Mr. Tom Coughlan:

I am acutely aware that a local authority cannot zone a marine area. It is something we considered in the context of the Shannon Estuary. We can identify particular areas. If a matrix of criteria are applied to a particular area, in terms of the surface of the seabed, the operation of the fishing industry, the presence of undersea cables or undersea lines and whether it is a navigation route, we can then identify that because the area is not used for navigation, it is suitable for the development of aquaculture. If the sea floor in a particular area is suitable for a different type of development, that can be done. It can be done by applying the matrix to it. The water will not be zoned but one can identify the potential of particular areas. I referred to the fact that areas of the west coast of Clare have been identified by the private sector as being particularly suitable for wave energy projects. It was done on the basis of a matrix being applied.