Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 4 October 2017, if there was a disease outbreak or other incident resulting in extensive fish mortalities at a site (details supplied) previous to the recent jellyfish strike; the date his Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland were notified of the disease outbreak or incident; the number of mortalities from this disease outbreak or incident; and the condition and number of the remaining fish at the time of the jellyfish strike. [44185/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has been advised by the Marine Institute that the aquaculture site referred to by the Deputy experienced a disease outbreak in advance of the jellyfish strike.

On 21 September my Department received an inquiry from Inland Fisheries Ireland concerning large quantities of dead fish at the site referred to by the Deputy. Inquiries by my Department’s Marine Engineering Division indicated that substantial mortalities had occurred.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of mortalities may be commercially sensitive and is also under consideration by my Department as part of a statutory process. Therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment further pending completion of this process.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the compensation fund for biotoxin events in aquaculture provided by the State can be accessed for the recent mortalities through jellyfish strikes on salmon farms; and the extent, duration and rationale of the fund. [44186/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme 2014-20 provides €29.6 million to support the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector, in accordance with the 2015 National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. This includes a €2 million fund to aid mollusc farmers affected by suspension of harvesting of molluscs during periods of raised biotoxin levels. 

In accordance with article 36 of the EMFF Regulation (508/2014), aid is available only for losses suffered by mollusc farmers arising from harvesting suspensions due to toxin-producing plankton that have persisted for more than 4 consecutive months.  The loss resulting from the suspension must amount to more than 25% of the annual turnover of the business, calculated on the average turnover over the 3 preceding calendar years. Aid is prioritised for operators affected by the longest suspensions and is limited to a maximum total aid to all farmers of €500,000 per year. Bord Iascaigh Mhara administers the Scheme through targeted calls for applications in areas affected by closures lasting more than 4 months.  It is a matter for BIM to determine if a call for applications is to be initiated.  No calls have been initiated to date.

As the Scheme applies only to mollusc farmers, it is not available to salmon farmers for losses howsoever arising.