Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Mar 1989

Vol. 388 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fish Farming.

23.

Mr. Quinn

asked the Minister for the Marine, in respect of the recent decision to grant permission for a fish farming plant at Murvey Rock, Roundstone, County Galway, the steps which can be taken by his Department to ensure that the proposed fish farm will pose no environmental threat to the immediate vicinity of Roundstone and Murvey Rock; and if he will indicate (1) the extent of the proposed farm, (2) the total volume of fish involved, (3) the amount of fish waste that will be generated by the farm, (4) the environmental treatment measures which are proposed to neutralise this waste, (5) whether a chemical known as nuvan will be used in the treatment of the farm; and if so, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this chemical is regarded as being highly toxic to humans as well as being lethal to lobsters, crabs and shell fish species, (6) the conditions, precautions or other requirements which he stipulated with respect to ensuring that disease would be contained in this fish farm, (7) the steps which will be taken to ensure that the impact in environmental terms of this fish farm will not have damaging effect upon the commercial marine fishing in the vicinity of Roundstone and (8) the assessment which has been made by his Department in conjunction with the Department of Tourism and Transport and Galway County Council on the impact of this proposed fish farm on the tourism industry in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

51.

Mr. Barry

asked the Minister for the Marine if, because of the strong opposition from local residents to the proposed salmon farming venture at Roundstone, County Galway, he will reconsider his decision to grant a licence for this project.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Daly)

I propose taking Questions Nos. 23 and 51 together.

The area in question — Kilkieran and Bertraghboy Bays — was formally designated for aquaculture by order under the Fisheries Act, 1980, by my predecessor as Fisheries Minister, Deputy Liam Kavanagh, on 5 December 1986.

No licence has yet been issued in respect of the proposed fish farm at Murvey Rock and no licence will issue until I have personally examined the details and the site. The project has, however, been examined by the aquaculture licence vetting group within my Department. This group comprises a representative each from the engineering section of my Department, our fisheries research centre, our marine survey office and the Central Fisheries Board. The group approved in principle of the issue of a licence for the project to go ahead on a pilot scale, subject to a technical survey being carried out by the promoters. Any licence which issues will contain strict conditions regarding the operation of the fish farm and the quantity of fish being kept at the site so as to avoid damage to the environment or to other fish resources in that area and to ensure that tourism amenities are properly safeguarded.