THE IRISH SEAFOOD INDUSTRY

·  The industry provides employment for over 15,000 people.

·  Sea fish landings at home and overseas amounted to 300,000 tonnes valued at 220 million Euro.

·  40 million Euro of this catch was landed in Scotland, Norway and Spain.

·  The fish processing industry provides employment to over 4,000 people both full time and part time.

·  The leading ports by value are Killybegs 35 million Euro, Dunmore East 16 million Euro, Howth 13 million Euro, Ros an Mhíl 11 million Euro and Castletownbere 10 million Euro.

·  86% of exports were sold in EU countries with Japan and Egypt being the leading non EU markets.

·  The leading market destinations within the EU are France, Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany.

·  80% of Irelands fishing fleet consists of small vessels and these are known as the Inshore Fleet.

·  These vessels fish up to 12 miles of our coasts.

·  The rest of the fleet is known as the Pelagic Fleet. This fleet fishes up to 200 miles of our coast.

IRELAND’S FISHING PORTS

Dingle/An Daingean

There was no fishing industry in Dingle before The Famine and this was recorded on the annual report of the Fishing commissioners circa 1830. However the need for food acted as a catalyst to establish Dingle as a major fishing port. Dingle is a natural harbour, well sheltered and very close to the rich fishing grounds of the Atlantic Ocean. It is within easy reach of many markets and good transport systems.

It was in the 1870’s that Dingle flourished as a major fishing port. A harbour commissioner was established, a lighthouse and a coastguard station was built. The harbour was developed and many smaller piers were developed in places like Fenit, Valentia and Smerwick.

There were up to 12 curing sheds in the area at any one time. When the Dingle/Tralee light railway was established it enabled the export of processed fish to Europe and especially to the U.S.A.

However this progress came to an end with the outbreak of World War 1. Progress was stunted then until the 1950’s when B.I.M established a boatyard facility. In the 1960’s the Dingle Fisherman’s Co-operative was established and catches and landings increased. It went into decline again in the 1970’s but with the help of European Union funds Dingle once again flourished as a major fishing port.

Nowadays the Dingle fleet is still fishing out of Dingle Port but many of her fleet are now crewed by non Irish nationals. Recently there has been a major emphasis on maritime tourism. A yachting marina has been built and there is an Ocean World aquarium in the area. Fungi the Dolphin proves to be a major attraction and many boats bring tourists to view this attraction. This business has further developed with the increase of Whales and Dolphins on the Dingle coast .In recent y

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