Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 5

Written Answers. - World Food Show.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

46 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the representatives, if any, from his Department and the Irish Fish Processing Association who attended the recent world food show in Moscow; and the efforts, if any, he has made to the Russian Government to invite the Russian factory ships to Castletownbere and Killybegs for the forthcoming mackerel and herring season. [20373/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

BIM's coverage of Russia and other east European countries during 1999 includes activities focused on specific seafood market events but did not include the show referred to by the Deputy. The most important seafood trade show covering eastern Europe, POLFISH, took place in Gdansk in June this year. BIM organised a national pavillion at the exhibition with the involvement of several Irish fish exporters.

In early September BIM invited and sponsored trade representatives from Russia and the CIS to attend a conference on small pelagic fish held in Dublin. Important representatives from these countries attended and met with leading exporters from the Irish industry. Delegates were, also, brought on a visit to Killybegs to see at first hand the processing facilities and meet processors and exporters.

BIM will continue to monitor closely the market situation in eastern Europe and the CIS and will work closely with fish processors and exporters seeking to access these markets.

To date no applications have been made to my Department in relation to the introduction of Russian factory ships to operate in conjunction with the mackerel and herring fisheries. Any such applications would require to be made under the Fisheries (Control of Fish Processing Vessels), Order, 1986 and the Fisheries (Control of Fish Processing Vessels) (Amendment) Order, 1987. Applications made under the orders would require to be considered in the context of the impact of the vessels on the conservation and rational exploitation of the fisheries concerned. No licences have been approved for the operation of factory ships in these fisheries in recent years.