China set to import more Irish salmon

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has announced that Ireland has secured full market access to China for salmon exports, a major boost to selling Irish seafood to the high-end market in China.

The announcement came during a four-day political and trade mission to Beijing and Shanghai and comes after a lengthy period of negotiations between the Chinese authorities and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), in conjunction with the Irish Embassy in Beijing.

Value of Irish seafood
The conclusion of the negotiations by the SFPA is an important step in the ongoing opening of the Chinese market for Irish seafood, said Mr Gilmore in Shanghai.

The value of Irish seafood exports to China have grown from €5.7 million in 2010 to €10 million in 2012.

Four Irish seafood firms, McBride Fishing, Carr Shellfish, Shellfish De La Mer and Sofrimar, have formed a joint venture called Jade Ireland Seafood.

Under the Ocean Jade brand, they sell a range of live and processed seafood products, including live and processed crab, lobster, mussels, prawns, scallops and whitefish, which are sold through the upmarket retailer CityShop.

Among the issues Mr Gilmore will be raising during the visit will be access to the Chinese market for Irish beef. A ban on beef imports from the EU, including Ireland, was imposed after the BSE crisis and Ireland is taking a leading role in efforts to have the ban lifted.

During the Shanghai leg of the trip, Mr Gilmore launched the Wild Atlantic Way and Tourism Ireland's new Chinese language website at an event organised by Tourism Ireland which was attended by about 100 influential Chinese travel agents.