Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this issue, which we have discussed on several occasions. Prevention and control of the oyster herpes virus is a matter of high priority for my Department. Our current approach to this matter is to take all appropriate steps to minimise the risk of infection, while allowing trade in oysters to continue. This approach is supported by the aquaculture industry.

The importation of oyster seed is integral to the Irish oyster growing industry as there is not enough Irish seed to support the industry. The industry relies on imports, mainly from France, but also from the UK and the Channel Islands.

The European Commission has made a regulation, No. 175 of 2010, in line with the Fish Health Directive No. 88 of 2006, specifying measures which must be taken by member states to deal with the oyster herpes virus issue. It is important to note that the oyster herpes virus has no impact on human health, but can cause significant mortality in Pacific oysters. The Marine Institute is the competent authority in Ireland for the implementation of the fish health directive pursuant to Statutory Instrument No. 261 of 2008 and was involved in the negotiation of the regulation on the oyster herpes virus which came into effect on 15 March 2010. The regulation requires a surveillance programme to be established for the early detection of the virus in areas that have not previously been affected. It also requires containment areas to be established once the virus is detected in an oyster growing area, until such time as the mortalities subside and two mortality checks, 15 days apart, demonstrate that mortality has ceased.

There are currently four containment areas in Ireland: Caherciveen-Valentia, County Kerry; Carlingford Lough, County Louth; Cork Harbour, County Cork; and Sherkin, County Cork. Over the course of 2010, 14 areas were affected that are now out of containment, that is, the increased mortalities have ceased in these bays. These are Loughras Beg, Donegal Bay, Dungloe Bay, Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle, Trawbreaga Bay and Trawenagh Bay, all in County Donegal; Clew Bay and Achill Sound, both in County Mayo; Mannin Bay, County Galway; Cromane, County Kerry; Ballymacoda Bay, Youghal, County Cork; and Dungarvan Harbour and Woodstown Bay, County Waterford. The legislation allows oysters to be traded between containment areas. In order to import oysters to an area not previously affected by the virus the oysters must come from another area of similar health status. Under the legislation, oysters can also be imported from a containment area or an area previously affected by the virus provided they test negative in line with methods in the regulation and certified by the competent authority.

Controls are in place on the importation of oysters from containment areas, such as diseased areas in Ireland or abroad, to areas not previously affected. While not totally prohibited, any such importation is subject to certification by the relevant competent authority in France of the disease free status of the consignment. In other words, before any stock can be imported, testing as laid down in the regulation must take place, and be certified by the competent authority in France, and the resulting certificate must be provided to the Marine Institute before a movement can take place. Any movement outside these parameters is illegal.

In addition, the Marine Institute also encourages producers to avoid importing oysters from containment to surveillance areas. Furthermore, in the case of importation of oysters from abroad generally, producers are strongly advised to submit samples of the oysters to the Marine Institute for testing prior to importation. I strongly encourage producers to avail of the offer from the Marine Institute to test the oysters when they arrive in Ireland prior to stocking. My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute, will continue to take all appropriate measures to protect Irish oyster stocks from this virus.

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