Vol. 550 No. 2
81 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason the report dealing with lice infestation on wild sea trout produced by the Marine Institute and the Central Fisheries Board was delayed in publication; if he proposes to make a statement on the findings; and if it has influenced any of the recent decisions of his Department. [7507/02]
At the request of the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Byrne, the Marine Institute, including the Salmon Research Agency, and the Central Fisheries Board undertook a comprehensive review of the sea trout-sea lice database from 1992 to date which was finalised in January 2001.
While not formally published, the joint agency review was made widely available by the agencies after its finalisation. At the first meeting of the representative and independently chaired Sea Trout Review Group, STRG, on 30 May 2001, my Department specifically asked the group to have regard to the findings of the agencies' review. My Department and the agencies will continue to make available copies of the report to any person or group who requests it. I am looking forward in addition to receiving the final report of the STRG which I understand is at a final stage of completion.
