Vol. 571 No. 4
166 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he has monitored, examined or investigated fish kills throughout the summer months in respect of both freshwater and sea water areas; his conclusions arising from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22145/03]
Primary responsibility for the protection, development, conservation and management of inland fisheries, including the monitoring and examination of fish kills in freshwater areas, rests with the relevant regional fisheries boards, whose work is co-ordinated by the Central Fisheries Board. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive officer of the central board to reply directly to Deputy Durkan on the matter.
As regards fish kills in sea water areas, I assume that the Deputy is referring to mortalities experienced at salmon farms. I mandated the Marine Institute in July to carry out a detailed investigation of the mortalities that occurred at salmon farms in Inver Bay, County Donegal. This investigation is ongoing and its scope has been expanded to include other locations, in the light of information pointing to elevated mortality levels over recent months in certain salmon farms along the western seaboard.
