Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will address the serious issues raised repeatedly with him by an association (details supplied) regarding the protection of the Lough Swilly native oyster fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14379/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The association referred to by the Deputy raised concerns some years ago that parts of areas in respect of which aquaculture licences for the bottom cultivation of mussels had been granted in Lough Swilly overlapped with oyster beds in the lough. Arising from these concerns, a comprehensive survey of the wild oyster beds in the lough was carried out, in conjunction with the association concerned and other wild fisheries interests. The results of the survey indicated there was a minor degree of overlap between oyster beds and the sites licensed for mussel cultivation.

In light of these results, and following consultation with the persons to whom the aquaculture licences in question had been granted, arrangements were made to have the mussel seed removed from the areas of overlap. Any oysters retrieved during this process were re-laid. More recently, the association expressed concern about the possible effects of dredging activity on the lough's oyster beds. The advice to the Department at that juncture was that there was no evidence of any such activity that would be harmful to the oyster beds.

An application from the association for an aquaculture licence for oyster cultivation in the lough is on hand in the Department. Consideration of this application will be brought to finality as soon as possible, and, to that end, the Department will shortly arrange a meeting with representatives of the association at which issues of interest or concern to them can be addressed.