Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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968. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list all funding for reports and research carried out on the area of recirculating aquaculture systems in Ireland that received grant aid by Bord Iascaigh Mhara during the term of the outgoing Government; the amount of grant aid per publication completed; the publications that were used to feed into Government policy for the aquaculture industry and for funding under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9867/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that it provided financial supports to two projects in the period concerned. It provided €8,600 to the Irish Salmon Growers Association for preparation of its report ‘Potential for Land Based Salmon Growout in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems in Ireland’ and it provided €10,801 to Future Fish Ltd to investigate the feasibility of establishing a land based salmon farm using closed containment recirculation technology and to create a business plan from it. In December 2015, the former Minister published Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes by 2023. The preparation of that Plan was informed by a plethora of Irish and international trade journals and publications, together with the policies, plans and legal instruments below, which are referenced in the Plan:

- Europe 2020 – A Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth - COM (2010) 2020 Final.

- An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union - COM(2007) 575 Final.

- Blue Growth opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth - COM/2012/494 Final.

- Common Fisheries Policy Regulation (1380/2013).

- European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (508/2014).

- Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56).

- Habitats Directive (92/43).

- Birds Directive (2009/147).

- Marine Spatial Planning Directive (2014/89).

- Prioritised Action Framework for Natura 2000 (Department of Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht 2014).

- Strategy for Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture COM (2002) 511 Final.

- Building a Sustainable Future for Aquaculture. A New Impetus for the Strategy for the Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture - COM/2009/162 Final.

- Strategic Guidelines for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture COM(2013) 229 Final.

- Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (2012).

- Food Harvest 2020.

- Fish to 2030 - Prospects for fisheries and aquaculture (Word Bank 2013).

- Atlantic Strategy (EU Commission 2013).

- Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic area (EU Commission 2013).

- The Economic Performance of the EU Aquaculture Sector (EU Commission 2014).

- Bord Iascaigh Mhara Strategy 2013-2017.

- Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016.

- Ireland’s 2nd National Biodiversity Plan(Department of Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht 2011)

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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969. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the national strategic plan for sustainable aquaculture development target for a 30% increase in production derived from recirculating aquaculture systems will be achieved; the available supports to develop new recirculating aquaculture systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9868/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In December 2015 my Department launched Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes by 2023. The Plan targets a 30% increase in production derived from recirculating aquaculture systems. Considerable international developmental effort is being put into determining the commercial viability of land based RAS systems for the large scale production of salmon. There appears to be a market niche for such a product if the current technological challenges associated with an economically viable production system can be overcome. On 14 January 2016, the new Aquaculture ‘Knowledge Gateway Scheme’was launched as part of my Department’s ‘EMFF Seafood Development Operational Programme’. I have provided BIM with a budget of €8.2 million for that Scheme. In close collaboration with aquaculture enterprises and researchers, the Scheme aims to develop knowledge, innovation and technology in the aquaculture sector to ensure its sustainable development. An important part of the focus of the Scheme will be the applied research and development required into RAS, identified on page 66 of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development.