Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the damage done to returning to sea, salmon smolts, by hydro electric plants and by sea lice that assemble in large numbers in the vicinity of fish farms; and the action he proposes to take to prevent this recurring loss of returning salmon stock. [21570/12]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the issue of salmon smolts going to sea, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) operate 10 large-scale hydro electric stations located on the Rivers Shannon, Erne, Liffey, Lee and the Clady/Crolly. ESB have advised that during the downward salmon migration to sea (March-early June), the ESB operate a salmon smolt generation protocol involving evening and early night-time generation on their Kaplan sets (the most fish-friendly type of turbine). These turbine sets are run at near to maximum efficiency and smolt losses are minimised. The effectiveness of these running regimes has been shown to result in survival rates of between 88-92% for these stations. The ESB operated salmon hatcheries that further mitigate the small scale losses.

Smaller hydroelectric schemes such as Leixlip, operate differently as water is selectively discharged over spillway gates or through fish passes to prevent smolt losses. On relatively small hydroelectric plants Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have advised that there is also a requirement to fit fine mesh screens to the intake point during the spring migration period to prevent smolts being taken into and through the turbine. As an additional safeguard, provision is also made for spilling water over a weir so as to provide an alternative downstream route.

As regards the issue of sea lice from marine salmon farms, IFI advise that an important scientific study conducted by IFI on the impact of sea lice infestation of outwardly migrating salmon smolts from a number of rivers on Ireland's West Coast was published earlier this year. This scientific study, conducted over a 3 year period, concluded that sea lice - induced mortality can be significant and that sea-lice larvae emanating from farmed salmon may influence individual survivorship and population conservation status of wild salmon in the river systems examined.

As part of the development of fish farming, the protocols for the control of sea-lice infestation at salmon farms is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in which I have no role. I am fully supportive of sustainable aquaculture development and I strongly support the ongoing efforts of the Minister, his Department and the agencies operating under its aegis to ensure that all such activity complies with our obligations under the Habitats Directive and other EU legislation designed to protect our environment.

These measures are necessary to ensure that protection is afforded to declining native wild salmon stocks and to the valuable angling tourism sector valued at €100 million per annum by Fáilte Ireland and IFI that supports jobs in our coastal and rural communities.