asked the Minister for the Marine the total tonnage and value of fish disposed of by dumping in 1985 and 1986; the plans, if any, the Government have to halt this wasteful practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dumping of Fish.
1.
The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. Information on the quantity of fish dumped relates only to those species of fish covered by EC market support arrangements.
Dumping of fish is, of course, only one of the methods used in disposing of fish withdrawn from the market under the market support system of the European Community's Common Fisheries Policy. Fishermen's producers' organisations have been urged by my Department to avoid dumping where possible and to dispose of the surplus fish for fishmeal or animal feed. As can be seen from the statement, there has been a considerable reduction in the amount of fish dumped since 1985 and I shall continue to press the relevant bodies to ensure that this trend continues in future.
Following is the statement:
|
Year |
Quantities dumped (tonnes) |
Approx. Value |
|
IR£ |
||
|
1985 |
3,729 |
469,000 |
|
1986 |
795 |
91,000 |
Does the Minister agree that there should be no dumping of fish? Will he say what steps are being taken to prevent any further dumping? Does he agree there is an absolute necessity for a fish processing factory to avoid this situation arising again?
I agree with the Deputy that we should endeavour to keep the amount of fish being dumped to the very minimum. There are difficulties encountered at times especially when small amounts of fish are landed in isolated areas where it might not be economical to transport it for processing or to fishmeal plants. I have drawn the attention of the producer organisations to the need to ensure that in so far as is possible there will be no dumping of fish.
In view of the poverty that exists, will the Minister agree that an arrangement should be made to have the fish which is being dumped into the sea distributed just as other EC products were distributed quite recently? Will he arrange to have that put into effect?
In many cases the amounts of fish are very small and may not even be suitable for human consumption. In the past much of it has been put into fishmeal plants for use as fishmeal. I will endeavour to ensure that any fish that can be utilised will be used.
Has the Minister given any thought to the provision of a subsidy to ensure that the fish that is now being dumped will be brought to those counties that are in a position to make use of it such as Wexford, where there is a fishmeal plant and a fish processing plant, and also many other counties?
It is not a matter for the Minister or the Department but for the producer organisations. We have drawn their attention, and will continue to do so, to the desirability to avoid dumping fish in so far as it is possible, except where there is no avoidable way of dealing with the position.
Will the Minister indicate what control, if any, his Department officials have over the dumping of fish? Is there indiscriminate dumping of fish into dumps and harbours?
I do not have any evidence of indiscriminate dumping of fish. If the Deputy has information to that effect I will be glad to meet him and discuss the matter with him. I will impress upon Department officials the urgency of this issue and the fact that it is not desirable that fish which could be utilised should be dumped. As I said already, the quantities being dumped have been reduced considerably in recent times and we hope that trend will continue.