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Inland Fisheries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Ceisteanna (1035, 1036, 1037, 1038)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

1035. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when Inland Fisheries Ireland was notified of the escape of 20,000 farmed salmon at a salmon farm located at Glinsk, Mulroy Bay, County Donegal in 2017; the person or body that notified Inland Fisheries Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25385/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

1036. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the farmed salmon stock captured from the Bunowen, Erriff and Bundorragha catchments were handed over to Inland Fisheries Ireland for inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25386/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

1037. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether it is possible that the farmed salmon stock captured in the western river basin district in August and September 2017 may have originated from a salmon escape at Glinsk, Mulroy Bay, County Donegal in July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25387/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

1038. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Inland Fisheries Ireland has been contacted by the Marine Institute regarding the findings of its report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25388/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1035 to 1038, inclusive, together.

A report regarding escapes from a fish farm in Donegal was sent via e-mail to Inland Fisheries Ireland’s generic e-mail address: info@fisheriesireland.ie by the Technical Manager of the licensee of the fish farm on 4 July 2017.   Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has reviewed its protocols to ensure that reports are submitted to specific nominated individuals rather than the generic email used by the licensee on this occasion.

The competent Authority for the licensing of Aquaculture is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and IFI has sought a report from that Department concerning an escape of some 20,000 salmon from Marine Harvests Glinsk sea site in Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal in July 2017. The report requested is expected to address action taken and recommendations made by DAFM and implemented by the licensee following the report of this large escape.

In relation to the potential origin of farmed salmon stock captured in the Western River Basin District in 2017, I am advised by IFI that it is not possible to definitively assign the escapees to an individual farm. However the reported average weight of the escapees at the Glinsk Farm in July 2017 was significantly less than the fish recovered in the Western River basin District in August and September 2017 indicating they were at a different stage in the production cycle. The Department of Agriculture Food and Marine, as the competent authority for the regulation of aquaculture, may be best placed to offer a view on this issue.

Two suspected farmed salmon were captured on the Bunowen river on 8 September 2017. Data on length/weight and scale samples were provided to IFI. Two escaped salmon were captured on the Bundorragha River on 4 September 2017 and handed over to IFI on 5 September.  

The first escaped farmed salmon was captured on Beat 9 on the Erriff river on 3 September 2017 and handed over to IFI on 9 September. Two escapees were recorded in the upstream trap on the Erriff on 7th September and a third fish was recorded on 24 September. All three fish were retained for analysis. All fish entering the Erriff system upstream of Beat 9 (tidal) must pass through the Erriff trap at Aasleagh Falls where they are monitored.  

IFI completed the report referred to be the Deputy in January 2018.  I am advised that IFI have not been contacted by the Marine Institute in relation to this report  

http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/documents/1485-ifi-report-on-escape-of-farmed-salmon-in-western-rivers-in-2017/file.html  

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