Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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72. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1249 of 09 September 2024, the updated number of salmon that escaped from a cage at a site in Killary Harbour in August 2024; if this represents a final figure; the outcome of efforts to recapture fish; the locations in which escaped fish have been detected; if a disease surveillance inspection has been carried out further to that of 17 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37935/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been notified of the escape of farmed fish from one cage at a site in Killary Harbour. The Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) were also informed, in accordance with the applicable aquaculture licence conditions.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department’s Marine Engineers carried out an inspection of the site on 15th August and a report was prepared. The operator has indicated that approximately 7,000-8,000 fish escaped through a tear in the net which was damaged by a boat working at the pen during inclement weather. The net was subsequently repaired and has since been replaced. A final figure of escaped fish will be available at the next grading of fish on the site.

The Marine Institute has not been notified of any change to the health status of the site since a disease surveillance inspection was carried out at the site on 17th May 2024, and neither has the presence of any non-listed disease been reported. This inspection, carried out under Regulation (EU) 2016/429 ('Animal Health Law) and its supplementing Regulations, did not indicate the presence of any disease listed in Annex II to that Regulation, or an emerging disease, as referred to in Article 6 of that Regulation.

The Licensee has advised that efforts are ongoing to recapture fish and they are liaising with Inland Fisheries Ireland in this regard. My Department is aware that IFI had granted a Section 59 authorisation to the operator to catch, remove and dispose of escaped farmed salmon by licenced draft net fisherman within the Harbour from 26 August to 8 September.

The licensee has also advised that measures have been put in place to help avoid a recurrence of such an incident in the future. Enquiries are still ongoing in relation to this matter, with officials from my Department due to meet the Licensee in the coming days.