Michael Finucane
Question:129 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the total fish catch to date in 1999; and the amount of total catch processed outside Ireland. [5293/99]
Written Answers. - Fish Catch.
Preliminary catch figures to the end of January indicate that the total catch by the Irish fleet to the end of January is 24,510 tonnes approximately. Of this catch a total of 4,799 tonnes was landed outside Ireland made up of just over 4,700 tonnes of pelagic species landed for processing into Norway, the Netherlands and the UK. In addition just over 90 tonnes of demersal species, mainly sole and plaice, were landed into Norway and the UK. A total of 18,000 tonnes has been or will be exported after undergoing primary processing in Ireland. a further 1,000 tonnes has been or will be exported in a fresh condition directly to the market.