Sales rose last year by five per cent with the home market overtaking exports.

With overall demand still strong and overall seafood consumption comparatively low by European standards, there would appear to still be considerable growth in the future.

The average Irish person consumed 16.7 kilos of fish last year, which is 5.3 kilo less than their other European counterparts.

The top five sellers were salmon, cod, prawns, haddock and mackerel, with salmon and cod accounting for 54 per cent of the fresh fish market. White fish accounted for 29 per cent of all sales, with almost half the white fish sales being cod.

Aquaculture is expected to play a major role in the next few years with and estimated 70,000 tonnes in 2008 rising to more than 110,000 tonnes within eight years.

Ireland has ambitions to add 100 million Euro to the value of its seafood industry within the next five years.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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