Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 2

Written Answers. - Fish Farming.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

31 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason his Department has not compensated the owners of the Cape Clear turbot farm for the obliged fish kill by his Department in 1997 due to VHS disease in view of the fact that owners of Moorepark were compensated for the loss of their dairy herd due to BSE at the same time. [3588/00]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

35 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the policy of his Department regarding compensation to fish farmers obliged by his Department to kill their stocks arising from an outbreak of list one and list two disease as determined by the European Union. [3589/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 35 together.

Ireland operates very strict fish health provisions in accordance with the EU Council Directive 91/67/EEC. Under the directive, Ireland has "approved zone" status for list one and two diseases reflecting our overall high fish health status. To maintain that disease free status which is critical for our export based aquaculture industry, all fish farms must be inspected and regular sampling carried out by the marine institute in accordance with the requirements of the directive. The directive also sets out compulsory requirements for disease eradication programmes which must be implemented by member states in the event of a disease outbreak.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, the fish farm was a shore based unit operating a pilot scale project to evaluate the potential for farming halibut and turbot. Following an outbreak of the notifiable disease viral haemorrhaic septicaemia, in 1997 it was necessary, in line with mandatory EU requirements, to undertake a cull of fish. The operators were informed in February 1998 that it would not be possible to provide Exchequer compensation and this remains the position. I am advised that the Marine Institute is now working with the co-op to re-establish fish farming on Oileán Chléire.