Aquaculture Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Questions (1066)

Noel Grealish

Question:

1066. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the effect that there have been disease outbreaks in a number of salmon cage installations along the west coast, one of which is amoebic gill disease; if he will give details of the locations of these outbreaks and whether the disease has caused high mortalities and the closure of open salmon cage installations; if the treatment of the disease prevents the management of lice levels, in view of the fact that the fish will not feed and be able to take medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is aware that Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) related mortality has occurred in Atlantic salmon installations along the western seaboard in late 2011 and 2012. My Department is not aware that the mortality has caused the closure of farms, but marine sites are fallowed regularly as part of best practice and to fulfil licence conditions.

The treatment of choice for Neoparamoeba perurans , the causative agent of AGD, is to bathe the fish in freshwater for 2-3 hours, which causes lysis (cell breakdown) of the pathogen. Such freshwater treatments also assist with the treatment of sea lice infestation.

AGD does not prevent the management of sea lice infestations. My Department’s policy on sea lice management is strictly evidence based. The control protocols are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State and are more advanced that those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:

- the inspection regime is totally independent of the industry

- data obtained as a result of inspections is published

- treatment trigger levels are set at a low level

The control protocols have been the subject of detailed investigation and testing by the EU Commission which has confirmed that it regards the sea lice protocols operated in Ireland as representing best practice internationally.