Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department has taken to deal with the very serious outbreak of sea-lice on salmon farms identified in the latest report issued by the Marine Institute. [17611/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Spring testing period by the Marine Institute, in accordance with the Control Protocols for the management of sea lice, indicated elevated lice levels at salmon cultivation sites in Mannin Bay, Inver Bay, Kilkieran Bay and Killary Harbour.

In all instances appropriate action has been taken by the operators on foot of Management Cell interventions as provided for by the Control Protocols.

These actions include:

- Full or partial accelerated harvests

- Enhanced treatment strategies with due regard for animal health and fish welfare

The site in Mannin Bay is now fallow and lice levels on other affected sites are currently below trigger levels.

Control Protocols for the management of sea lice in Ireland are more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:

- the inspection regime is totally independent of the industry

- data obtained as a result of inspections is published

- treatment trigger levels are set at a low level

My Department keeps the Control Protocols under continuous review to ensure their continued effectiveness.