John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of the fact that, in 1997 the unregulated relaying of seed mussel began in Lough Foyle, the reason same was done without regard for the eco system in Lough Foyle; the precautions which were taken at that time to protect the ecosystem in Lough Foyle; the action which is currently being taken to protect the ecosystem in Lough Foyle; the reason a grant was then given for €34,500 to be relayed; the reason the oyster grounds were not mapped out before the relaying began; if his attention has been drawn to the devastating effect that this has had on oyster beds and the people who depend on them for a living; if assistance has been offered to oyster fishermen in Lough Foyle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5658/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The relaying of mussel seed in Lough Foyle in 1997 took place following the discovery of a large, naturally occurring bed of mussel seed within Lough Foyle itself. Therefore, the relaying which took place at that time was internal to the lough, that is, it involved transplanting mussel seed from one location in the lough to other locations in the lough. I am advised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that there was no additional loading on the primary productivity of the lough's ecosystem, and as the lough has always had a mixed fishery of bottom mussels and native oysters, that specific protection measures were not considered necessary.

With regard to the grant to which the Deputy refers, this was a scheme which was put in place by BIM in conjunction with the Foyle Fisheries Commission, following consultation with the authorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The objective of the scheme was to fund the gathering and recording of key tracking data, so that accurate information on quantities, growth performance and location of relayed mussel seed would be available. Therefore, the objective of the scheme was not to promote the transplantation of seed, but to involve the local fishermen in gathering data crucial for the future management of fisheries in the lough. Since then, the data has proved very valuable in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of fisheries in the lough. The full details of the grant payments are to be found in BIM's annual reports. There were maps of the known oyster grounds in existence prior to the relaying of mussel seed in 1997 and these were used by local fishermen to guide the surveying process referred to above. To a large extent these maps were found to be accurate and they were successfully employed, as subsequent surveys showed that, with a few minor exceptions, there was little overlaying of oyster ground with mussel seed. The results of surveys carried out have been disseminated to all interested parties in Lough Foyle. On the basis that the output of the native oyster fishery did not altered significantly in the years after 1997, there has not been any substantive evidence to show that the relaying of seed at that time has had the devastating effect to which the Deputy refers.

The Deputy refers to a meeting held at Moville in 1997. BIM was represented at this meeting of prospective mussel seed fishermen in its capacity as an advisory agency for fisheries development. BIM advice to this group was that it might be appropriate to engage in a trial transplantation of some 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of mussel seed within the lough. As it transpired, the bed of mussel seed found in the lough was much larger than anticipated and local fishermen decided to pursue a different course of action.