Vol. 464 No. 4
36 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Marine the latest survey, if any, that has been conducted on the condition of sea trout on the western coast in respect of fish lice infestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8204/96]
42 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for the Marine the late survey, if any, that has been conducted on the condition of sea trout on the western coast in respect of fish lice infestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8203/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 42 together. Since May 1992, a programme has been in place to sample sea trout from rivers known to be affected by the sea trout decline and rivers where populations have not declined in order to determine the levels of infestation of sea lice in sea trout populations.
The latest sampling programme was undertaken in May and June, 1995 and, as in previous years, was designed to capture sea trout smolts returning to freshwater during that period. A total of 635 fish were captured at 41 locations around the coast. The samples were analysed by Dr. O. Tully, Zoology Department, Trinity College Dublin and a report furnished to the sea trout working group in September 1995. The working group analyses, and draws conclusions from, the data emanating from the sea trout sampling programme and other scientific research and monitoring and reports to the Minister annually.
The latest report on sea lice infestation of sea trout was also made available to the sea trout monitoring and advisory group which was established to monitor, assess and co-ordinate the implementation of the 1994 report of the sea trout task force, to monitor the results of inspections, research findings and other circumstances affecting sea trout stocks and to make appropriate recommendations to the Minister.
The sea trout monitoring and advisory group's second report, which was presented to me recently, recommended, among other matters, that the existing sea trout sampling programme be revised in order to provide for more intensive sampling of certain rivers and to make certain samples available for histological, bacteriological and virological examination. I have endorsed in full the recommendations of the group and have directed the appropriate agencies to ensure that the revised sea trout sampling programme will be put in place this year.
