Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2016
699. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of salmon farming licences which his Department has issued since 2006; the reason a decrease has occurred since 2006; if he is aware of the effect this decline is having on the salmon farming industry, that jobs are under threat, due to the lack of fish being produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21139/16]
View answerMy Department’s records indicate that since 2006 three new aquaculture licence applications for the cultivation of salmon have been received. Of these, one has been approved by my Department and is currently the subject of appeals to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board. One has been withdrawn by the applicant. One is the subject of ongoing detailed assessment by my Department. The application currently under assessment was received in 2015. Existing salmon farming operations are conducted in accordance with the applicable aquaculture licences or, under the provisions of Section 19A (4) of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act where a decision on the renewal of the licence is pending.
