of the whole situation.

The provision for grant-in-aid to the Salmon Research Trust has again been increased this year — this time to a maximum of £2,500, which represents about one-third of the running costs. The remainder of the running costs together with a large proportion of the capital expenses of the Trust are provided by Messrs. Arthur Guinness Son & Co. Ltd., who continue to lend their most valued support to the work being carried on by the Trust in research for the purpose of improving and developing the salmon and sea trout fisheries. The Trust recently completed ten years work and in that time considerable progress has been made with investigations into the running habits of salmon of known parentage, both spring fish and grilse. Highly interesting experiments have also been carried out in the artificial propagation and rearing of salmon/sea trout hybrids. These fish have shown remarkable growth rate and they have also proved to be self-reproducing. This development is receiving further study.

In conclusion, I am sure that Deputies will agree that all available resources are being employed for the advancement of both the sea and inland sides of the fishing industry. I am satisfied that in the achievement of progress we can rely on the willing co-operation of all sectors of this important industry.

I accordingly recommend this Estimate to the House.

I have never had any close association with the fishing industry and consequently I have no detailed knowledge of it. It might be more honest and correct for me to say, in fact, that my knowledge of fisheries is indeed very limited. Like other Deputies, I have not been paying as much attention perhaps as I should to the industry, having regard to its importance socially and economically and bearing in mind its unrealised potentiality. When I speak about the potentiality of the industry, I refer, of course, to the expansion of exports. These were stressed by the Minister. I refer also to the expansion of employment, to which the Minister made some slight reference, because I believe there is considerable scope for further employment in the fishing industry. This is extremely important at a time when so many are leaving the land and when there is a possibility of further considerable redundancy in industry.

The employment position was not given to us today by the Minister, but I understood the position last year to be that we had approximately 8,000 people employed in the industry. If my recollection is correct, there were 2,000 people in wholetime employment and 4,000 people in part-time employment. Then there were an additional 2,000 people employed in processing, packing and distribution generally.

In relation to the unrealised potential, I refer, of course, to the development of the tourist industry through angling tourists. Considerable progress has been made in this field and we have all the indications we need that there is great scope for further development, both in inland fishing and in providing better facilities for sea fishing, that is, sea anglers. In 1960, if my recollection is correct, we had approximately 12,000 angling tourists for brown trout and in 1965 that increased to something like 46,000. We had similar increases — perhaps not as great — in both coarse fishing and sea angling and there are enormous possibilities here of continuing this development. I think, perhaps, the financial assistance being given to the Inland Fisheries Trust for this purpose is completely insufficient and perhaps, too, there may not be sufficient co-operation between Bord Fáilte, the Inland Fisheries Trust and local associations in the development of this important aspect of our economy.

It is a peculiar thing that the Minister's statement today indicates considerable improvement and development in the fishing industry generally, while anything one reads about the industry in the daily newspapers is a condemnation of the effort made over the years, and this refers to the continued neglect of the industry. I remember reading some articles during the past few months, when I got some responsibility for this particular Department. I saw something I could not believe to be true but apparently it must be true because it has not been contradicted, that is, that the total capital investment in fisheries by the Department over the years has been £2,225,000. I could not believe that an industry as important as the fishing industry could have had that small amount of capital investment over the long years the Government are in power. It is quite obvious that if we have failed to develop the industry and failed to realise the potential of the industry, it must be due to neglect and a lack of interest over the years. It is obvious also that the first realisation of the greater potential there came as a result of the findings of the American survey team who investigated the potential of the industry generally; and with this start, development seems to have opened up. There are considerable prospects for the development of fisheries, for increased catches of fish, both edible and industrial.

