Sea Lice Controls

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 May 2013

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Questions (325)

Noel Grealish

Question:

325. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if treatment levels are set at 0.5 lice per salmon in salmon cage installations, regardless of numbers of salmon in cages; in view of the fact that there will be at least 7.2m salmon in the proposed cages in Galway Bay, will the same treatment level take account of this number of fish and that consequently the levels of lice from these salmon breeding and proliferating, will be catastrophic to any wild salmon or sea trout traversing the bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21110/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has submitted an application to my Department for an Aquaculture and a Foreshore Licence for the cultivation of Finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is currently being considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act as amended.

The legislation provides for extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for wild salmon stocks. The legislation also provides for a period of general public consultation. The public consultation stage of the process is now complete and submissions received are under active consideration by my Department.

All matters associated with the application including the impact, if any, on wild fish stocks, will be given very careful consideration by my Department.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this application which is under active consideration as part of a statutory process.