Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken by him to support the shellfish farmers along the north and west coast who have seen significant proportions of their stock destroyed by the recent algal bloom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42006/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Phytoplankton blooms such as the one that occurred this summer are naturally occurring and are an inevitable occasional feature of operating aquaculture farms in Irish coastal waters. The Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara are working closely together and with the affected farmers to render as much technical assistance as possible under the circumstances. The Marine Institute already provide a monitoring and forecasting service in relation to these naturally occurring algal blooms. I am also aware that personnel from both agencies have visited the affected sites to help assess and catalogue the impacts of the bloom on the oyster stocks and to gather as much environmental data as possible with a view to gaining a greater understanding of the dynamics of such an occurrence.

They will collate and analyse the data gathered which will hopefully lead towards the development of better future mitigation and management measures in the event of future outbreaks occurring. My Department is working very hard, within the constraints of the relevant EU Directives, to streamline the aquaculture licensing system which in turn will allow operators to spread their stock, and hence their risk, over a greater number of locations so that the detrimental effects of any future blooms might be reduced.

In conclusion, I should point out that the effects of the Karenia mikimotoi bloom have no implications with regard to human health issues and that Irish oysters should continue to enjoy a strong quality reputation in the market place and thus continue to attract premium prices, which in turn should help to mitigate the impact of the stock losses.