Farmed salmon measures under threat

THE European Commission has been urged by Fisheries Minister John Browne to continue with its existing trade measures on imports of farmed salmon from Norway.

He said the measures, which create a minimum import price for farmed salmon entering the European Union market, are currently under threat.

Mr Browne said the salmon farming industry is important to Ireland, especially Donegal, Connemara and the South West.

Speaking after a meeting in Brussels with David O’Sullivan, the director general of DG Trade, he said there is a need to retain the measures because of their importance for the Irish aquaculture industry.

Mr Browne said there was a high risk that the withdrawal of the current minimum price for farmed salmon would lead to the recurrence of dumping by Norwegian producers.

Mr Browne said the stability brought to the salmon market arising from the implementation of the anti-dumping measures resulted in production levels in Ireland last year rising to 16,000 tonnes from a low of 12,000 during the worst of the dumping period in 2004/2005.

He said the stability in the market has led to renewed investor confidence in Irish companies and it was important to retain these measures for a further period to ensure protection against dumping and to support further growth.