Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in granting licences for oyster fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27919/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Many bays and estuaries in Ireland are Special Areas of Conservation or Natura Scheme Areas. As a result, appropriate assessments have to be carried out before licences can be issued. My understanding is that IFI then proceeded to issue annual licences in accordance with the statute. I am not aware of any significant delays in the licensing process.

The purpose of restricting the number of licences is to avoid intensification of the fishery that would jeopardise its future sustainability and could also result in Ireland being found in breach of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Appropriate assessments are to be conducted on all such bays and estuaries by the Marine Institute for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In the event of a favourable assessment for continued future operation of the oyster fisheries, IFI will then be free to reconsider the issuing of additional licences as appropriate.

Question No. 14 answered with Question No. 8.