Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Irish Fisheries Board, has reported that the seafood industry showed significant growth in 2005 with the total retail market increasing in value by 5.5% and the food service market up by 11%.
According to BIM's annual review for 2005, the wholesale value of the food service sector is now estimated at €174m, while retail sales of seafood were valued at €185m last year.
Last year, seafood exports amounted to 198,623 tonnes, which were valued at €354m. BIM says the industry had many challenges to contend with last year in terms of reduced fish supplies and increased costs due to higher fuel prices.
It said this resulted in exports declining by 24%, or 62,100 tonnes, in volume from the 2004. However, the decline in value was only 7%.
Meanwhile, Irish fisheries leaders have called on the European Commission to accept a ruling of the European Court in favour of Irish fishermen.
The fishermen had to spend €53 million to get fishing licences when the commission insisted that safety measures on boats improved catching ability.
However, the court has ruled that the commission was wrong.
Legal teams are now examining what entitlement fishermen have to compensation as the Department of the Marine had also wrongly imposed penalties on them.