The Minister's introductory speech this year indicates that all the time landings are increasing and efficiency generally in the industry is being improved, but the whole movement seems to me to be much too slow. Why it is so slow is hard to understand but the main limitations seem now to be not only a financial one but a shortage in the number of trained fish crew people. The scheme in existence for training people to man the various fishing vessels is not turning out sufficient numbers of trained personnel. This year's evidence indicates there are fewer people now coming up for training than came up in the last year or so. Last year there were 54 and this year I believe it is something like 38. I wonder if the 54 in existence last year were first-year people, or did that represent, perhaps, two years' recruits.

All the evidence indicates that what the industry needs is further catching power. The fish are there; the terms for the provision of boats are reasonably generous; and it is a question of getting people to man the boats, because we are assured there is no difficulty in relation to markets. I heard it said by somebody in An Bord Iascaigh Mhara — on an occasion when I was present at some function — that there were no fewer than 22 countries clamouring for our fish and that the demand far outstripped supplies. It is difficult to reconcile this with the argument that has continued all along the line with regard to the conflict of interest between the small fishermen, the inland fishermen, and the larger merchants in the business.

The small fishermen feel that if more fish were caught, their income will be reduced accordingly, because that has happened so often in agriculture. Most of those men to whom I have referred have an interest in small farms as well and they are afraid this will happen again if more fish are caught. I was glad to see in today's statement by the Minister a further reassurance to those smaller fishermen that if the catching power is stepped up, as it can and must be, their interest will in no way suffer. It is only by convincing those smaller fishermen that that is so we will get some sort of harmony and large-scale development into the industry. Many people felt for a long number of years that considerable development was not possible in the fishing industry. Now, all those people who have studied the matter are convinced that fairly large-scale development is possible and is, of course, extremely desirable.

I do not know what can be done to supply what seems to be the main limiting factor, that is, people to man the increased number of boats needed if we are to get landed the amount of fish required for processing, for continuity of supply and for the expansion of exports generally. What is wrong that they are not coming forward? Are we giving sufficient publicity to the terms of employment, to the livelihoods available to those people who come along, to the normal income for the ordinary crew member and skipper? Are these things being sufficiently advertised? If they are, are they sufficiently attractive? Life at sea has always been regarded as hard and hazardous. More and more emphasis should be laid on the fact that with the use of up to date equipment, the change in the design of boats, all the modern aids in relation to weather forecasting, etc., these hazards are being considerably reduced, and it is possible to provide much greater comfort on our boats for fishermen today. I know that the bigger trawlers have now even got central heating, and I am sure that must have led to a complete transformation of the conditions which existed for our fishermen over the years.

It is quite easy to see that in almost all types of fishing there is room for considerable expansion. I have been interested for some time in the establishment of a fishmeal industry on the east coast, because it is with the east coast that I am most in touch as a Deputy. I know that a considerable amount of exploratory work has been done on the possibility of providing the raw material for a fishmeal factory on the east coast. I know also that it is very desirable that we should have such a factory. In the past we have been importing on average about £½ million worth of fishmeal every year. As a result of the fairly detailed exploratory work which has been carried out on the east coast over a period of 12 months, there is ample evidence to indicate that all the conditions are there to justify such an industry.

As I say, I have been interested in this for some time. I have been fairly closely associated with an effort to get one firm to establish such an industry. I was very pleased to find that Bord Iascaigh Mhara went about this investigation in a very businesslike way. They employed an expert skipper from Denmark and put this skipper on a boat with, I think, five or six or perhaps more local boats — approximately 50 foot boats — fishing on the east coast for industrial fish only. These fishermen were completely uninitiated into this type of fishing. I believe that the normal crew for one of these boats is about four or five members. They introduced a system of fishing for this type of fish in which two boats worked together, and the number of crew members was reduced to five in that way. I believe that the average intake of these boats ranged from five to ten tons per boat, per day, over a period of 12 months.

