Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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764. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if clear sea lice have been found by the Marine Institute on farmed salmon at salmon farms here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44811/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The control protocols for the management of sea lice are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State. The sea lice management and control protocols and in particular the Pest Management Strategy introduced in 2008 lay down conditions for the compulsory control of sea lice infestation levels on marine salmon farms.

These protocols 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 inspection is published and made widely available.

- Treatment trigger levels are set at a low level.

The sea lice monitoring and control programme in Ireland has been acknowledged by the Environment Directorate (DG Environment) of the EU Commission as representing international best practice.

The salmon louse, Lepeoptheirus salmonis, is a small crustacean ecto-parasite of salmon. It is found on the skin and fins of the fish and is clearly visible to the naked eye with adult females being approximately the size of a thumbnail.

In relation to cleaner fish, I can confirm that, several species of this fish are used in Ireland as a method of controlling sea lice. The cleaner fish, which include several species of wrasse, supplement their diet by removing and eating the lice. This biological method of control is very effective and can reduce the reliance on medicines to control sea lice.