The latest annual report of the State fisheries board, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, shows that Irish people are eating more fish.
Nearly €400m worth of fish was sold on the domestic market last year, an increase of 12%.
The Chief Executive of the board, Jason Whooley, said the increase is due to innovation in production and marketing and recognition of the health benefits of the product.
Even as stocks are in decline, demand for fish is increasing, with sales of fish in the retail and food service sectors at their highest ever at €382m.
Coupled with exports, the total value of Irish fish sales is now over €800m, according to the annual report of Bord Iascaigh Mhara released this morning.
France and Britain are the leading buyers of Irish fish exports, but they are also now going to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Nigeria and Egypt.
Mr Whooley said that in a difficult time for the fishing industry, innovation in production and marketing was paying off, marking a turning point for the industry.
But he warned that it is essential that the key recommendations in the Cawley Report for the future of the industry are implemented. The same call was made by fishermen earlier this week.
