asked the Minister for the Marine if he will investigate reports of serious pollution at Mulroy Bay in County Donegal due to fish farming; and if he will confirm that white fish no longer spawn there.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Bay Pollution Reports.
195.
My Department has in the past investigated reports of pollution in Mulroy Bay due to the use of Tributyltin Oxide on installations. As a result of these and other investigations I have restricted by means of a by-law under the Fisheries Acts the use of antifouling compounds — the most commonly known of which is TBT — on certain boats or any part of a pier, jetty, building or other structure etc. which is on or in the sea or in freshwater. In addition, this restriction will be a condition of Aquaculture Licences issued by my Department.
My Department has however information for 1987 that species such as dabs, plaice, pollock, wrasse and smelts spawned in Mulroy Bay in that year, and that there was a good settlement of scallops.