Finfish farming has been a feature of aquaculture operations off the west coast for some time.
An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay has been received by my Department. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement is being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act which provide for extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for wild salmon stocks. The legislation also provides for a period of general public consultation. The public consultation stage of the process is now complete and submissions received are under active consideration by my Department.
All matters associated with the application including the impact, if any, on wild salmon stocks, will be given very careful consideration by my Department.