Vol. 498 No. 1
69 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, his Department has to encourage organic fish farming; the benefit, if any, this development would have on the industry; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at least one large British supermarket chain has introduced organically farmed salmon for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24464/98]
I fully support and will continue to encourage the Irish salmon farming industry in its strategy to harness the positive environmental factors at work in our marine environment to produce quality organic salmon.
One Irish salmon farming company pioneered the production of organic "Bio-Salmon" and has been accredited since end 1996 by the German Organic Food Certification Organisation and this product currently attracts a premium price in the market.
Sustainable and environmentally friendly production is the key challenge for all food industries. There is exponential consumer demand for organic products and all Irish salmon farmers will have my backing and that of BIM in developing in that direction.
