53 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine if he has investigated the threat to sea trout fisheries in County Kerry as a result of the most recent outbreak of sea lice infestation; if he has established the cause of this outbreak; and the steps, if any, he intends taking to deal urgently with the problem.

: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the reports of premature returns of sea trout with varying degrees of lice infestation in the Waterville and Kenmare areas.

As part of the Sea Trout Research Programme for 1993 surveys on sea trout fisheries in the South West are being carried out with particular emphasis on the Kenmare, Currane and Inny rivers.

Sampling and other data emerging from the surveys are being analysed at present. I am advised that, pending a full evaluation of the data, definitive conclusions about this year's sea trout returns in the South West cannot as yet be drawn.