Vol. 451 No. 4
26 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the targets and developments for the fishing industry as outlined in Bord Iascaigh Mhara's policy document, Charting A New Course-A Development Strategy for the Sea Fishing Industry 1988/1991, were achieved; the relevance of that document to current conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6628/95]
The 1988 policy document for a development strategy for the sea fishing industry set a number of ambitious investment targets and development objectives for the fishing sector and aquaculture for the four year period 1988 to 1991. In all the circumstances and given all the acknowledged constraints of the Common Fisheries Policy substantial progress has been made since 1988 to enhance the contribution of the fishing industry to the national economy and to local jobs and growth.
Analysis of the period 1989 to 1993 shows that the fisheries sector has made a growing contribution in terms of output, employment and exports. Seafish landings rose from 213,000 tonnes valued at £90 million in 1989 to over 254,000 tonnes valued at £98 million by 1992. Aquaculture production has increased from some 19,000 tonnes valued at £24 million in 1989 to some 40,000 tonnes valued at £50 million currently. Seafish exports increased in value from £154 million in 1989 to over £180 million in 1992. There has been a substantial restructuring of the Irish fishing fleet, in line with EU targets, with a total investment between 1989 and 1993 of over £23 million in the modernisation of 215 vessels. Over the same period EU assisted investment of almost £5 million supported the construction of 13 new vessels. Employment in the fleet, aquaculture and processing increased from just over 11,000 ten years ago to over 15,000 by 1992.
The three year investment and development targets set in 1988 were ambitious. Not all of the projections set for that programme were realised in full due partly to funding constraints and external factors including, notably, EU fleet and quota policies. Nonetheless a significant degree of growth has been achieved in the intervening six years as exemplified in the statistics I have outlined to the House. It remains the case, however, that notwithstanding that growth the fishing sector remains underdeveloped and suffers from structural weaknesses. The objective now is to set about tackling those difficulties in order to deliver the sector's undoubted potential for further development and to build on its growing contribution to economic renewal.
The Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-99 was launched last month. It is intended to deliver further integrated development in the fleet, aquaculture, processing fishery harbours, marine research and training. The total investment package for the period is £140 million. The main aims of the programme are: significant increases in direct employment in fish processing and aquaculture, 2,000 new jobs; increased landings and maintenance of related jobs in the catching sector; a potential increase of up to £12 million annually in the value of aquaculture production and a potential increase of up to £20 million annually in the value of fish exports.
