Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
890. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of the lobster industry here in terms of landings by weight and value to ports and lobster export value in view of the recent announcement on the removal of tariffs on lobster imported from the United States of America; the number of vessels engaged in the fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25332/20]
View answerLike many elements of Irish seafood, the lobster fishery relies on a healthy export market. BIM’s Business of Irish Seafood report, which is available online, values Irish lobster exports in 2019 at €15m and quantifies landings of 100 tonnes by the Irish Fishing Fleet in 2019.
Lobster is a particularly important species for the inshore fishing fleet and is fished predominantely 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.
