154. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Bord Iascaigh Mhara has withdrawn its application to develop a fish farm in Galway Bay; the reasons for the withdrawal; if the reasons will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1673/16]

On 21 December my Department was informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) that its Board had decided to withdraw its aquaculture and foreshore licence application in respect of Galway Bay. On the same day BIM issued a press release concerning the reasons for its decision which is available on BIM’s website at www.bim.ie.