asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will give a full progress report on work carried out by his Department or any other agency at the St. George oyster beds since they were acquired by the State; the date on which they were acquired; and if he will give details of development and improvement work which are now planned by his Department.
Written Answers. - Oyster Fishery.
343.
Following the purchase by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara of the St. George Oyster Fishery in 1981 a preliminary survey of the fishery was undertaken by the board in mid-1982. As a result of that survey, which indicated the feasibility of restoring the oyster beds and reviving the fishery, plans were prepared by BIM for its development. However due to the more pressing demands on the board's resources it has not yet been possible for the board to implement these plans. Continuous biological monitoring of the fishery was carried out during 1984 by BIM in conjunction with the Department of Oceanography, University College, Galway.