Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he is taking to protect native oysters and other native shellfish from extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21730/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the possible expansion of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in areas where native oysters exist.

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. 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 these species into the wild.

The exemption in the Regulation for the Pacific Oyster is that it has been in production for many years and has been moved from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

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 will be used to inform further actions that may be required consistent with the provisions of the Regulation.