A comprehensive investigation of the significant levels of fish mortalities at fish farms in Inver Bay, County Donegal over recent months is being carried out, at my request, by the Marine Institute.
Considerable work has been carried out since last July by the institute. However, the cause of the mortalities has not, as yet, been determined. The investigation is continuing and I have asked for its scope to be extended to consider also the high levels of mortalities experienced at other fish farms on the west coast in recent months. The investigation will proceed as quickly as possible but it is not possible to indicate definitively at this point when it will be concluded. I expect that a full report will be published by the Marine Institute when the work currently under way has been completed. As the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.