Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Wal-Mart plans to continue selling farmed fish but has said it will eventually source all of its wild caught seafood from fisheries certified as sustainable by the US Marine Stewardship Council.

A positive development in Ireland comes from Ocean Harvest Technology. This Galway-based company has developed a product called OceanFeed to replace the synthetic additives currently used in commercial salmon feed. It is being hailed as a major breakthrough on product quality and environmental benefit for the €6 billion farmed salmon industry. It is believed that OceanFeed will be a key ingredient in helping to make the industry more environmentally and financially sustainable.

We also have to ask hard questions in other areas. Given that some fishmongers are arguing that cod stocks have recovered by approximately 5%, should we permit cod fishing around Ireland or wait until cod stocks recover much more before we even consider cod fishing again? I acknowledge cod is a sea fish but I am using it as an example of the trend in sustainability.

One notable company in Cork uses very large and broad nets to let smaller fish escape. This company is obviously progressive in its thinking but there are other stories of fishermen who still catch everything possible. Why is this still happening and how do we placate faddish Western tastes while making fishing sustainable?

It has been reported that a new and dangerous non-native invasive plant called creeping water-primrose has been confirmed by the central and regional fisheries boards as being present in a pond in County Kerry. This is the first time the plant has been recorded in Ireland. A native of South America and some US states, creeping water-primrose is a water-based herb with deep roots and tough stems which form dense mats strong enough to impede the passage of boats and prevent angling, swimming and other water-based recreational activities. It is believed that once established it will compete with native plants and result in damage to the native habitat. Its presence can also lead to a reduction in dissolved oxygen levels in the water and under certain conditions may adversely affect fish stocks. Dr. Joe Caffrey, a senior research scientist with the Central Fisheries Board, has stated:

If this invasive species were to spread throughout Ireland, the economic and ecological cost to the country would be too great to quantify... It is a cause of concern that many of these non-native invasive species can be purchased from retail outlets nationwide. However, legislation will soon make it illegal to import or sell such highly invasive species and this development is to be welcomed.

I ask when such legislation is due to come before us and how the establishment of inland fisheries Ireland can help us to fight invasive species which are so damaging to the water life and the environment in general.

This Bill is worthy of our consideration and support. I hope as we scrutinise it we amend areas we identify as in need of improvement.