Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2006
129 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when his Department was made aware of traces of bonamia found in Lough Swilly, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42181/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing routine autumn testing carried out on wild oysters by the Marine Institute in Lough Swilly during the period 25 — 27 October 2006, suspicions of the presence of Bonamia ostreae were raised when thirteen out of seventy five oysters were identified as suspect positive. The Marine Institute informed the Department on 7th November that they had forwarded these suspect samples to the Central European Laboratory (CRL) INFREMER, La Tremblade, France, for further analysis.
The Department, acting on the advice of the Marine Institute, immediately put in place procedures to restrict movements of shellfish from Lough Swilly on a precautionary basis, which will now be given permanent effect. As a result of further confirmatory testing the Marine Institute informed the Department definitively of the presence of Bonamia ostreae in Lough Swilly on 23 November 2006. Following consultation with the Marine Institute and Seafood Control the Department has now forwarded guidelines on best practise to all operators within Lough Swilly.
