Aquaculture is regulated through the licensing system established by the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, and fish farmers must conduct their operations in accordance with the terms and conditions of their licences.
My Department operates, with the advice and assistance of the Marine Institute, a system of monitoring and control to ensure that aquaculture operations are carried on in accordance with licence terms and conditions.
I regard strict compliance with the obligations and requirements specified in licences as a matter of the highest importance. I was, therefore, very concerned by recent reports of instances of alleged departures from the high standards required of aquaculture operations. Any such case will be fully and rigorously investigated and appropriate action, up to and including prosecution or licence revocation, will be taken where justified in the light of the results of the investigation. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate, however, to comment on particular cases or the action that may be taken in respect of them.
In addition to the investigation of specific cases, my Department has been instructed to initiate a comprehensive review of the procedures currently in place for monitoring and control of aquaculture. The objective of this review, which will be carried out as a priority, is to ensure that appropriate monitoring, control and enforcement processes are in place for the ongoing effective regulation of the industry.
The salmon farming industry had a production in 2002 of over 22,00 tonnes, valued at over €71 million and provided full or part time employment for over 900 people. I reject the Deputy's suggestion that the salmon farming industry has been developed at the expense of wild fisheries. The Government is committed to ensuring that any development of salmon farming takes place on a sustainable basis and in accordance with high standards of environmental and ecological protection. It is committed also to conserving wild fisheries resources in their own right and their viability and economic and social contribution at national and local community levels. To those ends, the aquaculture licensing system ensures that a fish farm development is permitted only after full consideration of all relevant issues, including likely effects on wild fisheries. Moreover, conditions and requirements are specified in any licence granted in order that a fish farm will operate in accordance with appropriate standards, having regard to factors such as the nature of its business and its location.
The Deputy will be aware that the issue of alleged effects of salmon farming on sea trout stocks has been a matter of debate and disagreement for a considerable period. Action has been taken on a precautionary basis through the establishment of a comprehensive programme for monitoring and control of sea lice levels at fish farms. While this system is well developed and allows remedial action to be taken at an early stage, it will be examined as part of the wider review of enforcement and control that I have initiated.
