John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views regarding complications of management procedures and the validity of existing licences for aquaculture projects in Lough Foyle due to the poorly defined nature of jurisdiction and competency of his Department, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland and the Crown Estate which lays claim to Lough Foyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25511/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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As there has been no formal agreement between Ireland and the United Kingdom on the delimitation of a territorial waters boundary between the two States, the policy of the two Governments has been to co-operate in a pragmatic fashion. There is no licensing regime for aquaculture currently in operation in Lough Foyle. The Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Act, 2007 empowered the Loughs Agency to conserve, protect, develop and manage shell fisheries and aquaculture in the Loughs areas, enabling for the first time the introduction of an agreed regulatory aquaculture and shell fisheries regime in Lough Foyle.

The relevant secondary legislation in relation to aquaculture, when introduced, will enable the Agency to manage the sector. It will be necessary, however, for the Loughs Agency to secure foreshore licences for the cross-border foreshore areas in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Food and the Crown Estates Commission, which are the bodies responsible for the management of foreshore in both jurisdictions. This will facilitate the introduction of a structured management system for aquaculture in the Loughs areas with the objective of achieving sustainable development for the social, economic and environmental benefit of the communities that influence, enjoy and depend on its resource.