Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in dealing with the bonamia ostrea outbreak in Lough Swilly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28533/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Lough Swilly lost its approved zone status for the disease Bonamia ostrea in late 2006 following the isolation of the parasite in a sample taken as part of the routine monitoring program. Once the disease has been introduced to an area it has proved difficult to eradicate it. The Marine Institute together with the Department issued guidelines for containing the bonamia ostrea outbreak in Lough Swilly when it occurred. These guidelines are still in place and need to be maintained in an effort to restrict any further spread of the parasite.

In addition, the Marine Institute has been carrying out an Epidemiological investigation to determine how the outbreak may have occurred and to investigate whether the parasite may have been introduced to any other areas prior to it's detection in Lough Swilly. The report from this investigation is currently being compiled and is due to be submitted to the EU over the coming weeks. While Bonamia ostrea can contribute to higher mortalities in oyster beds, it is not harmful to human health and consequently does not have any adverse effect on sales of product from the point of view of the consumer.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the section of her Department responsible for the Swilly wild oyster fishery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28535/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Lough Swilly Wild Oyster Fishery is regulated by the issue of oyster fishing licences by the Northern Regional Fishery Board on an annual basis. The Central and Regional Fisheries Boards come under the aegis of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I understand from the Northern Regional Fishery Board, however, that there are currently 27 such licences issued.

An application by the Lough Swilly Wild Oyster Development Association for an aquaculture licence under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 in respect of some of the wild oyster beds in Lough Swilly is under consideration by my Department. The areas sought by the Association overlap in part with areas already licensed by the Department for mussel cultivation. This is a serious complicating factor in the orderly licensing of the area in question and is the subject of extensive ongoing examination by officials in the Aquaculture Licensing Section of my Department.