Sale of seafood surges for Lent

THE annual surge in the purchase and consumption of fish that Ireland traditionally experiences on Ash Wednesday is set to reach a new high today.

It follows An Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s (BIM) end-of-year statement for the Irish seafood industry, which recorded estimated total sales worth €803 million, up 6% on the 2006 figure (€778m).

The figures reveal the retail and food service market for seafood continued to show growth with domestic seafood sales to the retail sector increasing by 7% to €169m, while sales to the food service sector increased 5% to €213m.

BIM chief executive Jason Whooley said: “The seafood sector’s performance has been underpinned by good growth in the domestic market of 6% in 2007, which comes on the back of record growth in 2006 of 17%.

“Clearly, the consumer is becoming increasingly aware of the health and well-being benefits of seafood and this is a significant reason for the growth in consumption.”

* www.bim.ie