andMr. White asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will recruit the services of an instruction agency such as AnCO to train students and unemployed people living in the vicinity of fishing ports in the skills of filleting to deal with large catches of fish at a time of glut and eliminate the undesirable practice of dumping.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Filleting Course.
4.
I understand that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, as part of their continuing development programme with the processing industry, are in contact with processors and AnCO on the question of training of filleters and other skilled personnel.
The board have arranged training programmes for filleters in the past and will continue to do so where a demand for this type of training exists. However, I am advised that the training of additional filleters would not of itself assist in avoidance of the disposal of fish by dumping in times of glut.
My information is to the contrary. Does the Minister agree that a lot of this fish could be saved if it were put in cold storage, having been filleted on the spot at times of glut? Surely that is the answer.
An Bord Iascaigh Mhara have been in consultation with AnCO and other bodies and training programmes have been arranged. It is possible that extra filleters might be needed on certain occasions but I do not know if we could ensure continuity of work for them. It can be considered if we can arrange facilities in various ports.