Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a licence template drawn up in consultation with the salmon aquaculture sector to ensure the immediate and unconditional reintroduction of salmon aquaculture into the national development plan for fisheries and make an urgent start to the pilot project on sea lice [37407/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently engaged in an extensive revision of the terms and conditions of aquaculture licences including licences for the cultivation of salmon. All relevant stakeholders including industry representatives have been closely involved with this process. The aim of this review is to ensure that aquaculture licences remain fit for purpose in the context of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry in the medium term. The review process is currently nearing completion.

Regarding the National Development Plan for fisheries, the Irish National Seafood Programme was launched in July this year to provide grant aid from Exchequer funding to certain aspects of the fishing industry, including aquaculture. In the course of the public and statutory consultation process of the strategic environmental assessment of this Programme, concerns were raised by the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources concerning the possible negative impact on migratory wild salmonids from sea lice emanating from salmon farms. Minister Connick and I agreed with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources that , in the context of this National Programme, until such time as concerns in relation to the sea lice infestation control issue has been satisfactorily resolved, no financial assistance would be given to marine salmon aquaculture operators , on a precautionary basis.

In order to support the salmon aquaculture sector in achieving its considerable economic potential, it is necessary to effectively address the issue of sea lice infestation control. "A strategy for improved pest control on Irish salmon farms" was launched in May 2008 by my Department and has been implemented by it and its Agencies since then. In the 2008 to 2010 period since the introduction of the new Strategy there has been a sustained reduction in the level of ovigerous (egg bearing) lice and a sustained incremental improvement in overall levels of lice infestation on farms in critical spring period, when there is a risk of cross infection of wild salmonids. During the period of implementation of the new Strategy there has also been a sustained incremental improvement in overall lice infestation on salmon farms during the critical spring period.

To complement the progress made by the implementation of the Strategy, it has been proposed that a pilot project be undertaken in this area through the National Seafood Programme. It is envisaged that the project would seek to develop comprehensive measures to improve sea lice infestation control efficiency in the marine salmon farming industry. Minister Connick and I are presently discussing with BIM and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources arrangements for this proposal. I understand that a strategic environmental assessment of the project would be necessary before it could commence and BIM is examining this issue.