asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to a statement made last October by a person (name supplied) in the European Parliament to the effect that the fishing industry in Europe was at the point of collapse; and if he will indicate the further steps that are being taken to protect the industry in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Industry.
18.
I have seen the statement in question but I do not accept that it describes accurately the condition of the fishing industry at least in this country. While the industry throughout the world was affected by depressed markets in the past year there has been a marked improvement in prices in recent months and I am hopeful that this trend will continue. The recent increases in EEC withdrawal and reference prices and the fact that we now have an organisation to operate the Community's market intervention arrangements for fish are additional safeguards for the industry. I am hopeful too that the outcome of the Law of the Sea Conference and of current Community discussions on the future of the fishing industry will be advantageous to this country.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that there has been an alarming decline in the catches of herring? For instance, a recent figure regarding Dunmore East showed that the catch was down by 67 per cent. Does that fact not give cause for concern even here?
The decline in the herring catch is giving cause for concern and the Department are fully alive to that fact. With regard to the industry generally, the position for 1975vis-á-vis the other western European countries was quite good in the circumstances. We agree that the decline in the catches of herring at Dunmore East and at other centres is a cause of some worry but there has been an improvement with regard to shellfish. In addition, salmon has brought up the incomes of fishermen generally.