Vol. 384 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Marine if, in view of the recent dumping of diseased salmon in close proximity to Lough Beltra, County Mayo, he considers it necessary to take steps to ensure that wild stocks are not endangered by the activities of fish farmers.
30.
asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that diseased salmon have been dumped illegally on a tiphead in County Mayo; and whether there are any rules or regulations governing this malpractice.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 30 together.
I have stated on many occasions — and I am glad of the opportunity to restate it — that aquaculture should develop in harmony with other interests, including the wild fishery. To this end, my Department regulates aquaculture development in accordance with the Fisheries Act, 1980, which provides for the licensing of projects within areas which have been formally designated for aquaculture.
In relation to the disposal of dead fish, my Department requires fish farmers to notify it of suspected disease appearance or abnormal losses or mortalities within 48 hours; the dead fish must be disposed of in a lime pit or other manner advised by my Department. Where local authority facilities are used, it must be by prior arrangement and with the approval of the local authority concerned.
My Department are investigating recent incidents in Counties Mayo and Galway. I can assure the House that neither incident posed a threat to the wild fishery. It is my intention, nevertheless, to ensure that conditions relating to the hygienic disposal of dead fish are adhered to; I am in contact with the industry in this connection and I am confident of their support. Where malpractices can be proven, I will take severe action against offending parties.
Having regard to the fact that further incidents of the dumping of diseased fish have come to light since these questions were put down, may I ask the Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that the regulations to which he referred are being adhered to? Is the Minister satisfied that the regulations are being adhered to because the instances of fish dumping are becoming more numerous? What steps are being taken to monitor the situation to ensure that this will not continue? It is one thing to have regulations but it is another thing to ensure that they are being enforced. Would the Minister not agree that these regulations are not of much use if the wherewithal to enforce them is not being provided?
I can assure the Deputy and the House that the necessary action will be taken to ensure that those disposing of dead fish will comply with the regulations. Again, I would refer to the necessity for people to dispose of the fish in a lime pit, which I think is the most obvious way, or, where local authority facilities are used, to make prior arrangements with the approval of the local authority concerned. Since the recent disposal of fish in County Galway, which Deputy Pattison referred to, I instructed senior officials of my Department to speak with the Chief Executive of the ISGA, the Irish Salmon Growers Association. We wrote to him and received a reply from him yesterday. We will have a meeting with him tomorrow and the Deputy can be assured that we shall do everything possible to ensure that there will not be a recurrence of what happened prior to the tabling of the parliamentary questions. Of course, the ultimate step which can be taken — and, if necessary, it will be done — is that licences can be withdrawn. However, I am convinced that the company responsible for the disposal which we read of and saw on television are a very reliable company. We will have discussions with them in order to ensure that this will not happen in the future.
Question No. 57.
Can I ask the Minister——
It will have to be a very brief question, I am seeking to dispose of the other questions also.
Would the Minister consider broadening the role of the regional fisheries boards to give them the resources necessary to police this situation?
I will certainly consider that proposal.
