Vol. 418 No. 4
38 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a massive fish farm escape involving 29,000 farmed salmon from a cage in Lough Swilly; and if he will outline the action his Department are prepared to take to deal with the escape.
I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers.
My Department were informed immediately of the escape by the operator concerned. The loss of fish followed on some structural damage on site caused by force nine storm conditions on 26 March. The damage was repaired straightaway.
My Department advised the Northern Regional Fisheries Board on receipt of the report and issued the board with an emergency netting permit as a precautionary measure. The board has been monitoring neighbouring rivers since the incident. No farmed fish have been found. I am advised that in the prevailing conditions high mortality and dispersal in the sea will have occurred in any event.
