Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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20. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and location of fish farms around the country; the number of inspections at these fish farms each year since 2016; the reason for the decision to rescind a fish farm licence under section 68 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19126/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s records indicate 33 marine salmon farm licences and 25 land-based salmon hatcheries. In some cases, the licences provide for additional species. Marine salmon farms are located on the western seaboard off the coast of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork. Land-based salmon hatcheries are located in counties Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny, Louth, Mayo and Tipperary.

Finfish farms are inspected on a regular basis by my Department’s Marine Engineering Division. In 2016, there were 53 inspections, in 2017, there were 81 inspections and in 2018, there were 92 inspections.

I recently determined that the entitlement of MOWI Ireland to continue aquaculture operations under the provisions of Section 19(A)4 of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act for the culture of salmon in cages at a site at Deenish Island, Ballinskelligs Bay, Co. Kerry is discontinued due to the breach of condition 2(e) of the applicable licence which states that “the Licensee shall not harvest more than 500 tonnes (dead weight) of salmon in any one calendar year.”

The details are set out on my Department’s website.

An appeal against this determination may be made to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board within one month beginning on the date of the publication of the decision. As the timeline for possible appeals remains open as part of a statutory process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.