Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2011
155 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate, if known, the extent to which fish and fish products, fresh, tinned or smoked, available here have been caught by Irish fisherman and are processed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28104/11]
View answerMy information is that approximately 48% of domestic sales are Irish in origin. Imports are understood to be mostly canned fish and frozen fillets for the fast food trade, as well imports of fresh cod and salmon to balance shortages of domestic supply. An Bord Bia promotes the consumption of local fresh fish, including hake, haddock, whiting and mackerel and shellfish species such as crab, mussels and prawns and there is plentiful domestic supply of these species. In addition, BIM makes available a range of supports to the Irish processing industry to help it modernise, become more competitive and consumer oriented and increase output capacity and thus both increase exports and compete with imported processed seafood products.
