Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures being taken at EU level to protect the Irish lobster and crab fishing industry from an outbreak of parasites which has occurred in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21213/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The bacterium Aerococcus viridans var. homeri causes a disease called Gaffkaemia. This disease is endemic to the lobster (Homarus americanus) populations of North America and it has been reported that the level of infection in wild populations can range from 0-40%. The disease has also been reported in European waters, firstly back in 1996 and on several occasions since then.

The European legislation which covers diseases of aquaculture animals is Council Directive 2006/88/EC on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases of aquatic animals. Annex IV, Part II of the Directive lists the diseases which must be controlled under the Directive. The crustacean diseases which are listed are Taura Syndrome, Yellowhead Disease and Whitespot Disease. The criteria used to select the diseases to be listed are outlined in Annex IV, Part I of the Directive. According to the EU Commission, Gaffkaemia does not fulfil the criteria for listing. It should also be noted that a similar set of criteria are used by the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health), and the disease is not listed by that organisation either.

Council Directive 2006/88/EDC has been transposed by S.I. No 261 of 2008. The crustacean diseases to be controlled at national level reflect those outlined in the Directive.