John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 386: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on an additional allocation of acreage to the oyster farm of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33182/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department is currently assessing an application for an aquaculture licence by the person to whom the Deputy refers. The application is in respect of an area adjoining the applicant's current licensed site. Consideration of the application is well advanced and it is expected that a decision will be reached shortly.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 387: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on a request for additional tonnage for mussel farming for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33183/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The mussel seed fishery is managed on an all Island basis to ensure that this wild resource is exploited in a sustainable way. After consultation between the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland, the Loughs Agency and BIM, it was decided that initial allocations of the mussel seed to be fished in Irish and Northern Irish waters, by existing operators, would be the same as the allocations given in 2005. Allocations could then be reviewed pending the availability of seed as the season progressed. The application by the operator in question was treated as a new application on the basis that there was no record of this operator having requested or received an allocation in previous years. To date no allocations of seed have been made to new applicants in 2006 due to poor availability of seed.

In regard to this operator, this is the first occasion that his company has applied for an allocation in its own right. I understand that all previous mussel seed that this operator has transplanted on to his aquaculture site was fished as part of the overall allocation given to the Malin Head Fishermen's Co-operative, of which I understand this operator was a member. For 2006, this co-operative has received the same quota as it did in 2005.

At consultation meetings held with Industry before the beginning of the current season, operators were invited to inform the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources of any changes to their circumstances which might be taken into account with regard to their allocations of mussel seed. Of course it is open to operators to do this at any time to ensure that their details are up-to-date with the Department.