Dr. Greg Forde:

Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked whether the two industries could work together. The two industries exist and they must live and work together. This is about a sustainable aquaculture industry and sustainable wild sea trout and salmon fisheries, along with rural communities, as mentioned by Deputy Ó Cuív. These must absolutely work together. One should not be given undue preference over the other, and we take that point on board from a wild fisheries perspective.

The issue of segregation of powers was also raised and we have come to that. There is also the matter of closed containment and cost. This plan includes financial grant aid systems, which should give greater financial reward in the percentage of funding in order to try to find a workable solution. Members also mentioned hatcheries and I would have to step away from my specific remit in addressing this. That issue exists for lobsters in particular but that is outside our specific remit. We cover molluscs in the sea and they are crustaceans. I have seen it in other countries but it would be outside my remit to favour that.