asked the Minister for the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the diseases which manifested themselves in the past few years in salmon and trout farms are now under control; and that there is no danger of transfer of such diseases to trout and salmon in the wild state.

I am satisfied that the restrictions on the movement of fish and the certification requirements for fish farms are sufficient on the basis of scientific research at present available to control diseases of farmed fish. These restrictions and certification requirements are, however, being kept under close review in the light of developments generally and particularly having regard to the results of ongoing research both here in Ireland and abroad as to the causes, transmission mechanisms etc. of the diseases in question.

There is no evidence to suggest that there is a danger of the spread of disease from farmed salmon and trout to wild fish. In fact, all the evidence suggests that the opposite is the case. Some diseases have been introduced into farmed fish by wild fish whilst other diseases which are peculiar to farmed salmon and trout are never found in wild fish. Farmed fish are more prone to these diseases because they are reared under intensive conditions.