Specific Details
Aquaculture and Water Quality
Intended results
Aquaculture & Water Quality
To stress that it is important that public discussion around aquaculture and water quality is grounded in evidence. There is often an assumption that aquaculture is primarily a pressure on marine water quality. However, that narrative is incomplete and, in many respects, misleading when applied to the Irish context.
To highlight that shellfish farming, by its nature, provides environmental benefits. Shellfish are filter feeders that remove nutrients from the water column, improve water clarity, enhance bacterial denitrification and contribute to nutrient sequestration. In this sense, shellfish production can support improved water and habitat quality and assist in mitigating eutrophication pressures in coastal waters.
That, in relation to finfish farming, it is acknowledged that nutrient inputs require careful management. However, current Water Framework Directive classifications show Irish coastal waters to be primarily of high or good status for water quality parameters, including areas where marine aquaculture activities operate.
That Irish salmon farming is predominantly organic and located in exposed, well-flushed offshore environments where nutrient enrichment risks are significantly reduced. Furthermore, the sector operates under extensive monitoring and regulatory requirements.
To stress that Aquaculture operators comply not only with the Water Framework Directive but also with the Habitats and Birds Directives, environmental impact assessment requirements, benthic monitoring, water quality monitoring, residues controls and sea lice management protocols.Few sectors operating in the marine space are subject to the same level of environmental assessment and oversight.
Shellfish Classification System
To highlight that the Irish Shellfish Classification System is a critical food safety framework that determines the conditions under which shellfish can be harvested and marketed, based on ongoing monitoring of microbiological water quality. Classification status has significant implications for shellfish aquaculture producers, influencing market access, production costs, harvest planning, and business viability.
That the system is administered by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) under food hygiene legislation derived from European Union regulations with the support of Marine Institute (MI), Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Irish Shellfish industry (IFA).
That the Molluscan Shellfish Safety Committee (MSSC) is a scientific and technical advisory group that supports the Irish shellfish classification process. The committee brings together expertise from government agencies (SFPA), marine science (MI), food safety (FSAI), and the shellfish sector (IFA) to review monitoring data and supports evidence-based recommendations.
To emphasise that maintaining a robust, transparent, and scientifically grounded classification system is essential for protecting public health while supporting the sustainable development of Ireland's shellfish aquaculture sector. The importance of maintaining high level of water quality in shellfish producing areas also has particular relevance due to the link between water quality and organic status for bivalve molluscs under EU Organic Regs.
That, the Irish Shellfish Classification System is both a food safety safeguard and a key commercial factor for the shellfish aquaculture sector, with the MSSC contributing scientific oversight that supports effective and credible classification decisions.
Pressures on Water Quality
To highlight that while aquaculture is often discussed as a source of pressure, IFA Aquaculture believes equal attention must be given to the pressures affecting aquaculture itself — particularly in relation to shellfish waters.
That Ireland has 64 designated shellfish waters requiring protection to support shellfish life and growth. In recent years, water quality deterioration linked to wastewater discharges and inadequate treatment infrastructure has had serious implications for shellfish-producing bays.
To stress that elevated bacterial and pathogen levels, including norovirus risks, together with nutrient loading from wastewater systems and stormwater overflows, are increasingly affecting shellfish classification and market access. This is not simply an environmental concern; it is also an economic and public health issue
That, where wastewater systems are under pressure, particularly following periods of heavy rainfall and flooding, untreated or partially treated discharges can compromise shellfish waters, disrupt production and threaten livelihoods.
to highlight that climate change is likely to intensify these challenges through more frequent extreme rainfall and pressure on ageing wastewater infrastructure.
To highlight that there are physical, chemical and microbiological requirements that designated shellfish waters must either comply with or try to improve, as well as the establishment of pollution reduction programmes where required. In recent years, mis-management of discharge into designated shellfish areas has compromised the water quality in shellfish producing bays across the country.
To stress that Finfish aquaculture producers, particularly freshwater aquaculture, are also experiencing increased water quality pressures where incoming water quality to freshwater aquaculture production systems is critical – freshwater aquaculture producers are investing heavily in monitoring and control technologies that assess incoming water quality and are also proactively monitoring and mitigating other influences and water quality pressures on rivers.
IFA Aquaculture believes that continued rollout and prioritisation of tertiary wastewater treatment — particularly adjacent to shellfish-producing bays and freshwater aquaculture sites — must remain a central objective of water policy and River Basin Management planning. Protection of shellfish waters and freshwater aquaculture water-sources must be placed on a stronger legislative and management footing
Engagement and Policy Coordination
To highlight that IFA Aquaculture welcomes greater recognition of aquaculture within water policy discussions. However, there remains insufficient structured engagement between the aquaculture sector and agencies responsible for water quality management.
To stress that the sector depends on clean water more than most, yet there is no consistent mechanism through which aquaculture producers participate directly in water governance discussions.
To emphasise that the industry should be included more directly in water governance and stakeholder forums, including discussions relating to implementation of the Water Framework Directive and marine water management.
To stress that there is merit in considering a dedicated forum involving industry, State agencies and relevant Departments to strengthen coordination between aquaculture licensing, marine spatial planning and water quality objectives. Those whose livelihoods depend on healthy marine and fresh waters should not be absent from decisions concerning their management.
To highlight that effective policy depends on collaboration and informed dialogue.
To highlight that Irish aquaculture provides sustainable food production, supports resilient coastal communities and contributes positively to climate and environmental objectives. However, the sector also depends fundamentally on clean, protected and properly managed waters.
IFA Aquaculture is committed to working constructively with Government, regulators and stakeholders to ensure that water policy and aquaculture policy develop in a balanced and evidence-based manner. With appropriate investment, stronger engagement and coherent policy implementation, Ireland can both protect water quality and realise the full sustainable potential of the aquaculture sector
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Francie Gorman IFA President, Finnian O'Sullivan IFA Aquaculture Chair, Catherine McManus IFA Aquaculture Vice-Chair, Teresa Morrissey IFA Senior Policy Executive
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Conor D McGuinness
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Pat 'the cope' Gallagher
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Joe Cooney
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Padráig Mac Lochlainn
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
David Maxwell
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Eamon Scanlon
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Charles Ward
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Jennifer Whitmore
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Niall Blaney
Senator (Seanad)
Manus Boyle
Senator (Seanad)
Malcolm Noonan
Senator (Seanad)
Sarah O'Reilly
Senator (Seanad)
Diarmuid Wilson
Senator (Seanad)