Written answers

Tuesday, 3 February 2009

Department of Agriculture and Food

Aquaculture Protection

9:00 pm

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the preventive measures in place, including licence conditions to minimise risk of the Pacific oyster gigas spawning and settling in high value bays and estuaries around the coast, particularly Natura 2000 sites and sites with indigenous native oyster beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3193/09]

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the rapid action he is taking to halt the spread and to try to get the Pacific oyster under control in effected Natura 2000 sites in view of reports from local fishermen and the first study by Coastwatch in Lough Swilly, County Donegal demonstrating that the Pacific oyster is behaving as a typical invasive alien species and out competing native oyster species; the way local fishermen and other concerned knowledgeable stakeholders are being included in prevent and control plans and actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3196/09]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 396 together.

The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is included in Annex IV of Council Regulation (EC) 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture. Article 2(5) of the Regulation specifically exempts those species listed in Annex IV from the provisions of the Regulation, with the exceptions of articles 3 and 4. The justification of exempting the Pacific Oyster from the general provisions of the Regulation is that it has been in production for many years, has been moved from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and until recently has had very limited recruitment in many EU Member States.

Article 4 requires Member States to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to avoid adverse effects to biodiversity, and especially to species, habitats and ecosystem functions which may be expected to arise, inter alia, from the spreading of alien and locally absent species into the wild. My Department is advised that, to date, there is little evidence that any decline in Native Oyster numbers have been linked with the presence of the Pacific Oyster although it is accepted that recruitment has been recently documented in Ireland.

In order to assist in determining the future potential risk of widespread proliferation of the Pacific Oyster in Ireland the Marine Institute is funding a research study to document the level of reproductive effort of oysters grown on the seabed compared with the more traditional culture methods for this species. This study is expected to be completed by September 2010. The results of this study can be used to inform any actions that may be required to prevent and control movement of the Pacific Oyster.

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