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Exports of pelagic products accounted for 58% of the volume (125,942 tonnes), and 33% of the value (£86,920,000) of all Irish seafood exports for the period
January to December 2000.
Overall, there has been a decline of 8% in the volume of pelagic exports. This could be attributed in part to the reduction in quotas for pelagic species.
On the other hand, the value of pelagic exports in 2000 increased by 17% compared to 1999.
Despite some difficulties in some pelagic markets last year, there was a good trade in whole frozen mackerel particularly to Egypt and in certain herring products to
other markets.
Species profile:
Mackerel:
Mackerel accounted for 44% of the value of all pelagics exported in 2000. Total exports of mackerel amounted to £38m with a volume of 57,023 tonnes. The
increase in value of exports can be attributed to a significant rise in prices during the last months of 2000.
Horse mackerel:
Horse mackerel accounted for 17% of the value of pelagic exports in 2000. Total value of horse mackerel exports was over £14m.
Herring:
Herring accounted for nearly 19% of total value of Irish pelagic exports last year, with a total value of £16m. An upward trend in the prices for herring has confirmed positive expectations for the autumn/winter season.
This can be attributed partly to falling stocks and increased demand, but also to the excellent quality of Irish herring being landed when weather conditions permitted.
Herring roe:
Exports of herring roe increased by 25% in volume to 725 tonnes and by 30% in
value to £2.7m.
Sprat:
Total export volume and value of sprat accounted for approximately 3% of total pelagic exports, with figures amounting to 3,757 tonnes and £2.5m respectively.
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