Aquaculture & Foreshore Management

Mission Statement

The Aquaculture & Foreshore Management Division ensures the efficient and effective management of Aquaculture licensing and Foreshore licensing in respect of Aquaculture and Sea Fishery related activities.

Amendment to Aquaculture Licensing Guidance

Under Section 6 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 (as amended), it is illegal to engage in aquaculture without an appropriate Aquaculture Licence. Aquaculture includes the culture or farming of fish, aquatic invertebrates, aquatic plants or any aquatic form of food suitable for the nutrition of fish. Land-based aquaculture may also require planning permission and a discharge permit from the local authority.

Aquaculture licensing is administered through the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Division also processes companion foreshore licences required for coastal aquaculture operations. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine decides on applications made to the Division on the approved application form and accompanied by the appropriate fees. Any person who engages in aquaculture without a licence or who breaches the terms of a licence may be prosecuted through the Courts. Penalties can be severe and in addition to any fine imposed by the Court, the Minister may, by Order, also require the person convicted to remove any structures and/or equipment.

An application form for an aquaculture licence can be downloaded here or received from the Aquaculture Licensing Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, National Seafood Centre, Clonakilty, Co. Cork; Tel: 1890 25 27 41.

Aquaculture/Foreshore Licence Applications

From September 2015 once an application goes to Public Notice the relevant documentation will be available on the website for information at the link below

Aquaculture/Foreshore Licence Applications

Aquaculture and Foreshore Licence Templates have been developed which indicate the generic terms and conditions that apply to licences issued for the various types of aquaculture activity.

Aquaculture/Foreshore Licence Applications

Aquaculture/Foreshore Licence Decisions

The Appeals procedure for aquaculture licensing is handled by the independent Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, established on 17 June 1998 under Section 22 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997. All Board members are engaged on a part-time basis. Customers, the public or environmental organisations aggrieved by a decision of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on an aquaculture licence application, or by the revocation or amendment of an aquaculture licence, may make an appeal within one month of publication (in the case of a decision) or notification (in the case of revocation/amendment).

All appeals must be made in writing on the appeals application form, setting out the grounds of appeal further information may be found at http://alab.ie

• Marine finfish: e.g. salmon, rainbow trout, cod
• Marine Finfish Licences
• Land-based finfish: e.g. turbot, perch, salmon hatcheries
• Land Based Licences
• Shellfish: e.g. oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, abalone, sea urchin & Cultivation of aquatic plants e.g. seaweed.
• Shellfish Licences
• Licences relating to Aquaculture or Fisheries
• Foreshore Licences

Key Legislation/Publications

• Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, No. 23
• Sections 2,3 and 4 of the Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 1998, No. 54
• Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2001, No. 40
• Section 101 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, No. 8
• Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations, 1998 S.I. NO. 236 OF 1998, as amended by S.I. No. 145 of 2001 and S.I. No. 197 of 2006, S.I. No 301 of 2012, S.I. No 410 of 2012

The Marine Aquaculture Viewer contains mapping and details of licensed aquaculture sites including data sets form the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Marine Institute.

The Regulations Council Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 require the translocation/introduction of Alien and Locally Absent Species to be authorised by the Competent Authority, and to be recorded in a publicly available register. It allows exceptions for specific cases such as closed recirculation systems, where the risks of interactions with the external environment are minimal. It also recognises that some alien species have commonly been used in aquaculture for a long time in certain parts of the EU – for example, Carp and Pacific Oyster. These species, listed in Annex IV to the Regulation, are exempt from most provisions of the Regulation.

Register of Introductions and Translocations of Alien and Locally Absent Species in Aquaculture in Ireland

List of Closed Aquaculture Facilities in Ireland

Aquaculture licence applications may be subject to environmental assessments under the Natural Habitats Regulations if located within or close to Natura 2000 conservation sites. For more information on conservation sites please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Co. Offaly

Co. Tipperary

Co. Mayo

Co. Sligo

Co. Cork

Report Supporting Appropriate Assessment of Extensive Aquaculture in Dunmanus Bay – June 2022

Co. Galway

Determination for Appropriate Assessment for T09/522A Mannin Bay

Appropriate Assessment Screening for Aquaculture Activities in West Connacht Coast – November 2021

Co. Cork

Report supporting Appropriate Assessment of Extensive Aquaculture in Bantry Bay - March 2022

The Screening Matrix for Aquaculture Activities in Outer Bantry Bay – Aug 2020

The Appropriate Assessment Screening for Aquaculture Activities in Cork Harbour SPA – updated April 2020

The Appropriate Assessment Screening for Aquaculture Activities in Great Island SAC – June 2019

The Article 6 Assessment of Aquaculture and Fisheries Activities in Roaringwater Bay- January 2019.-June 2013

The Appropriate Assessment Screening for Aquaculture Activities in Kinsale Harbour – January 2019.

The Appropriate Assessment for Clonakilty Bay Special Area of Conservation addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the Clonakilty Bay SAC on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

The Appropriate Assessment for Clonakilty Bay Special Protection Area addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the Clonakilty Bay SPA on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

Co. Donegal

Appropriate Assessment Screening for Aquaculture Activities in Fintragh Bay - December 2020

The Appropriate Assessment for Mulroy Bay Special Area of Conservation addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the Mulroy Bay SAC on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

The Appropriate Assessment for Sheephaven Special Area of Conservation addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the Sheephaven SAC on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

The Appropriate Assessments for the North Inishowen Coast Special Area of Conservation and Trawbreaga Bay Special Protection Area addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the North Inishowen Coast SAC and the Trawbreaga SPA on the conservation objectives of those Natura 2000 sites.