There are quite an amount of both sprat and sand eels to be found along the coast running from Dundalk to Arklow. Apparently sand eels are available for a short period only. They are available in very big quantities for about three months of the year. Sprat which are also suitable raw material for fishmeal are available the whole year round. The quantities of industrial fish caught by these boats during the 12 month period were ample justification and ample evidence of the fact that the raw material is there. The reduction of the crew members needed to man each boat meant that the number of boats required for industrial fishing are there and are prepared to fish for this purpose. Apparently there was some difficulty originally in convincing them that this was a worthwhile proposition but, after running the scheme for an experimental period of 12 months, during which the fishermen were paid an average of £9 per ton for their catch, they are extremely anxious to continue with this type of industrial fishing and to exclude all other fishing.

The investment is fairly heavy, but so also are the profits in such an industry. To process something in the region of 16,000 tons of fish into fishmeal would require a capital expenditure of £¼ million, but a unit half that size would be viable. As I say, it is a good business proposition. I understand there are some firms interested in it, or at least nibbling at it and considering it. I should like to say to the Minister that if they do not reach a decision fairly soon this is an obvious place where there should be State intervention and State investment. Some sort of State or semi-State company should be set up to exploit an industry which is obviously well worth while and should be followed up. I do not know how it is that we do not seem to be able to make the progress that is made in other places in relation to industrial fishing. There are dozens of fishmeal factories in Denmark, but it seems that we have found great difficulty in operating one fishmeal factory here. There seems to be no reason why our efforts cannot be expanded in this field.

Another thing which slowed up this experiment was that even though the income from this type of fishing was considerable there were no unloading facilities on the east coast for this type of fish. For other purposes, for trout farms and mink farms and that type of thing there is a certain amount of this sprat fishing going on. For a couple of years now I have been agitating to get a proper fish unloader installed at one of the ports along the east coast, but we are as far from that as we ever were. We talk about investment in this industry. This unloader costs in the region of £2,000. We have got promises and promises, but there is no indication that we are going to get it. I hope that with a new Minister in charge of Fisheries this small piece of equipment which is of great importance to the fishermen will be supplied. This agitation should not have to go on for a long period.

In the course of his statement the Minister referred to the development of our harbours, and to the selection of four major harbours for development. He said that work was in progress in three of them. This scheme was decided on about three years or so ago. The Minister did not say how much money has been expended up to date. Perhaps he would do so when replying. It is a very small but important matter. This work is going extremely slowly, perhaps because money has been scarce, but it does not get over the fact that the facilities at some harbours are deplorably poor.

I went out to Howth to have a look at the situation there. It is quite close to my constituency. I saw the fish being loaded from one boat to the next and from that boat to another, and eventually on to the quay. It is deplorable that such a situation should be allowed to continue. Again, in relation to the development of the harbour at Skerries, which is a tidal harbour and which could be converted into quite a decent harbour at low cost, the talk has been going on for years. People have been talking about it for 20 years and a colleague of the Minister from my constituency has been telling the people every year that it will be done. Perhaps harbour development is really not relevant to the Estimate but it is an important part of the fishing industry.

There is reference in the Minister's statement to the proposed handing over of the processing factories to a private concern and perhaps it would be a good thing if the Minister gave us more information about this important decision. I have received a lot of criticism from various people implying all sorts of motives to the Minister in this respect. Naturally I do not accept all of these criticisms as being correct or anything like it, but it would prevent this sort of criticism developing if, at the time such a decision is made, the terms of the handover and the reasons for taking this decision were given in some detail.

I know that what the Minister has said is true, that this has been the intention for some considerable time— that it is well known that it was the intention that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara should get out of this kind of thing and concentrate on development generally. Apparently An Bord Iascaigh Mhara were showing a loss all the time on these processing factories. We should be told why that was so. I feel sure that they are very efficient people in An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. What then were the factors which operated against them which from what we can hear do not seem to affect the private concern who are prepared to go in and take over these factories and operate them, no doubt at a profit? We must assume that they will and that perhaps they have resources available to them that were not available to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara when they were trying to operate the factories—that the private firms have means of ensuring a continuity of supplies that was not available to the Board.

