§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in the fishing industry; what is the number of boats of various sizes; and what are the prospects for the inshore fishing industry in 1978.
§ Mr. DunnThere are approximately 540 full-time and 285 part-time fishermen employed in the Northern Ireland sea fishing industry. It is estimated that for each job at sea there are three dependent jobs on shore in the ancillary trades and occupations.
92WAt 31st December 1976 there were 122 vessels in the main Northern Ireland trawler fleet, of which 21 were between 40 and 50 feet in registered length; 28 were between 50 and 60 feet; 58 were between 60 and 70 feet and 15 were between 70 and 80 feet. In addition there are about 170 small boats mostly between 20 and 35 feet in length which are operated mainly by part-time fishermen.
The Government are seeking a satisfactory outcome to the negotiations on the EEC common fisheries policy, on which the prospects of the Northern Ireland fishing industry depend.