Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2017
520. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the growing international concern regarding the increasing use of hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of sea lice and amoebic gill disease in salmon farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8123/17]
View answer521. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department or any agency of his Department monitors the use of hydrogen peroxide in salmon farms here; and if so, the aggregate amount of hydrogen peroxide used by salmon farms in each of the past ten years. [8124/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together.
My Department is advised by the Marine Institute that hydrogen peroxide, as a fish disease treatment agent, readily breaks down through water and oxygen and as such represents an extremely low environmental concern. The Marine Institute has also advised that hydrogen peroxide treatments have a more favourable outcome when they are carried out at lower water temperatures.
My Department's Veterinary Inspectorate carries out an inspection programme to monitor the use of animal remedies in aquaculture premises. Compliance with animal remedies legislation is checked. While individual business operators are required to maintain records relating to the quantities of medicines used, my Department does not record empirical data on the quantities of hydrogen peroxide used.
