Aquaculture Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018

Wednesday, 30 May 2018

Ceisteanna (47)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of salmon farm escapes that were reported in 2017; the investigations that have been carried out relating to farmed salmon stock being caught in the rivers Delphi, Erriff, Kylemore-Dawros, Newport and Bunowen catchments in August 2017; the location of the farmed salmon stock; the action taken in regard to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23913/18]

Freagraí ó Béal (15 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Mick Wallace

The North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization states there are 19 rivers in Ireland threatened with the complete loss of salmon. Three rivers have lost their wild Atlantic salmon stock completely. Every comprehensive, independent analysis of the farmed salmon industry indicates salmonid aquaculture has a detrimental effect on wild Atlantic salmon populations owing to the spread of sea lice, disease, pollution and genetic interactions of escaped farmed salmon with wild salmon. Last August, the Minister told us that if fish presented to the Marine Institute for analysis are determined to be from farmed stock, the Department would, in the normal way, take appropriate action on the matter. Will the Minister provide an update on that?

Deputy Michael Creed

Aquaculture in the marine environment is regulated by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 and related national and EU legislation. Regulatory agencies such as the Marine Institute also play an important role in the regulation of the industry from a scientific perspective.

Decisions in regard to aquaculture licence applications are made following the fullest consideration of all technical, scientific, legislative, environmental and public interest aspects of each application. It is important to note that the application process involves a period of statutory and general public consultation. Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for the management of wild salmon stocks, is a statutory consultee and therefore plays a very important role in the licensing process.

All licences issued contain both general and specific terms and conditions. Provision is made for the reporting of fish escapes to my Department, the Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland. The failure by a licensed operator to notify the relevant parties of a fish escape would be regarded by my Department as a serious breach of licence conditions.

My Department's records indicate that, during 2017, one fish escape incident was reported. In July 2017, a salmon farm operator notified my Department, the Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland of a fish escape incident at a salmon farm located at Glinsk, Mulroy Bay, County Donegal. My Department's records indicate that all relevant stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, were informed in accordance with the applicable aquaculture licence conditions.

Also during 2017, my Department noted media reports of salmon being found in rivers on the western seaboard which may have been from farmed stock. My Department advised Inland Fisheries Ireland that where anglers or officers of Inland Fisheries Ireland suspected they had collected salmon from farmed stock, the fish should be sent to the Marine Institute for analysis with a view to determining whether they were in fact from farmed stock.

The Marine Institute has confirmed that it received no stock for examination from anglers or from Inland Fisheries Ireland. In addition, the Marine Institute did not receive any request from Inland Fisheries Ireland to examine salmon that appeared to be from farmed stock.

Deputy Mick Wallace

There seems to be conflicting information. We all agree that farmed salmon escapes are very bad for our indigenous wild salmon population.

There were 65 farmed salmon caught in rivers in Galway and Mayo in August 2017 and September 2017. The number is estimated to total 500 farmed salmon by Inland Fisheries Ireland, one of the Minister's own statutory bodies. There were many questions but very poor answers.

On 11 October, Mr. Richie Flynn of the Irish Salmon Growers Association told the Irish Examiner its members always reported escapes, without exception. He said, "There has been no such escape to report." The day before, The Irish Times ran an article stating the Department had confirmed to Inland Fisheries Ireland it had received no reports of escapes, yet on 16 February 2018 Inland Fisheries Ireland published its report stating tests on a number of fish confirmed they were farmed fish. A few days later, however, the Department, alongside the Irish Salmon Growers Association, was dismissive of the one report. It came as a bit of a surprise when the Marine Harvest Group, in its end of year report, stated 20,000 farmed salmon had escaped from the site, as the Minister mentioned. Suddenly, the collective amnesia of the Department got a bit clearer.

Some 20,000 farmed salmon escaped on 3 July 2017. The Department was informed the next day, 4 July. Incredibly, no one in the Department, the Marine Institute or the Irish Salmon Growers Association seemed to remember that.

Deputy Michael Creed

Aquaculture and the associated angling and tourism interests can coexist. My Department is fully committed to a properly regulated aquaculture sector. We will have no truck with abuses of licences attached to aquaculture operations.

We are significantly underachieving in the context of realising the potential of the Irish aquaculture sector to expand further. My figures are from recollection but I believe we produce approximately 15,000 tonnes. The Scottish produce approximately 100,000 tonnes, and Norway, for example, which along with Chile is considered one of the global leaders, produces in excess of 1 million tonnes. We do not need to have ambition at that scale. We can find a niche in the organic farmed salmon area.

The important point in the context of the question is that there was no reported allegedly farmed stock taken to the Marine Institute or Inland Fisheries Ireland in 2017. The fundamental point is that we will try to ensure at all times that our licences are operated to the letter of the law.

Deputy Mick Wallace

Inland Fisheries Ireland is saying something different. It states in its report that it gave the scales of something like 34 fish to be examined and that it was shown they were farmed fish. I do not understand what is going on.

Some seriously destructive salmon farming practices are being covered up and are not being policed properly. Are there any sanctions against salmon farmers when they misbehave? How many licences have not been renewed over the past ten years? Why is the Department intent on expanding this destructive industry by issuing more licences?

I read a report by Mr. Tony Lowes, who gave a presentation at the Salmon Watch Ireland conference last year. What he came up with is shocking. In 2007, thousands of small net fishermen were forced off rivers throughout the country in an effort to halt the decline in salmon stocks. For many, it was the end of their livelihood. Even with those fishermen gone, the stocks continued to decline. At the same time, salmon farm production has increased by over 60% and no one seems to care how the sector is run. Does no one give a fiddlers anymore about the wild salmon in the rivers?

Deputy Michael Creed

It is unfortunate that the Deputy uses the term "destructive industry". All around our coastline, people with aquaculture operations, either for fin fish or shellfish, are operating according to the letter of the law and giving valuable employment in regions where there are very often no alternative operations.

Deputy Mick Wallace

Very little employment.

Deputy Michael Creed

It is valuable nonetheless. Every job is valuable for the person who holds it. The Deputy appears to be prepared to throw all of that industry under the bus.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Marine Harvest Ireland-----

Deputy Mick Wallace

More employment would be created by going the other way.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Eugene Murphy)

The Minister, without interruption.

Deputy Michael Creed

My Department is motivated by ensuring we maximise the potential of the sector without compromising the potential in other sectors. That is contingent on compliance with licences that are issued. In the context of the specific question raised by the Deputy, we do not have any evidence to suggest fish were taken to the Marine Institute to confirm they escaped from salmon aquaculture operations. I appreciate there is regular media commentary on these matters.

Deputy Mick Wallace

Is the Minister indicating Inland Fisheries Ireland is not accurate?

Deputy Michael Creed

I am only telling the Deputy in the context of the question he asked. The industry is valuable, has a future and it can expand. However, we should only facilitate such growth through compliance with regulation, which is really important. It is the only way everything can co-exist.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Eugene Murphy)

Despite what I say, Members continue to break the time rules completely. As I keep pointing out, it is not fair to other Members.