Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 May 1993

Vol. 431 No. 2

Written Answers. - Sea Lice Infestation.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

53 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine if he has investigated the threat to sea trout fisheries in County Kerry as a result of the most recent outbreak of sea lice infestation; if he has established the cause of this outbreak; and the steps, if any, he intends taking to deal urgently with the problem.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. G. O Sullivan)

: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the reports of premature returns of sea trout with varying degrees of lice infestation in the Waterville and Kenmare areas.

As part of the Sea Trout Research Programme for 1993 surveys on sea trout fisheries in the South West are being carried out with particular emphasis on the Kenmare, Currane and Inny rivers.

Sampling and other data emerging from the surveys are being analysed at present. I am advised that, pending a full evaluation of the data, definitive conclusions about this year's sea trout returns in the South West cannot as yet be drawn.

In addition to the ongoing research effort, improved management strategies for fish farms in the South West have been implemented. Marine fish farms in the area are being regularly inspected under the Department's Sea Lice Monitoring Programme. The inspection programme is designed to ensure that lice loads on salmon farms are reduced to a minimum and that appropriate remedial action is taken where lice levels are shown to be high.

I am advised that follow up insepections carried out in the last two weeks confirm that levels of lice infestation on salmon farms in the South West have been reduced substantially.