Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
121 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his investigations into dumping of farm salmon in Galway in the summer of 2003 and Inver Bay in 2002 have come to an end; if persons have been charged with this dumping; and the body from which the results of his investigations can be obtained. [5848/04]
View answerInvestigations have been carried out in respect of matters relating to the discovery of salmon buried on land near Casla, County Galway, last summer. As proceedings may follow from these investigations, it would not be appropriate to comment on the matter at this time. The events at Inver Bay in 2002 arose from an operating accident at the fish farm concerned about which the company failed to inform the Department. On investigation, the Department found that a substantial number of dead salmon had been left on the seabed beneath one of the fish cages. The Department required the company to have a report on the situation, and on how best to deal with it, prepared by consultants. On receipt of this report, it was determined, with the advice of the Marine Institute that the best way of dealing with the matter was to leave the dead fish in situ.
The company was further required to have regular monitoring of the affected area of the seabed carried out by consultants and to furnish reports of the monitoring to the Department. These reports have shown a satisfactory recovery and return to normal of the seabed conditions. It was decided at the time by the Department, taking account of all of the circumstances, not to initiate a prosecution in respect of the events in Inver Bay in 2002.
