asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the average price paid for demersal fish landed from State trawlers in the past 12 months was greater than the average price paid for fresh fish landed by inshore fishermen, and, if so, if he will state the reasons for the difference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Fish.
The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes", but I must point out to the Deputy that the comparison which he seeks to make is not sustainable on the basis of "like with like" and that the advantage in price which lies in this comparison with the landings of demersal fish made by the board's vessels is not therefore well founded. The landings made by these vessels contained a high percentage of the more valuable varieties of demersal fish while the total landings of fresh fish by inshore fishermen included a high percentage of the cheaper demersal varieties as well as the full landings of pelagic fish which usually sells comparatively cheaply.