Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the recent research (details supplied) which shows that young wild salmon are being infected by sea lice from fish farms located at the mouths of their spawning rivers; and his plans to relocate fish farms from such sensitive sites to ensure ecological separation and meet the legal requirements to conserve this protected species. [36031/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years, monitoring of both wild and farmed fish stocks has shown an increase in the level of sea lice infestation. There are a number of factors that may have contributed to this increase. They include increased winter sea temperatures, the impact of fish health on treatment efficacy and fallowing strategies.

I am acutely aware that the increase in the incidence of sea lice poses a major challenge for both the fish farming and the wild fishery sectors. In the case of licensed fish farms a national monitoring and control programme is carried out by the Marine Institute in accordance with the principles and objectives set out in the Department's Protocol for Sea Lice Monitoring and Control, which was published in 2000. The level of monitoring undertaken in this country and the threshold at which remedial action is taken compares very favourably with other States and is appropriate to the situation.

A High Level Group has been established by the Department to examine all aspects of the issue. This Group will be guided by the need to ensure that lice levels are reduced to, and kept at, the lowest possible levels, to the mutual benefit of fish farmers and wild fisheries interests and will also take account of emerging scientific or technological initiatives in this field.