Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is her decision to renew licences issued to a group (details supplied) in October 1994 to continue to include two significant and locally important naturally recurring seed mussel resource areas to the exclusion of the majority of the licences operating in the lough; if, in view of the importance of sustainable resources of this type to local industry, it is her national policy and open for anyone in the State to licence such mussel seed resource areas for their own private use in any other part of the country where these types of resources occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35327/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Aquaculture licences in general are issued under the Aquaculture Acts 1997 to 2006. Licences come into effect on the date issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or, as the case may be, by the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board.

The licensing process is required to take account of the suitability of the waters for the aquaculture activity in question, other possible beneficial uses of the waters in question, the likely ecological, economical and environmental impacts, if any, and any other statutory status associated with the area in question. As part of the process the Department consults with a wide variety of consultees, including other Government Departments, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Central Fisheries Board and relevant Regional Fisheries Board, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the relevant local authority, and the relevant Harbour Authority.

In accordance with Section 19A of the Acts, where a licensee has applied for the renewal of an aquaculture licence the licensee shall, notwithstanding the expiration of the period for which the licence was originally granted, be entitled to continue the aquaculture operations originally authorised pending a decision on the application for renewal.