Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 7

Written Answers. - Fish Price Collapse.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

101 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Marine the action, if any, he has taken and the representations, if any, he has made to the EU regarding the collapse of fish prices which is being caused by the level of imports from third countries into the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7292/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

The recent problems on EU fresh whitefish markets were the result of seasonal oversupply. High levels of landings due to favourable weather and plentiful stocks of fish resulted in a temporary collapse in prices and the withdrawal of large quantities of fish from the markets. In recent weeks the balance between supply and demand has begun to be restored and prices are recovering.

During the market difficulties, the Department oversaw the operation of EU market support schemes which allow for financial compensation for fish withdrawals and financial support for the producers organisations to enable temporary withdrawals and storage for future sale. During the period BIM worked to prime domestic demand for fish through advertising campaigns.

The EU is a net importer of fish in order to meet high consumer and processing industry demand which outstrips ability to supply from within the EU. As a result these seasonal difficulties have been a recurring problem over many years. While third country fish imports are mostly frozen and destined for the EU processing sector, the seasonal problems of the EU whitefish sector are not helped when quantities of imported fresh fish suddenly appear on the market.

I am very concerned about the underlying fragile balance of the EU market for fisheries. Solutions are not easy to find since we must ensure continuity of supply to meet consumer and processing demand while protecting the interests of the EU catching sector. Nonetheless the fundamental structural problems must be addressed for the longer term. In the meantime I am particularly concerned to ensure that the Commission's current proposals to set the 1996 levels of tariff quotas for fish imports fully reflect what is happening on the EU whitefish market. We are pressing for the interests of EU producers to be fully taken into account in these proposals and I will be keeping up that pressure when the issue is discussed at Council on 22 April.

The Dáil adjourned at 3.55 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 16 April 1996.