Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 3

Written Answers - Salmon Farming.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

143 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of sites for which licences have been issued to rear farmed salmon on the coast of Ireland; the volume of production in each case over the past two years; the gross value of turnover sales; and the proposals, if any, he has for further development of the industry. [2759/99]

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

Licences to engage in salmon farming on the coast of Ireland have been granted in 44 cases for the use of 64 sites. The volume in tonnes and the value of salmon produced for 1996 and 1997, the most recent years for which production statistics are available from BIM, are as follows:

	Volume (tonnes)	Value (Ir£)
1996	14,200	34,600,000
1997	15,441	39,956,913

Specific production figures for individual sites are not readily available. I will arrange for the information to be furnished to the Deputy as quickly as possible. In November 1998, I appointed the Circa Group to carry out a major strategic review of the Irish aquaculture sector and the outcome of this review will inform my thinking on the future development of the Irish aquaculture sector.