Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 3

Written Answers. - Fish Farms.

John Deasy

Question:

253 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the species of sea fish that are being fish farmed in Ireland; the details of the tonnage being produced annually; and the reason for the availability of vast quantities of sea bass in continental restaurants. [11083/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

Details of marine finfish species that are currently farmed in Ireland together with annual production figures for 2001 and 2002 are set out in the following table:

Species	Production 2002(Provisional)Tones	Production 2001Tonnes
Salmon	22,294	23,312
Sea reared Trout	1,273	977
Turbot	50	30
Halibut	–	–
Total	23,617	24,233

Sea bass is commercially exploited in EU southern waters mainly by France, Spain and Portugal. The sea bass stock around Ireland's coast is at the northern limit of its range and strict conservation measures at national level are in place to protect the stock. Sea bass is widely farmed in the Mediterranean, mainly in Greece, Italy, France and Spain. The sea bass available in continental restaurants is likely to be of farmed origin.