Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2017
288. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of aquaculture licences for oyster harvesting in an area (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21025/17]
View answerTrawbreaga Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (North Innishowen Coast SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area (Trawbreaga Bay SPA) under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
While the Appropriate Assessment is carried out on a bay-wide basis, each licence application within the bay must be assessed individually. Factors to be considered include location within the bay, species, scale and intensity of production, potential visual impact, etc.
In addition to Natura requirements, under EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directives all licence applications must undergo Environmental Impact Screening Assessment. This requires significant input from the Department’s scientific and technical advisors. All applications, in compliance with the requirements of the applicable legislation, are advertised in order to facilitate public consultation, and submissions or observations received must be considered as part of the licence determination process.
An Appropriate Assessment report has now been completed by the Marine Institute in respect of Trawbreaga Bay. My Department is currently examining the general licensing issues that arise for consideration as a result of the Appropriate Assessment report. It is also in the process of carrying out Environmental Screening Assessments in respect of aquaculture licence applications in the bay. A significant number of these assessments have been completed. It is hoped to commence the public and statutory consultation phase of the licensing process shortly.
Every effort is being made to expedite the determination of aquaculture licence applications in this bay having regard to all the complexities involved.
