Fishing Industry Development.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2006

Thursday, 15 June 2006

Questions (31)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

31 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the tonnage produced by the commercial sea fishery sector here for the years 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001; the tonnage produced for each of these years for the ten most important species in terms of productivity and including demersal, pelagic and shell fish; the value of sea fishery production here for each of the years; and the estimated workforce involved in sea fisheries throughout that period including fishing boat crews, processing workers ashore, ancillary support businesses and fisheries distribution both wholesale and retail. [23220/06]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne)

The information sought by the Deputy regarding the tonnage produced by the commercial sea fishery sector for the years 2001-2005 plus the breakdown for the ten most important species is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy at a later date. The vast bulk of sea fishery production in Ireland is exported and the value of exports for the years 2001-2005 is set out in Table 1. Bord Iascaigh Mhara has collected data on employment and has advised that the number of people employed in the Seafood sector for the years 2000 and 2005 are as set out in Table 2. Employment figures are not available for the intervening years.

Table 1: Irish Seafood Exports

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
(€ million)	433.4	428	381.3	380.7	354

Table 2: Employment — Seafood Sector

Sector	2000	2005
Fisheries	6,200	5,037
Aquaculture	2,905	1,936
Processing (includes wholesalers)	4,207	3,507
Ancillary	1,500	1,185
Total	14,812	11,665