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IRELAND’S TRADE MISSION to China has identified a “major opportunity” for developing the boarfish market, with key Chinese seafood buyers signing agreements for supply.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, along with representatives from Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and eight seafood companies, held a number of meetings with buyers China in connection with seafood trade.
The attention of the seafood buyers on the Chinese market has been described as a major positive development for Ireland’s seafood industry with boarfish – a small fish caught in large numbers off the Irish coast.
“In 2012, Ireland secured the largest quota for boarfish. At over 56,000 tonnes, it represents a 155 per cent increase on last year’s quota,” said Coveney. ” When you consider that access to raw material is a challenge the Irish fishing sector faces, this new species represents a real opportunity and a boost to Irish fishermen and processors… We can now look to develop this business and in doing so generate significant increased revenue and employment”.
The Minister explained that over the past 18 months, BIM had carried out a number of new product development trials on boarfish, and concluded that it was a viable market opportunity to a number of markets including China and Africa.
He said the development will give Irish suppliers a good insight what format works best from a Chinese market perspective – skinless fillets, headed and gutted, surimi type products or whole fish.
Irish seafood processor Karl McHugh of Atlantic Dawn Ltd, who accompanied the Minister on the mission, said that as pelagic (open sea) processors, they were “fully aware of the potential” of boarfish.
“The fact that we have the lion’s share of this carefully managed resource is a good news story,” he said.
McHugh gave the example of the blue whiting market, saying that – in 2004 – virtually no blue whiting was processed onshore but that by the end of the current season more than 80,000 tonnes of blue whiting will have been processed by plants in Killybegs.
“This represents two extra months of employment for many in the local community,” he explained. “If we can ‘fast-track’ boarfish through our learning’s on this trade mission, then we should look back in a few years and on this resource in a similar manner.”
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This should also be about sustainability and not short term gain our Cod stocks have been ruined through gross over fishing by other EU countries using the laws to rape our seas Simon Coveney should be more aware than anyone to understand this being a sailor and farmer
Yep the tac for this species is dubious as its only been harvested for fish meal but now it’s on the dinner plate this stock only 6 inches in length will be decimated within 10 years. This year IRL has the exploratory quota but if is does prove viable ie 1k per tonne then watch Spain Portugal compete for it
It’s frightening isn’t it, how sustainability just doesn’t come into consideration? With the neoliberals it’s all short term gain, flog whatever you can for maximum profit to whoever – who cares about tomorrow – this is the mentality that brought us to where we are now. These are non renewable resources, it’s like living in a log cabin and ripping it apart for firewood, it’s very cosy for a while until a draught of cold air is felt – the neoliberal reaction is always to rip more and burn more.
critical thinking is not part of the neoliberal dullard approach
Well said Celly, this is just plain short sightedness by the fisheries.
Clearly not, why waste time in analytical reflection, when you could be busy, busy generating profit. Let’s get Ireland shopping again, ought to have been Kenny’s campaign slogan. Let’s keep selling each other crap nobody needs until we run out of money, or stuff to sell, and die. (Neoliberalism 101)
If these are only small fish wouldn’t the nets have smaller holes. Wouldn’t this mean that immature larger fish also be caught unintentionally. I’m not a fisherman but would that not decimate other fish stocks with the smaller holed nets. Good news for Irish fishermen though.
That’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Yes the mesh size will mean it will be indiscriminatory to by catch which means discard will be huge
The only reason they are looking at other species for profit is because the regular ones are all overfished and in decline. The quotas granted by government are way above the recommendations given by the scientists who are tasked with carrying out surveys and studies in this field. An increase of 155 percent and the only comments in the article are from the industry spokes people.
There’s something fishy about this deal.
@Enda, I do concur.. Something smells here..
YYAAAAAYYYYY!!! recession over!!! We’re allowed catch a few more fish than we were before.
Might stick that deposit on the ferrari this morning!
Are you a fisherman?
Fair play to Simon Coveney. He seems to be the only Government Minister who is performing well.
(fish)Oil, Ho!
I welcome this. Our fishermen need all,the help they can get. Also the fishnet experts on here need to do a bit more research. Modern day fishermen are a lot more high tech. Its not just fishnets they fish with.
have your say