I wish to refer to something that has got a considerable amount of publicity during the past year, something which the Minister dealt with today in some detail, the salmon disease. The Minister told us today it has been fairly well established by the experts that the cause of this disease is not columnaris. The Minister will remember that the experts who first went to work on this disease were three people who could certainly be described as experts on this disease and they said beyond yea or nay that it was columnaris. There has now being a change of opinion. I do not know if the original people are still part of the team and whether they are now convinced that they are at this time on the right track and that heretofore they were wrong.

I have in my possession a copy of a very important letter sent to the Minister last year by the secretary of the Waterville Angling Protection Association in relation to this disease, requesting that something be done about it. I think this letter should be put on the records of the House because of the fact that what was forecast in it seems to have happened in the time that has intervened. The letter states:

Dear Mr. Minister,

As you are aware, a number of prosecutions were taken by the Kerry Board of Conservators last autumn against Rainbow Ltd., Dromkare, who operate under licence from your Department, in respect of excessive abstraction of water from the Cummeragh River for their fish farm, and gross pollution of Lough Currane in the area adjacent to the outflow.

Evidence was given on these matters by, amongst others:

H.D. Thornton, H.Sc., ARC SC.I., Public Analyst Dublin City and County, J.R. Harris, M.A., Demonstrator, TCD, Dr. V. Collins, D.Sc., Edinburgh University, M.Sc. California University, Principal Scientific Officer to the Freshwater Biological Association, Great Britain.

There should be no doubt about the qualifications of these people.

Dr. Margaret Browne, B.A., M.A., D.Ph. Cambridge, Lecturer in Zoology, Oxford University, Biological Consultant to Salmon and Trout Association in Great Britain since 1956.

This evidence was conclusive and not challenged by the only witness produced by the defence, to everyone's surprise, a young biologist from your Department, who undertook to report to his superiors the evidence of those experts. The tests were carried out on the bed of the lake and were exhaustive. They showed that, for a considerable area, all healthy organisms, which would be expected in normal water, were absent, having either died from pollution or fled before it, the only living organisms found being those that thrive in gross sewage conditions. On the other hand in the water of the Cummeragh River above the fish farm, the bed of the river contained these healthy organisms in abundance, but none of the unhealthy varieties that exist in sewage conditions such as were found in the lake in the area of the exit from the fish farm. However, Mr. Minister, you have no doubt been informed of this detailed evidence. Suffice to say that the tests disclosed massive pollution, much in excess of what is normally regarded as dangerous to fish life. The drying up of the spawning river by Rainbow Limited was not denied. The Justice convicted on all thirty summonses and in fining the company expressed his regret that he had not power to grant an injunction, so seriously did he regard the evidence he had heard. This occurred early in October last. As you are aware there are ten prosecutions pending at the suit of the conservators in respect of alleged offences since then.

This seems to be an excessively long quotation and the Deputy will appreciate that long quotations are not in order.

It is a very important matter. No action appears to have been taken on this communication which forecast exactly what has happened in this respect. It is very important it be put on record because of the failure of the Minister—in this case a new Minister—to take action. Apparently this letter has not been replied to and there is a considerable grievance on the part not only of Kerry Board of Conservators but of every board in the country because of the Department's failure to take this disease as seriously as it should have been taken, and to take the necessary and effective steps to bring about a solution of the problem. With your permission, I consider it important to finish this:

We have been informed that your Department has exerted considerable pressure on the Board of Conservators to have these prosecutions shelved. Meantime, since October, 1964, the fish have been rotting and dying in the lake. This year has been the worst of all. We bring these matters to your attention, and add that this deadly disease, which has been identified in Waterville as columnaris (as you are aware) has now spread to all the main southern rivers. This was forecast by Dr. Collins in evidence, when explaining that fish becoming infected at Waterville and which were able to do so, would hasten back to the sea and look for other rivers in which to spawn, thus spreading the fatal disease throughout the Irish rivers. We, many of whose livelihoods depend on the world-famous fishing at Waterville, put the following questions to you and would ask for an early reply:

1. Why is this pressure being brought to bear by your Department on the conservators, to stave off prosecutions which it is their clear duty to bring, and which they wish to bring to a conclusion?

