Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 5

Written Answers. - Fish Marketing and Sale.

Martin Cullen

Ceist:

46 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for the Marine in view of the fact that the traditional fishing activity is subject to severe constraints by way of quotas, if he will overhaul the outdated marketing and selling of fish products that exists at the present time, such as is envisaged under the EC Regulation 3759/92. [3952/95]

Minister for Marine (Mr. Coveney)

The regulation referred to by the Deputy lays down common rules for the marketing of fish in the European Union. In particular it provides for: common marketing standards, i.e. size, presentation, quality; the establishment of producers' organisations, which are organised on the initiative of fishermen; a price support system based on intervention mechanisms or compensation mechanisms; a common trade regime with non-EU countries.

The purpose of the regime is to provide a common framework within which the marketing of fish can take place and to organise competition on the Community market.

The provisions of the regulation are fully implemented in Ireland. In particular, three producers' Organisations, the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO), the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (KFO) and the Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation, have been established on the initiative of the fishing industry. The common marketing standards provided for have been implemented and a number of fish intervention schemes are in operation.

The Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-1999 contains a comprehensive package of measures which will do much to improve the promotion of fishery and aquaculture products. The Programme provides for expenditure in excess of £2.6 million to develop and strengthen markets for fish and fish products. In addition, a further sum of over half a million pounds of exchequer funds has been provided for marketing in 1995.

The objective of the generic promotion initiative is to identify and capitalise on new fish product/market opportunities at home and abroad and to increase export competitiveness through seminars and information briefings; market prospects and inward buyer programmes; promotions programmes; consumer surveys and trade fairs and exhibitions.