Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 1607: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the National Implementation Group formed out of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food document, A Strategy for Improved Pest Control on Irish Salmon Farms has submitted its interim and final report to him; if he will provide a report on its conclusions; should the interim or final report not have been submitted, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31809/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Significant work has been done on the evaluation of the impact of the Strategy for Improved Pest Control on Irish Salmon Farms by a group set up specifically for this. This work is being compiled into a draft Report which, following final examination by the Group, will be completed. When the Report is completed it will be made available as soon as possible.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 1608: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the continued high sea lice levels measured at a site (details supplied) in County Galway over the past four years which are consistently above Department protocol limits despite numerous notices to treat being issued to the operator by the Marine Institute under his Department's sea lice protocol; the reason he has not sanctioned the operator for continued breaches as per the protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31811/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department in conjunction with the Marine Institute has been implementing a new strategy in the treatment of sea lice for the last three years which is having a beneficial effect. There has been a steady incremental decrease in sea lice infestation levels in Connemara over this period. The site in question is now being managed as part of a suite of sites to ensure separation of generations and fallowing between stocking with new fish.

Over the period from the stocking of the site in late 2009 until it was fallowed in August 2010 following the final harvest of fish, notices to treat were issued by the Marine Institute when either ovigerous or mobile sea lice levels warranted this. On each occasion the farm responded by arranging and carrying out a treatment as advised. A total of five treatments have been documented and it is clear that the farm did indeed carry out these treatments as the resultant reductions in sea lice infestation levels were recorded in subsequent inspections by the Marine Institute.

The full implementation of best practice in regard to sea lice management in Connemara will result in further improvements in sea lice control in the coming growing cycle.