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Aquaculture Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 July 2021

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Questions (616)

Holly Cairns

Question:

616. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on prohibition of salmon farming in Irish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/21]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government commits to working to develop our aquaculture sector in a sustainable way and this echoes the objectives of the 2015 National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. Aquaculture is a key component of the Irish seafood sector and, in 2020, Ireland's annual aquaculture production value was €180m, of which salmon is the main species farmed at €127m. In addition, the industry employs c.2,000 persons predominately along the western seaboard.

The 2015 Plan recognises the potential of aquaculture across the full range of species, to contribute to Ireland’s growing seafood exports and to provide quality jobs in our coastal communities.  The 2015 Plan seeks to address the issues constraining the growth of the sector, while also implementing a range of actions to ensure that the growth of aquaculture production is sustainable. 

The Department is at present engaged, together with Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute, in drafting a new National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture for the period 2021-30.  This work is consistent with the European Union’s new Strategic Guidelines for a Sustainable and Competitive EU Aquaculture for the Period 2021-30, published in May 2021.   

The European Green Deal is the EU’s new growth strategy and aims at stimulating the economy and creating jobs while accelerating the green transition in a cost-efficient way. The EU Strategic Guidelines aim to offer a common vision for EU Member States and all relevant stakeholders for the further development of aquaculture in the EU in a way that contributes to the Green Deal growth strategy. In particular, the EU guidelines aim to help in building an EU aquaculture sector that is competitive and resilient, ensures the supply of nutritious and healthy food, reduces the EU’s dependency on seafood imports, creates economic opportunities and jobs and becomes a global reference for sustainability. 

The Department’s new National Strategic Plan shares the EU vision and will be following a common structure and approach with other Member States, who are likewise preparing similar plans.  The new National Strategic Plan is of course subject to strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive and a public consultation on the SEA Environmental Report will be undertaken in the Autumn.

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