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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 6

Written Answers. - Kerry Salmon Farm Licence.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

20 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the request of Kenmare Community Development that the licences issued to a company (details supplied) on 15 February 1991 be temporarily suspended until the following points are investigated: (1) the information available in the STAG report, (2) the report of the International Workshop held on Sherkin Island in May, 1990 on The Effects of Stocked Salmon and Cage Escapees on Resident Wild Salmon Stocks, (3) the consequences for the natural shellfish grounds, namely scallop, lobster, shrimp and mussels and (4) the objections and concerns of Kenmare Environment Group and the coastal communities of Kenmare River/Bay; if he will outline his views on the above issues in relation to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I do not consider that there is any case for suspension of the licences granted to Salmara Limited on 15 February last to engage in salmon farming at Deenish Island, County Kerry and Inishfarnard, County Cork. I am satisfied that the licensing decisions which I have taken in the matter are the correct decisions, based on a full assessment of all the objective evidence available to my Department and to me. My judgments were based, and will continue to be based, on well-founded scientific advice and the standards and procedures applicable generally to development here.

I am glad of this opportunity to outline for the Deputy the basis for the licensing decision I have taken in connection with the Salmara operations in question, both in terms of the general considerations which applied and by reference to the specific issues adduced by Kenmare Community Development and which have been referred to by the Deputy.
Licences, of one year's duration and restricted to 250 tonnes, were granted to Salmara on 8 March 1990 to engage in fish farming at the sites in question. These licences were granted following completion of the environmental impact assessment process, which related to Salmara's application for 500 tonnes at each site, and my Department's assessment of responses received as part of the public consultative process inherent in that procedure.
The one year licences were issued subject to review after 12 months in light of additional hydrographical studies and other environmental and technical data to be compiled during the year. Account was also to be taken of the results of technical surveys of outer Kenmare Bay commissioned by BIM on behalf of my Department; ongoing water quality monitoring at the sites; compliance with licence conditions generally and the outcome of the investigations into the sea trout issue.
The one year licences were subsequently rigorously reviewed by my Department in light of the comprehensive data accumulated in relation to these operations during 1990. On foot of my Department's assessment, from technical, scientific and all other relevant perspectives, I approved, in February of this year, the issue of renewed licences to Salmara for the production of 500 tonnes annually at each site. The licences, which are of ten year's duration, are subject to a number of specific conditions which complement, or are additional to, standard licence conditions and which cover in explicit detail such matters as the continued monitoring of the sea trout situation in the area; stocking densities; cage numbers and ongoing water quality monitoring requirements.
It is a specific condition of the licences that they are subject to ongoing review in light of continued monitoring of and research into the two sites and neighbouring sea trout fisheries which will be undertaken in 1991 and forward years by the Salmon Research Agency and the Fisheries Research Centre of my Department. I would point out however that research work carried out in 1990 including an assessment of sea trout stocks in the Kerry region by the Salmon Research Agency produced no contra indications to suggest that the fish farms in question should not continue to operate.
The effects of escapement of farmed fish continue to be widely debated and argued. The Deputy can be assured that the development of thinking as articulated in all international and national fora, seminars and workshops is closely monitored and indeed is contributed to by my Department's scientific staff. In line with current thinking as oultined by, notably, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, my Department's licence conditions incorporate the precautionary principle i.e. the minimising of the risk of escapes through optimum cage design and net specification. The scientific and technical advice available to me is that the presence of these fish farms does not represent a threat to the shellfish resource of the area. It remains my view that salmon farming and shellfish development can continue to coexist in a mutually beneficial way.
The objections and concerns of the Kenmare Environment Group and the views of the coastal communities of the Kenmare area, which, I should point out, included many expressions of support for the operations, were duly assessed and where sustainable, were taken into account in the course of the licensing process. I would reiterate that the evidence available to me indicates that properly maintained fish farms do not pose unacceptable risks to the environment. Continued compliance with licence conditions including, for example, water quality monitoring, will ensure that this remains so.
It is Government policy to ensure that aquaculture development takes place in a well regulated and orderly manner, in harmony with the environment and other interests, while maximising the industry's contribution to the economy. The licensing decisions in question were informed throughout by these policy objectives and were underpinned by thorough going assessments of comprehensive data.
I hope that my exposition of the facts will allay the concerns expressed by the Deputy and others.
Barr
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