asked the Minister for the Marine if his Department have any plans to provide an increased and regular supply of fish to fish processing companies to encourage the expansion of the industry.
Written Answers. - Fish Processing Industry.
27.
The expansion of the fish processing industry on a sustainable basis is one of the central objectives of fisheries policy.
The level of fish supplies at the moment is not sufficient to enable year round processing in many firms. Factors which have an important bearing on processing capability are quotas, seasonality, quality, size and biological conditions of fish as well as the nature of market demand. All these issues are being addressed in the ongoing development of policy.
Initiatives have already been taken in the areas of exploratory fishing, the management of fisheries and in the development of quality programmes to strengthen the processing sector.
I am, of course, well aware of the need to further strengthen and regularise the supply base. With this in mind, I am at present examining possible initiatives in the areas of the efficient exploitation of new fishing grounds and stocks and species which are currently under-exploited.