Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Aquaculture Licence Applications

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to expedite the decision making process in relation to finfish aquaculture licences; his plans on making any further decisions on fin-fish licences; the time frame for applications waiting for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12719/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All applications for finfish aquaculture licences are considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act which provide for extensive consultation with stakeholders and also for a period of general public consultation.The assessment process involved in respect of finfish applications is complex. The requirement for a mandatory Environmental Impact Statement in the case of finfish cultivation in the marine environment adds a significant regulatory requirement on operators and on my Department when conducting assessments.

Determinations in respect of applications are made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process takes full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and reflects the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.

In addition my Department in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Services is conducting an “Appropriate Assessment” process in respect of designated NATURA bays. This process was agreed with the European Commission and is designed to ensure that Ireland is in full compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

This process includes the following steps:

- a detailed data collection in 91 Bays / Estuaries

- detailed analysis of raw data collected

- setting of Conservation Objectives by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in respect of each site

- carrying out Appropriate Assessments of each licence application / fishery plan against the detailed Conservation Objectives set, and

- determination of Licences / Fisheries on the basis of the Appropriate Assessment and other relevant factors

Completion of the process on a bay by bay basis will enable my Department to assess applications for new licences or the renewal of licences. Pending a decision on the renewal of licences, operators may continue their aquaculture activity under the provisions of Section 19A (4) of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act.

In addition my Department has developed a new set of aquaculture licence templates to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

The regulatory procedures in respect of all aquaculture activities have never been stronger and represent a good balance between the need to develop the Industry and provide the highest level of protection for our marine and coastal environment.

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