Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Aquaculture Industry.

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

170 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the licence granted by his Department for the operation of a parr and smolt farm on Lough Allen requires indemnity insurance against a possible outbreak of disease on the farm which may destroy the natural stock of fish. [21762/98]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

171 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the measures, if any, in place to ensure that, in the event of an outbreak of disease, the natural stock of fish is protected. [21763/98]

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

172 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the measures, if any, in place in order that the conditions of the licence are complied with in relation to the number of parr and smolts on Lough Allen at any given time and the use of chemicals to control outbreaks of disease on the farm fish. [21764/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171 and 172 together.

Licensed fish farm operators are obliged to indemnify the State against all actions, loss, claims damages, cost expenses and demands arising in any manner whatsoever in connection with the construction, maintenance or use of any aquaculture structures, apparatus or equipment or in the exercise or the rights granted under licence.

In addition they are legally obliged to report to the Department and the Fisheries Research Centre of the Marine Institute fish pathology unit within 48 hours of the appearance of any disease or abnormal losses or mortalities and send samples to the fish pathology unit. This is an essential requirement to ensure that necessary monitoring and remedial action can be taken quickly to contain any potential disease outbreak.

It should be understood that disease outbreaks invariably result in serious economic loss for fish-farmers and, as a consequence, it is clearly in the industry's own interest to ensure best practices apply.

The use of all veterinary medical products is regulated under legislation administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food while the Medicines Board is the competent product licensing authority under EU and national legislation.

As regards the question of production levels, licensees are required, in addition to the licence condition which stipulates maximum permitted production levels, to furnish a production plan of their proposed inputs of fish to the farm. In the interests of transparency, licensees are also required to seek permits from the Department for the transfer of smolts to production sites. This provides a further means of monitoring adherence on the part of licensed operators to the stipulated production levels.