Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

233. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of fresh water that will be required for the treatment of amoebic gill disease and other parasites in proposed salmon farms in Galway Bay; the source of this fresh water; his views that this proposed activity should be the subject of an environmental impact assessment. [45074/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012.  The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act.

The assessment process will consider all aspects of the application and take full account of national and EU legislative requirements. It will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.

There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my Ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed.

As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

234. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider directing Bord Iascaigh Mhara to evaluate the potential for establishing onshore recirculating systems for salmon rearing facilities as an alternative to marine-based open cages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45075/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is an operational matter for Bord Iascaigh Mhara in line with the Sea Fisheries Act 1952. However, I understand that BIM has been investigating and encouraging the development of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for some time and has run workshops on this topic.

Ireland currently has two operational RAS farms based onshore. Both of these produce Abalone. The technology to commercially produce sea reared salmon in large volumes onshore has not yet been perfected.

Two private projects part funded by BIM under the Aquaculture Innovation and Technology Scheme are presently evaluating aspects of RAS, including appropriate site selection, site layout, RAS technology and financial modelling.