Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2015
246. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the treatments used for the control of fish diseases on salmon farms are compatible with the organic status of the salmon produced on these farms. [39041/15]
View answer248. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the stocking density in salmon farm sites operated by Marine Harvest, by cage, for each of the years 2013 to 2015 to date. [39043/15]
View answer249. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the salmon farms that experienced sea lice problems this year; in respect of each of those salmon farms, the specific treatments that were applied in each case with the full name and dosage of the chemicals used; the number of treatments given, site by site, including the chemicals and dosages per site and per treatment; the dates for all treatments; and the number of accelerated harvests ordered by his Department due to sea lice infestations. [39044/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246, 248 and 249 together.
Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (as amended) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 710/2009 set out regulations governing the organic production of salmon from the marine resource, including the use of veterinary medicines.
Where treatments are used, including treatments under compulsory control and eradication schemes additional conditions are laid down including extended withdrawal periods.
In relation to stocking density, Annex XIIIa, Section 2of Commission Regulation (EC) No 710/2009, sets out details of the maximum stocking density for organic production of salmonids in sea water. The maximum stocking density in net pens is 10Kg/m3. These regulations are given practical effect through a series of national and international organic standards, with in many cases individual producers being accredited by reference to several such standards simultaneously. Accreditation is by way of independent audit by suitably qualified and accredited audit bodies.
The control protocols for the management of sea lice are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State. A National Survey of Sea Lice on Fish Farms in Ireland is produced annually by the Institute. The survey for 2015 will be published in the first quarter of 2016 and will contain the specific information requested by the Deputy in the normal way.
All treatments used for the control of sea lice on salmon farms in Ireland, with the exception of the use of Cleaner Fish, are licensed animal remedies. The European Communities (Animal Remedies) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 (SI 786/2007) provides the legislative basis for licensing of veterinary medicines. Under this regime, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) acts as the main national licensing authority for veterinary medicines (animal remedies), while my Department licenses premises engaged in the commercial distribution of veterinary medicines. All animal remedies intended for use are required to be authorised in the State and may only be used in accordance with the conditions attached to the product authorisation. The treatments are used under the control and direction of veterinary surgeons, as provided for under the animal remedies legislation. The sea lice management and control protocols and in particular the Pest Management Strategy introduced in 2008 lay down conditions for the compulsory control of sea lice infestation levels on marine salmon farms. As part of this control strategy farm operators are required to undertake treatments to control lice infestation levels once certain trigger levels are reached. In certain circumstances treatments alone may not be the most appropriate strategy and in a number of limited circumstances an accelerated harvest may be required. In 2015 accelerated harvests were undertaken in two instances to date.
