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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon
Coveney TD, has launched new aquaculture and companion foreshore
licence templates.
The new templates, which are species specific, have been
introduced to address the technological, environmental and
legal issues that have come to the fore since the first licences
were issued under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997. A new
template for the accompanying foreshore licence has also been
devised.
The new templates will be introduced as individual licences
come up for renewal and as new licences are issued.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said - "the new templates
contain significant new terms and conditions which are designed
to reflect the technical advances that have taken place in
the industry and the enhanced environmental protection now
required under EU and national legislation. They will form
the basis for sustainable development of the industry and
the creation of long-term jobs into the future."
Key new features of the licence templates include -
- A move to Standing Stock Biomass for finfish as the means
of measuring production capacity at an aquaculture site;
- Enhanced provisions on environmental monitoring;
- Greater clarity on the requirements for operators in relation
to operational conduct and monitoring;
- The possibility for the group-marking of sites for navigational
purposes - and
- Specific provisions covering company registration/dissolution,
tax certificates, payment of fees, etc.
Information Seminars for industry are currently being rolled
out by the Department.
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