Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department have considered the use of close-containment systems in fish production to meet targets in aquaculture, in view of the many advantages of these systems over traditional fish farming systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6622/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All applications for aquaculture licences for the cultivation of fin fish are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and (in the case of marine aquaculture) the 1933 Foreshore Act.

The assessment process takes full account of all National and EU legislative requirements and reflects the full scientific, environmental, legal, public policy and engineering aspects of each application, including the specific production system proposed in each case.

It is a matter for each individual applicant to determine the precise production system they wish to apply for. From a licensing perspective my Department does not adopt a predisposition in respect of proposed production systems, and assesses each application on its merits and by reference to applicable legislation.

In furtherance of its development role my Department, in conjunction with BIM, keeps a constant watching brief on the emergence of any new technologies that show promise for the production of commercially viable raw material supplies of seafood. In that regard I am aware that BIM has built up a considerable expertise in the area of Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and is in possession of up to the minute data regarding the state of development of this emerging technology. BIM has recently assisted clients in the production of two separate and independent feasibility studies investigating the commercial and technical viability of establishing land based saltwater salmon production. These studies indicate that the use of this technology, at its current stage of development would not be commercially viable. In addition the organic status of most Irish producers would be lost.

Ireland has built an enviable market position for its sea reared organically certified farmed salmon. It is regarded as the premium salmon product on the global market and demand far exceeds current supply. If production were to be switched over to RAS reared fish this position would be lost and it would be difficult to differentiate our output from fish produced anywhere else.

My Department in conjunction with BIM and the Marine Institute will continue to track the development of RAS technology and to support its adoption in circumstances where it is appropriate, suitable and holds out the prospect of being commercially viable, such as in the production of high-value, low-volume juvenile fish, which can then be 'finished' in sea pen systems. Other issues such as the cost of electrical energy and the distance to market also impinge on considerations around the suitability of the adoption of this kind of production system under Irish conditions.