Michael Moynihan
Question:32 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Marine if he has carried out any studies to monitor the effect of escaped farm salmon on wild stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Farm Salmon Study.
The biological assessment of salmonid populations, both farmed and wild, is one of the areas of ongoing research by my Department's scientific staff. Research is also under way here and in Scotland which should lead to a greater understanding of genetic interactions between farmed and wild salmon stocks. I am pleased to say that this project has been recently awarded significant funding by the EC Commission.
The effects of escapement of farmed fish continue to be widely debated in international fora. Developments in thinking are closely followed, and contributed to, by scientists from my Department and other Irish institutions.
I would stress that the present evidence of the impact of farmed salmon on wild stocks is still somewhat inconclusive. In line with current thinking as outlined by, notably, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation my Department takes a precautionary approach by obliging fishfarmers to minimize the risk of escapes through, for example, optimum cage design and net specification. Compliance by the industry with the Department's requirements is very satisfactory (including the reporting of escapes, since realistically, escapes do occur from time to time due to adverse weather conditions in the main).