Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
616. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the lice levels in Bertra Boy Bay and Kylemore Bay, County Galway; when the waters were last tested for sea lice; the testing undertaken in February, March and April 2020 in the waters; the results of same; if orders were issued to control the lice in the waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12552/20]
View answerThe control protocols for the management of sea lice are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State.
My Department is advised by the Marine Institute that two aquaculture sites were active during the period referred to by the Deputy in Bertraghboy Bay and Ballinakill Harbour (Kylemore Bay). These sites were inspected by the Marine Institute in accordance with Monitoring Protocol No. 3 in February and March 2020.
Following Covid-19 measures introduced by the Government, the sea lice monitoring programme was temporarily suspended on March 24th. Marine Institute inspection results prior to the suspension for both bays showed that sea lice levels were below trigger levels and no notices to treat were therefore issued.
Following the temporary suspension of the sea lice monitoring programme, the Marine Institute requested all operators to self-report sea lice levels on every active Atlantic salmon farm. This request has been fully complied with. There has been no report of sea lice levels in excess of the trigger levels in the bays referred to by the Deputy in April 2020.
