EU to restrict imports of salmon
Over the past 18 months, the industry in Ireland and Scotland, has been severely affected by massive over-supplies, imported at prices well below their costs of production.
The effect of this over-production has been to force farmers to stop much-needed investment and reduce production.
IFA Fish Farming Section chief Richie Flynn welcomed the commission decision to restrict imports of salmon from Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland from Saturday for at least 200 days.
He said it would have a hugely positive effect on the embattled salmon farming industry that has survived two years of rock-bottom prices caused mainly by over-production in non-EU countries.
Ireland’s salmon farming industry was established 28 years ago in Connemara and now produces 15,000 tonnes, worth €70 million in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork, employing more than 1,000 people.
It exports 70% of its production, mainly to continental Europe. Prices to Irish producers since 2002 have been disastrously low due to over-production in countries like Norway, which produces almost 500,000 tonnes of salmon.
The commission found during its investigation of the salmon market this year that huge losses were being made both in the EU salmon industry and in Norway. It identified the cause as a 20% hike in imports into the EU.
EU Salmon Producers Group secretary Angus Morgan said: “Hopefully, we can all now get on with producing our excellent product safe in the knowledge that we have a sound commercial future.”
