The State fisheries board, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, says more boats and fishermen are leaving the industry as the size of the fleet is cut because of diminishing stocks.
The board's Chief Executive, Pat Keogh, says that while the catching sector of the industry is facing a very challenging time, demand for fish is going up sharply as the public accepts advice to eat healthy food.
Mr Keogh says that fish farming is meeting an increasing share of this market.
BIM's annual report, published this morning, records 35 older fishing boats decommissioned last year under a scheme to pay owners to leave the industry.
It left up to 200 crew without jobs or seeking employment elsewhere. That trend is expected to continue because more boats will have to be withdrawn to marry the size of the fleet to available fish stocks.
Seafood sales last year increased 9% to €725m, though fish farming - at 38% of the total - accounts for an increasing section of the supply.
