Inland Fisheries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 June 2012

Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Ceisteanna (100)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

97 Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 1 May 2012, in relation to a study conducted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (details supplied) his views on the way such a conclusion could be reached, in view of the fact that the study in question did not address the issue of lice larvae emanating from farmed salmon as the source of infection was not examined in the publicily funded experiment and that no information was presented regarding the origin of the parasite; his views on the nine year study carried out by the Marine Institute of Ireland on the same topic, including the causes of the mortality of wild salmon. [29906/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte)

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have advised that, as regards the issue of sea lice from marine salmon farms, an important scientific study conducted by IFI on the impact of sea lice infestation of outwardly migrating salmon smolts from a number of rivers on Ireland's West Coast was published earlier this year. I am advised that the basis for all the conclusions in the scientific study is set out in the study itself. I have organised for a copy to be forwarded to the Deputy and IFI scientists are available to discuss the report with the Deputy if he so wishes. I am also informed that the study, which cites a number of relevant and internationally respected scientific papers, was subject to robust peer review in the context of its publication in the prestigious "Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences".

Regarding the Marine Institute study cited by the Deputy, I understand that this refers to papers assessing the results of all the field experiments on the release of emamectin-treated salmon smolts protected against sea lice and non-protected control groups. I am advised that findings in this study, in relation to the impact of sea lice infestation on marine survival of wild salmon, correspond in some respects to findings of the IFI study (2012) in that both studies found broadly similar results on this issue. The findings in the IFI study also indicate that sea lice emanating from marine salmon farms can be among the factors causing increased marine mortality of salmon.