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Fishing Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Ceisteanna (817)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

817. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of marine salmon farm licences and land-based hatcheries; the number of salmon and-or biomass permitted for each; the system in place to check for overstocking as has taken place in the past; the regulation in place to deal with overstocking; the fish farm operators that had penalties imposed; the number of salmon farm licences that have been cancelled in the past ten years; the action he has taken to ensure that all equipment has been removed; the timeframe within which this should happen; if his Department holds bonds from fish farm operators to cover the costs of removing obsolete equipment in the event of an operator no longer being in a position to operate its licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54063/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department’s records indicate 33 marine salmon farm licences. My Department’s records also indicate 25 land based salmon hatcheries. In some cases the licences provide for additional species.

Production capacity, maximum cage numbers and/or maximum smolt input is determined on a licence-by-licence basis in the case of marine salmon farms.

Licensed marine salmon farms are inspected on a regular basis by my Department’s Marine Engineering Division. Breaches of licence conditions are dealt with by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation.

Circumstances have not required my Department to revoke a marine salmon farm licence during the period referred to by the Deputy.

The matter of unauthorised aquaculture structures on the foreshore is dealt with by my Department in accordance with the applicable Foreshore legislation.

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