Aquaculture Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2015

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Questions (102)

Clare Daly

Question:

102. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the scale limits for deep sea salmon farms set out in the national strategy plan for sustainable aquaculture development, if he will now acknowledge that Bord Iascaigh Mhara got it seriously wrong when submitting a licensing application for Galway Bay, which was over twice the size of the scale limits now adopted; and if his Department will suspend its assessment of the application from Bord Iascaigh Mhara. [25449/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

One of the measures introduced in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, agreed in 2013, is the requirement for each Member State to implement a multi-annual national strategic plan for aquaculture. Ireland's draft Plan along with its accompanying environmental reports is currently undergoing public consultation until 24 July.

BIM made its application for a salmon farm licence in Galway Bay in 2012 which therefore pre-dates the new Common Fisheries Policy requirements and the subsequent preparation of the draft National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That application is currently still under consideration.