asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the serious situation confronting the winter fishing industry at Burtonport, Bunbeg and other ports in North-West Donegal where quantities of first-class herrings are being landed and are being sold with great difficulty by the fishermen at an uneconomic price; and if he will indicate what steps are being taken by him to assist the fishermen in disposing of their catches at an economic figure so as to ensure the continuity of this industry which is so valuable to County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Fishing Industry.
I understand that the difficulty recently experienced by Donegal fishermen in disposing of their landings of herring has been due to the fact that the landings contained a considerable proportion of spent fish and fish ready to spawn. Such fish are not in a suitable condition for curing owing to the almost complete absence of fat in the flesh. Furthermore, supplies of herring in better condition from other places on the coast were plentiful thus limiting the demand for the Donegal fish in the fresh state on the Dublin market. The Sea Fisheries Association is doing everything possible to help in clearing the Donegal landings and it is expected that as the fish improve in condition the position will become more satisfactory for the fishermen in that area.
Can the Minister say if his Department has any definite plans to deal with the situation that will undoubtedly arise when heavier catches are landed? When the weather improves sufficiently the catches will be much heavier and the fishermen are anxious to know now if his Department has any plan to deal with the situation that will undoubtedly arise then. I can assure the Minister that the catches at the moment are prime, first-class herring and the officials of his Department are probably aware of that by now.
I can assure the Deputy that if consignments of herring reaching Dublin from that part of the coast do not contain from 57 to 82 per cent. of spent or spawning fish the difficulty of disposing of them on the fresh market in Dublin will be very materially reduced.
Arising out of that reply, is it the policy of the Minister for Agriculture when any produce is in full supply, or when he cannot find a market for it to damage it in the worst possible way?
It is not. Herring from Donegal is second to none if those catching it take the simplest precautions to avoid trying to unload on the market fish that they know perfectly well they should not net.