Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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344. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has corresponded with the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board regarding the reason they allowed a commercial salmon farm by a Norwegian parent company to continue at an island in Ballinskelligs Bay, County Kerry in view of conservation bodies views on serious breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60797/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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On the 10th April 2019, following an examination by my Department of possible overharvesting at the aquaculture site referred to by the Deputy, a ministerial decision was made that:

1. A breach of the relevant aquaculture licence condition 2(e) had occurred. Condition 2(e) of the licence states:

“the Licensee shall not harvest more than 500 tonnes (dead weight) of salmon in any one calendar year”

2. The statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned Company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (Mowi Ireland)) to continue aquaculture operations under the provisions of Section 19(A)4 of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act be treated as discontinued.

This decision was appealed to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB), which is an independent body established by statute for the purpose of considering appeals of Ministerial decisions in respect of aquaculture. On 12th September 2025, ALAB determined that the statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (Mowi Ireland)) to continue operations at the Site should not be discontinued on the basis of the breach of Condition 2(e) of the Licence in 2016.

My officials are currently examining the determination and its implications for my Department. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.