Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
1438. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the analysis his Department has carried out on the effect the draft EU/USA tariff agreement on tariffs will have on the lobster market in Europe and in particular here and the viability of the industry; if an analysis has been carried out on the effect the agreement will have on coastal communities and their viability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21945/20]
View answer1439. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of the lobster industry to Ireland; the number of fishermen and boats involved in the industry by county; the number of persons indirectly involved in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21946/20]
View answer1440. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to carry out a regulatory impact analysis of the impact of the US/EU tariff agreement signed in August 2020 before its ratification by Ireland and the EU; his further plans to publish the analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21947/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1438 to 1440, inclusive, together.
Lobster is a particularly important species for the inshore fishing fleet and is fished predominantly using pots right around the coast. Any Irish sea-fishing boat with the appropriate licence conditions is eligible to fish for lobster. The Report of the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats for 2019 indicates that this may number up to 1,400 vessels. However, these vessels are also eligible to fish for certain other species and the business model varies from boat to boat.
Like many elements of Irish seafood, the lobster fishery relies on a healthy export market. BIM’s Business of Irish Seafood report values Irish lobster exports in 2019 at €15m. European markets remain significant for Irish seafood exports, including lobster, and the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality, retail and café sectors across the EU and elsewhere has undoubtedly made 2020 a difficult trading year for many elements of the Irish seafood sector.
Recently BIM has reported some recovery in prices to fishers which aligns with the step-back of COVID-19 restrictions and re-opening measures happening in many countries over the past number of weeks as we all learn to live with the virus. My Department continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on key destinations for Irish food exports and to work with all sectors, within the regulatory framework, to develop responsive measures.
On 21 August, the EU Commission and the United States announced agreement on a package of tariff reductions on a range of products, including US live and frozen lobster products. If EU imports of US lobster increase significantly it could combine to further impact on prices and demand - however, the US also exports to other international markets. The US lobster (homarus americanus) is not the same species as the European lobster (homarus gammarus) although both are fished wild which acts as a constraint on supply. The EU Commission figures indicate that last year the EU27 imported €42 million of lobster products from the US (15% of overall extra-EU imports), out of a market worth €290million in total and in which EU producers are supplying less than 5% of EU consumption. Bord Bia has advised that the EU market places strong preference on European lobster, the species caught in Ireland, and that prices received reflect this in the market place.
