Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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495. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of substantial mortalities reported to the authorities on 21 September 2017, reputedly in excess of 200,000 salmon; the name of the disease; the number and age of the fish affected; and the results of the statutory process due to the fact he stated it would not be appropriate for him to comment as per his response to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 November 2017. [47859/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, on 21 September 2017 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 specific matters referred to by the Deputy are under consideration by my Department as part of a statutory process which remains ongoing. Therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment further pending completion of this process.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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496. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of all incidences of amoebic gill disease in farmed salmon here in the past two years. [47860/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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497. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the incidence of amoebic gill disease reported in salmon farms here can be considered a potential threat to wild Atlantic salmon populations or other fish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47861/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.

Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) is a common disease of farmed salmon and over the last two years AGD has been present in almost all salmon farms.

AGD is not listed as a disease requiring specific control measures in EU Council Directive 2006/88/EC and there is no legislative requirement for salmon farm operators to officially report the incidence of AGD.

However, under a voluntary good practice programme operated by the Marine Institute salmon farm operators report incidents of increased mortality on marine sites to the Institute when it exceeds specified trigger levels, regardless of the reason for the mortality.

The Marine Institute is not aware of any evidence that the occurrence of AGD in farmed salmon represents a potential risk to wild Atlantic Salmon population or other fish.