Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of finfish and shellfish licence applications he hopes to decide on between now and 1 April 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41246/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since taking office I have made in excess of 300 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 - it most certainly is not. 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 Marine 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.

There are a number of finfish and shell fish licence applications currently under consideration by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. 

Notwithstanding the significant complexities involved in the aquaculture licence determination process I expect to be in a position to make in the order of an additional 100 licence determinations by 1^stApril 2016.