Marine Minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher T.D., today welcomed the announcement of new trade defence measures, taken by the EU to tackle the dumping of Norwegian farmed salmon on the EU market.
“These measures will come into force from 15th January 2006 and will replace the provisional measures currently in place. They will provide for a Minimum Import Price of €2.80 on Norwegian imports into the EU which will contribute towards price stability in the Community market. This has long been the goal of the Irish Government and Irish industry throughout this process and it now allows Irish producers to compete on the same terms as salmon producers elsewhere,” said Pat the Cope.
Minister Gallagher also commented that: “the findings of the European Commission’s investigations on this matter have uncovered evidence of dumping on the EU market by Norwegian producers which has damaged the competitiveness of Irish and Scottish producers. The provisional measures have so far proved successful with an increase in prices paid to producers of up to 35% since the beginning of the year. This measure will bring more certainty to the market and facilitate Irish producers strategically planning their business requirements.”
In the context of the introduction of the EU anti dumping measures for farmed salmon Minister Gallagher, speaking at the Irish Salmon Growers Association Annual Conference in Galway on 2nd December, also announced a new grant aid initiative to improve the environmental impact and competitiveness of farmed salmon producers.
Under the initiative, €2 million in grant aid will be ring-fenced within the available EU and national funding for aquaculture to support an overall investment of approximately €3 million in new technology for salmon farms, such as feed management systems. These systems, will reduce the amount of unused feed which sinks uneaten through the cages to the sea bed, thereby reducing the environmental impact and will also improve the cost competitiveness for salmon producers. Grants of up to 65% of the eligible costs will be available under this initiative.
“I am bringing this initiative forward at the higher rate of grant aid to directly address the difficulties which the farmed salmon sector has had to face over the last two years as a result of the dumping of Norwegian products on the EU market and increased mortality levels. I believe this programme, which will start early next year, will have a substantial impact on aiding further recovery in the sector,” concluded Pat the Cope.
Full details of the scheme and a call for projects will be issued by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Údarás na Gaeltachta early in the New Year.
ENDS