Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
883. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding his reassurances that his engineering division and the Irish Marine Institute were investigating the disaster that overtook a fish farm (details supplied) in County Cork more than six weeks ago, if he will provide the number of salmon contained in the fish farm before the disaster overtook it and the number of fish remaining subsequently. [13634/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra884. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information on the number of mortalities collected and stored in formic acid on barges in enclosed ensiling tanks after the disaster that overtook a fish farm (details supplied) in County Cork; and the licensed facility at which they were ultimately disposed of as required by his fish health management plan. [13635/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 883 and 884 together.
My Department’s Engineering Division together with the Marine Institute carried out a preliminary onsite examination of the aquaculture operations at the location referred to by the Deputy as soon as weather conditions permitted.
The results of this preliminary examination suggest that the total number of salmon held on site in three cages immediately prior to the recent storm was in the order of 250,000. The number of live fish remaining after the storm event was in the order of 20,000.
In accordance with the requirements of European Regulation No. 1069/2009 all aquaculture operators are obliged to send mortalities to Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine approved facilities for disposal (e.g. rendering, incineration). My Department’s Veterinary Inspectors carry out routine inspections to ensure compliance with these requirements.
Due to the ongoing severe weather conditions that prevailed at the site up to recently no fish mortalities were collected. At the first available opportunity my Department arranged a dive inspection of the area and this took place on the 13th March. The dive inspection indicated that there were no dead fish present. I am advised by the Marine Institute however, that where dead fish remain in the bottom of a cage for extended periods (i.e. more than a week or so) they decompose and the bodies of the fish disintegrate making any estimate of numbers difficult. In addition the effects of rough weather and scavengers feeding on the remains will tend to accelerate the disintegration process.
My Department continues to keep the position under review.
