Vol. 558 No. 1
305 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether the electromagnetic field which guides salmon back to their spawning grounds could be distorted by the close proximity of a wind farm to the water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23389/02]
306 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if an environmental impact statement, which is supposed to address the possible implications of the development of a wind farm on the Foyle for fisheries, will be considered credible if the completion date of same predates the time when smoults will be travelling out of the river and thus no tracking system or other considered research of where these fish go can be evaluated in order to indicate that the path of such wind farms will not conflict with that of the salmon of this most important salmon fishing river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23390/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
The purpose of an environmental impact statement is, inter alia, to anticipate the likely impacts of a proposed development on the environment and, where these impacts are expected to be adverse, to propose mitigation or compensatory measures. Any EIS which fails to address all such issues would not meet statutory requirements.
I am advised that, while undersea emissions of electric fields from wind farms are negligible, even relatively small electromagnetic emissions can have impacts upon some species such as tope and shark. However, salmonoids and anguillid eels navigate by geomagnetic fields and the localisation and low level of magnetic fields emitted from electric cables, properly buried or covered with rock armour, would be below naturally occurring levels. Furthermore, sense of smell is the main sense used in migration once salmonoids reach coastal waters. No adverse effects on migration would, therefore, be expected to occur. Again this is an issue which should be addressed in any EIS to be carried out.
