Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 6

Written Answers. - Control of Sea Lice on Salmon Farms.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

42 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals, if any, he has for the control of sea lice in view of the widespread scientific evidence of their role in the decline of sea trout in traditional fishing grounds; the plans, if any, he has to extend the recently announced ban on salmon farms to any other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Seán Barrett

Question:

56 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine the reason he banned salmon farming along the west coast from Achill, County Mayo to Donegal Bay; and the length of time this ban will remain in place.

Jim Higgins

Question:

57 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for the Marine the enforcement measures, if any, being taken by his Department to control sea lice on salmon farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 56 and 57 together.

The Department operates a comprehensive monitoring and control programme to minimise sea lice levels at salmon farms. Fish farm management strategies, of which this programme is a key component, are part of the wide-ranging precautionary measures being taken to conserve, protect and rehabilitate sea trout stocks.

The sea lice programme is designed to ensure that sea lice levels on salmon farms are monitored, reduced and kept to a minimum and that appropriate remedial action is taken when the situation demands. The extent to which this strategy has been effective can be gauged from the substantial reduction in sea lice numbers achieved at farm sites during 1993.

The Sea Trout Task Force, which I established in June 1993 to advise on additional measures necessary to combat sea trout declines, presented an interim progress report to me last November. Its recommendations on further monitoring and reporting arrangements for sea lice inspections for 1994 are being implemented by the Department. As a result the monitoring programme is being intensified this year and will be aimed at reducing lice levels on all salmon farms even further particularly in the critical spring and autumn months.

All salmon farms are to be inspected twice each month from February to May and at least once per month from June to January inclusive. The inspections will be carried out jointly by the Department and the appropriate Regional Fishery Board. Sampling methodologies have been further refined in line with task force recommendations and results will continue to be made available to the task force and other interested parties under an agreed reporting Protocol.

The 1994 sea lice monitoring programme will complement and reinforce other ongoing improvements in fish farm management notably the following strategies which are being developed for an increasing number of farms. In addition the Department's 1994 Action Programme to conserve, protect and rehabilitate sea trout stocks is being put in place in full consultation with the task force. This Programme will also be informed by the report of the Scientific Sea Trout Working Group which, having evaluated the results of the 1993 national sea trout research programme, has advised on the research priorities for this year and precautionary strategies generally. This report will be published shortly and has already been made available to the task force to assist that forum in its deliberations. Under the programme particular priority will be given to ensuring that the fishery boards systematically apply their enhanced resources this year to the assessment, conservation and development of sea trout stocks in their areas of responsibility.

In its interim report the task force advised that the scientific study of problems affecting sea trout would be advanced by preserving a distinct section of the coastline free of new salmon farming operations. The area between Achill and Donegal Bay — which excludes existing salmon farm operations in Donegal Bay — was proposed by the task force, and accepted by me, as appropriate for this purpose. The sea trout research programme for 1994 will specify the assessment work to be undertaken by the Salmon Research Agency within this self determined area. Long term decisions on this area and sea trout research generally will be informed by the recommendations of the task force, whose final report is expected by Easter, and by the results and conclusions of the overall research programme.