Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
58 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has investigated reports of illegal mussel dredging in the oyster beds of Lough Swilly; if this dredging is harming those oyster beds; if action has been taken on the promise made in 2001 to appropriately amend the granting of mussel licences in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19009/04]
View answerFollowing the granting of two aquaculture licences for the bottom cultivation of mussels in Lough Swilly, local oyster fishermen claimed that parts of the areas licensed overlapped with wild oyster beds in the lough. In light of these complaints, the cross-Border aquaculture initiative, cbait, was asked to carry out a survey of the lough. The objective of the survey was to determine the location and extent of the oyster beds and to ascertain if there was any overlap between those areas and the sites licensed for mussel cultivation.
The results of the survey indicated that there was a minor degree of overlap. Following consultation with the persons to whom the aquaculture licences had been granted, it was agreed that they would surrender the parts of their areas that had been found to contain oysters. Arrangements were made to have the mussel seed removed from the areas concerned, and any oysters retrieved during this process were relaid. Since then, the oyster fishermen have applied for an aquaculture licence in respect of oyster beds in the lough. This application is being considered by my Department. I am advised that there is no evidence of any dredging activity which would be harmful to the oyster beds.
