Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied with the utility and the environmental soundness of Inland Fisheries Ireland continuing the practice of stocking non-native hatchery reared fish from their facility in Cong into the river Erriff; the scientific purpose or research the IFI is relying on to justify this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24814/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 437 of 13 May which addressed the issues the Deputy is raising. I am advised that Inland Fisheries Ireland have undertaken a number of scientific releases of ranched salmon at the River Erriff research station (National Index Sea Trout Catchment) as part of ongoing and important research into the effects of sea lice from marine salmon farms on salmon smolt survival.

Results from previous experimental releases have been published in reputable peer reviewed international journals and provide advice to management of the potential impact of sea lice on increased marine mortality of wild salmon.

I understand that similar studies are undertaken at Burrishoole where research using ranched salmon also supports the Marine Institute’s coded wire tag programme which provides an estimate of salmon survival at sea.

IFI have full trapping facilities at the River Erriff research station to remove all returning ranched salmon to prevent their upstream migration.