Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the help he is offering to private sector companies who wish to farm fin fish here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that global growth for farm fishing is 8% per annum but in Ireland it is shrinking; the role BIM is taking in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47329/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am well aware of the great potential for growth in all types of aquaculture around our coast, including fin fish farming, and this is recognised in ‘Food Harvest 2020’. In relation to aquaculture licensing, the sustainable development of the industry and the creation of long term employment from aquaculture into the future can only take place if there is full compliance with the range of EU and national legislation that impact on this area. I am very conscious of the requirement to both ensure compliance with our obligations under EU law and to make progress on addressing the licensing backlog. In order to meet these objectives, my Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and NPWS is investing significant resources into completing the Appropriate Assessment process. I am confident that significant progress is being made which will facilitate determinations on a significant number of licence applications over the coming months. I also anticipate significant progress in relation to licence determinations in Non-Natura areas.

In addition, as part of a general reform of licensing procedures and processes my Department has comprehensively updated aquaculture licence templates to make them 'fit for purpose' to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Significant work has gone into devising this new updated suite of licences, creating a balanced set of rights and obligations for the industry suited to the current era.

Apart from the focus on progressing licence determinations in the bays, it is also intended to radically expand the production of Irish organic farmed salmon by creating new fish farming production areas in deeper waters. The placement of farms in deep waters will ensure that there is no impact on NATURA 2000 sites. BIM estimates that just one of these production areas could generate over 100 Million Euro in exports p.a. and create 350 direct jobs. A further 150 jobs will be created indirectly in the service sector, supplying fish feed, netting, transportation and other services.

BIM, working with the Marine Institute, is currently investigating suitable sites. An application for an aquaculture licence in respect of one of these sites in Galway Bay has been submitted to the Department by BIM. This application is currently being assessed in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act. I am confident that the steps I have outlined above together with the work being done by BIM and the Marine Institute will result in the sustainable development and significant expansion of this important industry.