2. Why does your Department continue to frustrate the Board of Conservators in their efforts to enforce the Fishery Laws? Is it not the duty of the Department to assist and not to harass the Board in the due enforcement of these laws?

3. Why is your Department apparently so zealous to prevent these matters coming into court?

4. Is your Department quite indifferent to the fate of Waterville Fisheries and the rivers of the south, if not eventually of the entire country?

5. Why has this extremely dangerous situation been permitted to develop over the past two years in full knowledge of and in spite of the Conservators' repeated and urgent warnings and protests to your Department? Any regular inspection must have disclosed the state of affairs existing in Waterville.

As you are aware, this disease started in Waterville. The experts have given their considered opinion that, unless checked, the disease might well damage the fishing in many rivers. There appear to be indications that this is now happening. We, whose futures are at stake and who may be forced to emigrate, ask you to be quite open with us in explaining the attitude of your Department and their apparent anxiety to prevent the enforcement of the Fishery Laws in Waterville, regardless of the consequences to us and, indeed, to the entire southern fisheries.

If half of what is said in the course of that communication is correct it indicates that there was not sufficient concern for the spread of this disease and that the measures one would normally expect to be taken were not, in fact, taken. At least steps were not taken as quickly as they should have been taken to prevent the spread of this disease. As we now know we have this disease in 14 or 15 of our important rivers.

The Minister referred to the co-operation which his Department have received from all the boards throughout the country. I have never expressed an opinion on this subject that I did not say that every board in this country condemned the Minister for his failure to deal expeditiously with this disease. I realise all the difficulties which exist. They must be immense but communications must have fallen down in the Department, if the Department were doing everything that was possible, because they failed to convince the people who were most interested and most concerned in the matter. I have not seen any change from the views held by the various boards during the year.

Since the Inland Fisheries Trust was formed away back in 1951, and expanded in 1956, they have been doing wonderful work. They are very short of capital and the increase in this year's allowance, something like £5,000, is still completely inadequate and will restrict the work they can do to a considerable extent. It is quite obvious that there is enormous scope for development in their particular field. As I said, they have done excellent work having regard to the capital available to them.

Might I inquire at this juncture if the Deputy could give the name of the writer of the letter and the date?

I cannot give it exactly. I can tell you it was written by the Secretary of the Waterville Angling Protection Association and that it was last year.

Any particular date?

I have not the date. Unfortunately, it is not dated. I am sorry I cannot give that. I went down for a day's fishing to the Corrib. I think it was the second last day of the year for fishing. I met some of the local fishing interests there. They had some grouses which I felt were reasonable enough in the circumstances described to me. They operate a fishing hatchery there. Apparently there were some complaints about the inadequacy of it. An investigation was carried out by the Inland Fisheries Trust in order to bring the hatchery up to date and provide the Association with two rearing ponds as well. This would require an investment in the region of £16,000. It was felt for a long time that this money would be forthcoming and that this development work would take place. Apparently it is the cause of considerable disappointment that this has not happened.

The local fishing interests would be completely satisfied if they could get about £4,000 and if the expenditure of the £16,000 in the present circumstances of shortage of capital was phased out perhaps over a period of four years. If £4,000 were given to them immediately it would enable them to improve the hatcheries sufficiently and give them one rearing pond. They could then carry on until the total expenditure took place over the years.

