Aquaculture licences difficult to get
There were 26 applications in 2008, but only one licence was granted. “The reduction in the number of new licences issued in 2008 arises from the need for full compliance with the requirements of EU legislation and in particular the EU Habitats and Birds Directives,” said Mr Smith, replying to a Dáil question from Deputy Jan O’Sullivan.
“Reaching early agreement with the EU Commission on how to enable licences to be issued in Natura 2000 sites in compliance with the Birds and Habitats Directives is a very high priority for my Department,” said the minister.
“The considerable potential of the Irish aquaculture sector to create wealth and jobs in coastal communities has been recognised by the Government for some time,” said Mr Smith in response to a Dáil question from Deputy Willie Penrose. He said his department has allocated e5m for aquaculture development in 2009, and planned to roll out a number of actions. Deputy Penrose said aquaculture in Scotland is 50 times the size of that in Ireland and the Norwegians produce as much in one week as Ireland does in a year.
Mr Smith said Ireland turned out just less than 10,000 metric tonnes of Atlantic salmon in 2007, while the Scottish industry produced some 170,000 metric tonnes, and the Norwegians produced approximately 770,000 metric tonnes.
He said Scotland and Norway do not have a substantial component of shellfish farming, from which Ireland produces 45,000 to 50,000 tonnes of high quality mussels and oysters annually.
Mr Smith said the aquaculture licensing authority must consider potential impacts on safety and navigation, ecological impacts, suitability of the waters or location, effects on the local economy, and EU statutory status.
Applications for licences are also subject to public consultation whereby any interested person or body may make submissions.
