Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fish Diseases.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

558 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there have been reported cases of infectious salmon anaemia among commercial salmon farms in the Furnish area of Lettermullan district in County Galway; if members of the Western Fisheries Board visited any salmon farms to investigate the possible outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia in this area; if salmon farmers are bound to report any escapes of caged salmon to the relevant public authorities; and whether insurance companies who are paying compensation for the loss of the escaped fish farm salmon are required to notify the public authorities about the loss involved. [1950/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

There have been no reported cases of infectious salmon anaemia, ISA, in farmed salmon in the Furnish area of County Galway. While members of the Western Regional Fisheries Board may from time to time, undertake inspections of salmon farming oper ations as part of the board's role of protection and development of the wild fisheries resource, the Department is not aware that any member of the board has carried out visits of any farms in regard to a possible outbreak of the disease. For some years now, all marine aquaculture sites have been subject to routine testing for the presence of the ISA virus. The testing and sampling programme, carried out under EU legislation, is undertaken by the Marine Institute on behalf of the Department.

Aquaculture licences are subject to a variety of conditions designed to ensure best practice and the taking of all necessary precautionary-remedial action. It is a licence condition that fish escapes must be reported immediately to the Department and to the relevant regional fisheries board. There is no requirement on insurance companies to notify the Department or its agencies in regard to claims made in respect of losses by farms due to fish escapes.