Salmon Management Report

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Questions (1007)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1007. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013 effective moratorium on increased salmon farming where it stated that the targets for the increased productive capacity for salmon will now have to be deferred until after 2013 or until such time as the sea lice issue has been satisfactorily resolved is still in place; if not, if the sea lice issue is now resolved; if the decision that the sea lice issue was resolved was agreed by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Inland Fisheries Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16540/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 216 of 28 March 2013, wherein I stated that the matter of the temporary restriction on grant aid to the marine salmon farming sector is being kept under review with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources but is still in place. The position remains unchanged.

I would reiterate that this temporary restriction relates only to grant aid and is not a moratorium on the commercial development of the salmon farming sector.