Co. Louth

The Carlingford Lough Appropriate Assessment Reports 2022 address the potential ecological impacts of fishing and aquaculture activities within the Carlingford Shore SAC and Carlingford Lough SPA (Natura sites) on the Conservation Objectives and Special Conservation Interests of the Natura sites.

The Carlingford Lough Appropriate Assessment 2019

address the potential ecological impacts of fishing and aquaculture activities within the Carlingford Shore SAC and Carlingford Lough SPA (Natura sites) on the Conservation Objectives and Special Conservation Interests of the Natura sites.

Co Wexford

The Appropriate Assessment for Ballyteigue Burrow Special Area of Conservation addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the Ballyteigue Burrow SAC on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

The Appropriate Assessment for Ballyteigue Burrow Special Protection Area addresses the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture activities within the Ballyteigue Burrow SPA on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 site.

Appropriate Assessments/Screenings Carried Out prior to 25 November 2020

All applications in 'Natura 2000' areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Habitats/Birds Directives.

Co. Sligo

Co. Wexford

Appropriate Assessment Conclusion Statement by Licensing Authority for Aquaculture Activities in Ballyteigue Burrow SAC and SPA

Co. Galway

Conclusion Statement by Licensing Authority for Aquaculture Activities in West Connacht Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Co. Louth

Appropriate Assessment Conclusion Statement for Aquaculture Activities in Carlingford Shore SAC and Carlingford Lough SPA November 2022

Appropriate Assessment Conclusion Statement for Aquaculture Activities in Carlingford Shore SAC and Carlingford Lough SPA

Co. Cork

The Updated Appropriate Assessment Conclusion Statement for Aquaculture Activities in Roaringwater Bay and the Islands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) March 2022

Conclusion Statement Cork Harbour October 2022

This Draft Conclusion Statement outlines how it is proposed to licence and manage aquaculture activities in Clonakilty Bay SAC and Clonakilty Bay SPA in compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Co. Donegal

Loughros Beg

Dungloe Bay

Trawbreaga Bay

Mulroy Bay

Sheephaven

Co. Waterford

This Conclusion Statement outlines how it is proposed to licence and manage aquaculture activities in River Barrow and River Nore SAC in compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Co. Kerry

Co. Wexford

This Draft Conclusion Statement outlines how it is proposed to licence and manage aquaculture activities in Ballyteigue Burrow SAC and Ballyteigue Burrow SPA in compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Appropriate Assessment Conclusion Statements prior to 25 November 2020

The Minister may require an applicant to submit an Environmental Impact Statement if the Minister considers that the proposed aquaculture is likely to have significant effects on the environment.

Galway

Offaly

Tipperary

Ministerial Consideration of Requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement

Implementation of the Shellfish Waters Directive is now a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and the Heritage

For further information on applying for an aquaculture licence please see the Aquaculture Licence Application Form and Guidelines on our Forms and Downloads

The Foreshore Acts 1933 - 2011 require that a lease or licence must be obtained from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for works undertaken on the foreshore which are deemed to be:

• any function in relation to a fishery harbour centre,
• any function in respect of—

(i) an activity which is wholly or primarily for the use, development or support of aquaculture, or

(ii) an activity which is wholly or primarily for the use, development or support of sea-fishing including the processing and sale of sea-fish and manufacture of products derived from sea-fish.

The foreshore is classed as the land and seabed between the high water of ordinary or medium tides (shown HWM on Ordnance Survey maps) and the twelve mile limit (12 nautical miles equals approximately 22.24 kilometers).

The Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2011 include the following:

• Foreshore Act 1933
• Foreshore (Amendment) Act, 1992.
• Section 5 of the Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Act, 1998
• Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 2003 (Part 5)
• Maritime Safety Act, 2005 No. 11 (Part 6)
• Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Act, 2007
• Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act, 2009
• Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2011

Certain developments on State-owned foreshore are subject to the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989 to 1999, requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement which must be provided to the consultative organisations specified in the European Communities (Foreshore) Regulations 2009 (SI No. 404 of 2009).

All of these Acts are available at www.irishstatutebook.ie/

For further information please see the Foreshore Application Form and Guidelines below

[document 99110 ]

Please read the appropriate guidelines prior to making an application for a foreshore lease / licence to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

European Communities (Control of Dangerous Substances in Aquaculture) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 466 of 2008) European Communities (Control of Dangerous Substances in Aquaculture) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 466 of 2008)

Foreshore Leases/Licences/Permissions - Application Form & Guidelines

Please return completed application forms with accompanying documentation to:

Aquaculture Licences - Application Forms & Guidelines

Fill in this form to apply for an Aquaculture and Foreshore Licence for a single specific site.

[document 90468 ]

The Strategic Objectives of the Aquaculture & Foreshore Management Division are:

to develop and manage an efficient and effective regulatory framework in respect of Aquaculture licensing and Foreshore licensing of Aquaculture and Sea Fishery related activities;

to secure a fair financial return from the State's foreshore estate in the context of Aquaculture licensing and Foreshore licensing in respect of Aquaculture and Sea Fishery related activities;

to progressively reduce arrears in the clearing of licence applications.