Dick Spring
Question:48 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Marine the number of licence applications which are awaiting decision by him for finfish, such as salmon and trout, the shellfish farming as of 1 January 1991.
Written Answers. - Fish Farming Licence Applications.
Approximately 150 inquiries in relation to finfish farming and 500 inquiries in relation to shellfish farming have been raised with the Department of the Marine since its establishment.
Primarily for environmental reasons, priority has been given to the licensing of finfish farms in which regard the Governments environment action programme contains a commitment to bring all such projects fully within the licensing framework before the end of 1991. Progress in that regard is now very well advanced with over 70 per cent of capacity now fully covered.
I am anxious that all licence decisions be properly evaluated and researched and in that connection in order to provide a comprehensive basis for licensing I have developed a dual approach: (a) for finfish farms of more than 100 tonnes an Environmental Impact Assessment is required, which is publicly displayed. This comprehensive technical and other data must be supplied by the promoter to the Department and evaluated by the experts there; and (b) for shellfish farms the promoters are made aware of the data required but it is necessary for my Department to assemble all the relevant information for areas concerned. I have therefore put in place a programme of "base line scientific studies" by BIM in over 15 areas around the coast, in order to underpin future licensing programmes and decisions and to better inform the public consultative process.