Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - County Cork Farm Salmon Escape.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe

I am aware that certain people have been facetious about this issue. I will not be facetious as a serious problem exists. I should like to discusss this matter with the Minister and make sure we do not have a recurrence of the escape of farm salmon. Farmed fish and wild fish stock are mutually exclusive and they must, of necessity, be kept apart. We must take great care to ensure that we do not have escapes similar to that from Salmara in west Cork. There is antipathy between fish farmers and the fisherman. For instance, the fisherman will tell you that the decline in sea trout is directly attributable to farm salmon and farm trout. Whatever the reason, the sea trout population has declined rapidly during the past number of years and, therefore, fishermen are suspicious.

A number of serious questions have arisen as a result of this incident. How did 8,000 farm salmon escape from Salmara? My information suggests a service vessel was responsible. How could this be allowed to occur given the grave consequences for our wild fish stock? We are all aware that farm trout experience difficulty with sea lice. If there was to be interaction between farm fish and wild fish stock God only knows where it would end. It would be a catastrophe for fishing in general.

It has been suggested to me that two of the salmon were fished out of the Lee valley last week and that eight of these fish were caught in the lakes of Killarney. It has been suggested also that there has been a catch in the Ilem river in Skibbereen. I understand some of these have been sent for analysis and I would ask the Minister if there has been report so that we can establish whether the fish have made their way into our rivers and lakes. We are all aware of the consequences of that.

The whole question of security and the powers of the South Western Regional Fisheries Board has now been called into question. It has been stated that the escape was known for six days without any action being taken. It has been alleged that on the sixth day the South Western Regional Fisheries Board visited the farm but were not allowed access on the basis that the manager was in Dublin that day. This begs the question whether the South Western Regional Fisheries Board — the people protecting our fish — have the power when there is such an occurrence to go in and check out the position.

In order to ensure we do not have a repetition of this irresponsible escape, what mechanisms will the Minister put in place? Can he confirm the number of fish that escaped? The original number suggested was 800, the newspapers said it was 8,000 but nobody is sure of the extent of the escape.

What are the consequences for our wild fish stock if they have made their way into our river and lakes? Is there a major consequence for the wild fish stock? Will it be a catastrophe for our fishing season? It is necessary to allay the fears of people but more especially it is necessary to put in place mechanisms to ensure that we never have a recurrence.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. G. O'Sullivan)

I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for raising this very important issue. I agree with him that some Deputies regard it as a flippant issue but it is very serious.

At the outset I would like to inform the House about the facts of this case.

Late in the evening of 8 April last, Salmara Fisheries notified the Department of the Marine and the South Western Regional Fisheris Board that an incident had occurred at 5 p.m. approximately at the Inishfarnad licensed salmon farm site in Kenmare Bay which led to the escape of salmon. It is obligatory under the terms of every operator's licence that notification be given of escapes immediately and the company complied with this requirement. The escape of approximately 9,000 fish arose from damage to the net of one salmon cage caused by the propellor of a service vessel.

A request by the South Western Regional Fisheries Board was subsequently received for the issue of a permit to Salmara Fisheries under section 14 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, to allow the company catch escapees. The permit was issued subject to the netting being carried out under the supervision of the South Western Regional Fisheries Board.

Despite intensive netting by Salmara Fisheries, the latest information available to me and confirmed by the South Western Regional Fisheries Board is that no escapees have been caught. The best advice available to me from the Department of the Marine's technical experts is that in all likelihood the fish in question dispersed at sea.

Regarding salmon escapes generally, the evidence currently available to me suggests that the effect of farmed escapees on wild stocks is inconclusive. Pending the outcome of ongoing research into this complex problem the approach of the Department must be to work with the aquaculture industry to take all necessary precautions to avoid escapes and notify the relevant authorities urgently if and when such an incident takes place.

Escapes of salmon result in serious economic loss to fish farmers and it is of course in their own interests to minimise the risk of escapes occurring.

Following these consultations I have today initiated a review of the departmental procedures for handling salmon escapes and the strengthening of emergency response procedures. I have personally inspected the company's operations in the area and have held extensive consultations with the local South Western Regional Fisheries Board and other fishery interests.

Existing emergency response arrangements will be strengthened to ensure that authorisations to net escapees as required by statute will be streamlined to ensure that the most immediate and effective response is put in place by both salmon farm operators and fisheries boards. Furthermore, I have decided that the Department and fisheries boards must be notified immediately escapes occur, accepting that the licensed operator in the recent case complied fully with this obligation. I have also decided that the salmon farming industry should ensure that effective arrangements for the immediate netting of escaped salmon are put in place. I am anxious that the present arrangements be rigorously reviewed to ensure the maximum co-operation between fishery boards and salmon farmers and to avoid administrative delays.

I have directed the Department's marine survey office to review the circumstances leading to the Inisfarnard escape which arose from damage to the net of one salmon cage by the propeller of a service vessel. Management systems for service vessels on site will be reviewed to ensure that all steps are taken by farm managers to prevent a recurrence of this type of accident.

As this is a national review of existing emergency response measures I have directed the Department to consult fully with the Central Fisheries Board and the representative national organisation for salmon farmers, the Irish Salmon Growers Association. I concur with the Deputy that the present situation is not satisfactory and I have taken steps to change it immediately.

In conclusion I should stress that I am of the strong view that salmon farming and the wild fisheries can co-exist in harmony provided that farming activities are controlled fully. Our policy is that these controls be rigorously enforced and observed.