Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give any indication as to when the appropriate assessment will commence on Bannow Bay and Waterford Estuary in view of the fact that the application was first made in 2010 and is now delaying job creation in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6940/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The bays referred to by the Deputy are designated as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and/or Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites).

In the case of aquaculture sites located within Natura 2000 areas my Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of these areas. This process is ongoing and significant progress has been made. Once the relevant data has been collected, conservation objectives for the site have to be established by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and an appropriate assessment has to be carried out by the Marine Institute. The licensing process must take full account of the outcome of that assessment is reaching a determination on any particular licence application.

Conservation Objectives have been set by NPWS in relation to both bays and the next step in the process is the carrying out of an Appropriate Assessment by the Marine Institute. This is being progressed taking account of the need to facilitate the use of scientific and other resources on a flexible basis across the full range of bays.

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 Directives which impact on this area and national legislation on environmental protection.

I am cognisant of the great potential for all types of aquaculture around our coast as set out in ‘Food Harvest 2020 – A Vision for Irish Agri-food and Fisheries’ and the steps outlined above, together with the work being done by BIM and the Marine Institute, will result in the sustainable development of this important industry.