Dr. Cathal Gallagher:

I echo Dr. Byrne's comments. From our perspective, it is the sustainable part we are trying to help. We are not against aquaculture. The scientific community I work with works in rural areas. We recognise the difficulties. We spoke about the species. There are a diminished number of species we can use and there are many difficulties in rural areas. Dr. Byrne outlined that there must be a mix. We also have the habitats directive under which salmon are protected. We are the competent authority on wild salmon and sea trout. Our onus is to look at that and see whether it is sustainable.

We have evidence. There is international evidence, from Norway, Scotland and all the other big aquaculture countries of potential damage that can be accrued from aquaculture facilities, whether via escaped fish or parasite transfer, such as sea lice. We have our own scientific analysis and evidence. We are happy to work with anyone, to talk about that or to give advice. If we could be included to give that advice on protection, that is what we are trying to do.

On the science, the two can work together. There are opportunities in Ireland for that to work together. It would be remiss of us not to look at the experience in other countries where the sector has developed to understand what we can learn from there.

Actions are being taken in other countries to help the sustainability of aquaculture development.

With regard to the international perspective, a definitive literature review of more than 300 papers has been done by colleagues in the nature institute in Norway and while they have also concluded there are potential impacts in respect of sea trout and salmon, that does not mean that occurs everywhere or that it occurs all the time. It has been an ongoing issue for a number of years. There have been discussions and two schools of thought have emerged from a scientific perspective. We are happy to discuss this with anyone, to put the evidence we have on the table to support our position and to work with anyone to see if sustainable aquaculture can be developed.