Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licences awaiting decision when he came into office; sought; and decided, since he came into office; currently awaiting a decision, broken down between shellfish licences and fin-fish licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34220/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The statistical information sought by the Deputy in respect of aquaculture licence applications is as follows;

Note: These figures include both new licence applications and renewals. In particular, almost all finfish licences awaiting decision are renewal applications.

* Does not include applications withdrawn by applicant/closed by Department.

Since taking office I have made 302 determinations in respect of shellfish aquaculture licence applications and 5 in respect of finfish aquaculture, of which 4 are for land based sites. The difference in numbers between shellfish and finfish reflects the greater number of operators conducting shellfish aquaculture and also, crucially, the hugely complex nature of the assessment process involved in respect of finfish. This is not to suggest that the assessment process is simple in the case of shellfish. However 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.

In addition, my Department in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service 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 on the basis of the Appropriate Assessment and other relevant factors

The Appropriate Assessment process has now been completed in respect of twelve bays – Castlemaine Harbour, Roaringwater Bay, Dundalk Bay, Lough Swilly, Donegal Bay, Dungarvan Harbour, Ballycotton Bay, Kenmare Bay, Valentia Harbour/Portmagee Channel, Galway Bay, Clew Bay and Drumcliff Bay/Cummeen Harbour.

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

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. They are however highly complex in nature and resource intensive. The Deputy will be aware that in Food Wise 2025 I have undertaken to commission a review of the existing aquaculture licensing system involving all key stakeholders, to identify the current shortcomings and bottlenecks (legislative, resource and logistical), and implement necessary changes to the aquaculture licensing system as a matter of priority. This measure is a further indication of the importance I attach to getting our licensing system fit for purpose in the context of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry in the medium to long term.