There are 240 boats on the Corrib which are owned mainly by uneconomic holders on the shores of the Corrib. Those people apparently, on an average, earn something in the region of £150 per annum. This is a very important supplement to their income. They certainly need, to keep the lake supplied with stock, something in the region of 300,000 fingerlings annually. They also complain that they are not getting the support and assistance they used to get from the Inland Fisheries Trust. They say that in the past they had as many as four people working on the Corrib keeping down predators and doing all the necessary work associated with the improvement of fishing on the Corrib. They say the number is now reduced to one. I hope the Minister will look into this matter and will meet them as far as possible because the Corrib is developing into a considerable tourist amenity area. There are five hotels there and a sixth, with 60 bedrooms, is being built at the moment. Altogether there are in the region 300 beds and this brings business and spreads income in an area in which it is badly needed. I hope the Minister will bear that in mind when considering expenditure in this field.

The Minister also referred to the difficulties which exist in Dunmore East and which have existed there for some time. All of us who worked in that area in the recent past learned something about this. Like the Minister, I think it is disappointing and regrettable that this disagreement continues and that no solution can be found to it. It appears that the main grouse which the local fishermen have is that the Northern Ireland fishermen are enjoying subsidies which they do not enjoy and on that account, it is unfair competition. As well as that, they have facilities to fish in British territorial waters which are denied to them in other seasons. I wonder if the extent of those subsidies could not be examined and something done to even out the position because everybody is anxious to see a more prosperous industry in Dunmore East with all the necessary facilities provided for it. There are as many people in the area, if not more, who are in favour of allowing the Northern Ireland boats to fish as there are opposed to it. One pretty big fish merchant there is apparently completely debarred from handling fish. Everything possible should be done to iron out these difficulties. The position seems to be at a standstill at present and that is too bad.

In regard to the position generally, I am disappointed that the size of the Vote this year is so small. As a result of the exploratory work which has been and is being done, and which is increasing every year, we have sufficient knowledge to indicate that there is scope for considerable expansion and for very much increased investment in the fishing industry. It is disappointing to those of us in the House and, indeed, when the Estimate is publicised outside, it will be also a matter of disappointment to people interested in the industry generally, that there has not been a much greater increase in the size of the Vote. In fact, this year's amount represents a decrease but to some extent there are reasons given for this. If we are to take the industry seriously, we should contemplate a very much greater expenditure. As I say, the evidence indicates that there is an opening for developing the industry. The number of new boats this year is encouraging. According to the Minister, there are 31 new boats and four second-hand boats and this must have its effect in the years ahead in the form of increased landings. However, the one important and limiting factor is the number of trained people available to man these boats and it is disappointing that these are not coming forward in greater numbers. The reasons for this call for further examination because the whole future of the industry depends on getting more and more people into it.

One fact which strikes me as peculiar, and it may be due to the promotional work which has been done in regard to the home consumption of fish, is in regard to the imports of fish which seem to be increasing. In 1962, imports were valued at £596,536 and in 1965, the imports were in excess of £1 million. I know that even countries which have developed their fishing industry as fully as possible and which have a thriving industry do at certain times of the year import considerable quantities of fish. Apparently this is normal in order to keep up continuity of supply. Another point is that there was in existence a very valuable repair service and I should like to know if this service has gone out of existence. By means of this repair service, boats were examined to ensure that they were seaworthy. This was regarded as a very valuable service to the people in the industry and it would be a great pity if it has been abandoned. If it has been abandoned, perhaps the Minister would tell us why.

The fact that the limit of our territorial waters has been increased to six miles and eventually will be extended to 12 miles, is a further indication of the scope available for developing the industry. The preservation of these fishing grounds, if we are able to protect them, should add considerably to the income from fishing as a whole. I was pleased to hear the Minister announcing that repayments on boats bought on hire-purchase terms have been very satisfactory and I was also glad to see that the returns from fishing have improved to the extent that these people have been enabled to take advantage of the increased percentage which is allowed where the repayments are made within five years of the 15-year period. A reduction of ten per cent is allowed on the cost of the boat as a result of the early repayment of the loan and recently I saw a reference to the considerable number of skippers who have been able to meet this target and take advantage of this ten per cent reduction.

Progress reported; Committee to sit again.
Top
Share