asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he accepts that Ireland's aquaculture production of 700 tonnes per annum needs urgently to be developed to reach its full potential, especially when it is compared with France's annual production of 30,600 tonnes, Italy's production of 28,900 tonnes, the UK's production of 11,300 tonnes and Greece's production of 4,262 tonnes; and the steps he is taking to achieve this end.
Written Answers. - Aquaculture Production.
443.
According to the yearbook of the Irish Aquaculture Association production of farmed oysters, mussels, salmon and rainbow trout in this country exceeded 7,000 tonnes in 1982 and exports were valued at almost IR£4 million. Indications are that output for 1983 will be much higher. I agree that there is considerable scope for increased production here and my aim is to encourage and accelerate that development.
Substantial financial assistance is of course available for the development of fish farming. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara operates a national mariculture grants scheme under which generous grants are available for both pilot and commercial scale projects. In areas under its jurisdiction Údarás na Gaeltachta operates a scheme under which grants of up to 60 per cent of capital expenditure are available for suitable fish farming projects. Grant assistance of up to 50 per cent of capital costs is also available from the EC under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA) for suitable commercial scale projects. For freshwater fish farming grants are available from the Department of Agriculture under the farm modernisation scheme.