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Aquaculture Licences Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 November 2013

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Questions (22)

John Browne

Question:

22. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action points that will be contained in the Irish national aquaculture plan, required under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, to deal with the backlog of circa 600 aquaculture licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48344/13]

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Written answers

Article 43 of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation requires that Member States prepare a multiannual national strategic plan for the development of aquaculture activities in their territory. That article provides that “the multiannual national strategic plan shall include the Member State's objectives and the measures and the timetables required to achieve them”.

Negotiations are continuing among the EU co-legislators on the draft European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Regulation that will specify the measures that may be eligible for EU co-funding for the period 2014-2020. The text of the present draft Regulation provides that the National Strategic Aquaculture Plan required by the CFP Regulation must be prepared and submitted by each Member State together with the Member State’s EMFF Operational Programme.

My Department has requested that Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) prepare the National Strategic Aquaculture Plan and that BIM consult with stakeholders as part of that process. I understand that BIM is engaged on this work and will be publishing it for consultation in the coming months.

The backlog in processing aquaculture licence applications has built up over a period of time and arises primarily because the majority of areas for which these licences are sought are designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and/or Special Protection Areas (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). The European Court of Justice issued a negative judgment against Ireland in 2007 in respect of authorisation of aquaculture programmes with particular reference to compliance with Article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive. This has largely determined what can be done since that time in relation to aquaculture licensing in most of the bays around Ireland (Natura 2000 sites).

To address this issue my Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), is engaged in a comprehensive work programme. This involves gathering baseline data, setting conservation objectives and the carrying out of appropriate assessments. The licensing process must take full account of the outcome of that assessment in reaching a determination on any particular licence application.

This work is ongoing and Conservation Objectives have been set for a significant number of ‘Natura’ sites, Appropriate Assessments have been completed in respect of sites in five bays and it is expected that this will facilitate significant licence determinations. For example, in the region of 40 aquaculture licences have issued this year in respect of Castlemaine SAC/SPA.

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