Inland Fisheries Ireland Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Questions (997)

Mick Wallace

Question:

997. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the findings of the Inland Fisheries Ireland report on the occurrence of farmed Atlantic salmon in rivers in the western river basin district in August and September 2017; his further views on the conclusion of the report which states that the salmon captured from Bunowen, Erriff and Bundorragha and provided for genetic analysis are fish farm escapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25457/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the Deputy is aware, during 2017 my Department noted media reports of salmon being found in rivers on the western seaboard which may have been from farmed stock. My Department advised Inland Fisheries Ireland that where anglers or officers of Inland Fisheries Ireland suspected that they had collected salmon from farmed stock that the fish should be sent to the Marine Institute for analysis, with a view to determining whether they were in fact from farmed stock.

The Marine Institute has confirmed that it received no stock for examination from anglers or from Inland Fisheries Ireland. In addition the Marine Institute did not receive any request from Inland Fisheries Ireland to examine salmon that appeared to be from farmed stock.