This bulletin reports on the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme carried out by the Marine Institute in 2007. Results presented in this report are mean ovigerous sea lice levels and mean mobile sea lice levels for Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus

This bulletin reports on the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme carried out by the Marine Institute in 2009. Results presented in this report are mean ovigerous sea lice levels and mean mobile sea lice levels for Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus

This bulletin reports on the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme carried out by the Marine Institute in 2011. Results presented in this report are mean ovigerous sea lice levels and mean mobile sea lice levels for Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus.

This bulletin reports on the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme carried out by the Marine Institute in 2014. Results presented in this report are mean ovigerous sea lice levels and mean mobile sea lice levels for Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus.

Farmed stocks of Atlantic salmon in Ireland are inspected on 14 occasions throughout the year to monitor sea lice levels as part of a national programme.

This bulletin reports on the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme carried out by the Marine Institute in 2004. Results presented in this report are mean ovigerous sea lice levels and mean mobile sea lice levels for Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus

Farmed stocks of Atlantic salmon in Ireland are inspected on 14 occasions throughout the year to monitor sea lice levels as part of a national programme. Sea lice are a naturally occurring parasite found on marine fish, including salmonids. They are small ecto-parasitic copepod crustaceans and there are approximately 559 species. The objectives of the National Sea Lice Monitoring Programme are:  To provide an objective measurement of infestation levels on farms.  To investigate the nature of infestations.  To provide management information to drive the implementation of control and management strategies.  To facilitate further development and refinement of this strategy. The sea lice control and management strategy has five principal components:  Separation of generations.  Annual fallowing of sites.  Early harvest of two-sea-winter fish.  Targeted treatment regimes, including synchronous treatments.  Agreed husbandry practices.

In 2009 two Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) submitted a legal complaint (Anon. 2009 a) against Ireland to the EU Commission (EU Pilot Case 764/09/ENV1). The substance of the complaint was that Ireland was failing to comply with the Habitats Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive in three named fisheries; the Delphi (Bundorragha River), the Newport Fishery (Newport River) and the Ballynahinch Fishery (Ballynahinch River). The complainants also cited a failure to protect both the salmon (Salmo salar) and the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). In responding to the complaint a detailed scientific investigation was undertaken. Long term research and specifically commissioned studies were accessed and their data drawn on to ensure a comprehensive and accurate response based on the best available scientific data and information. This report sets out this information, together with the associated studies and data which formed the basis of the scientific response to the complaint. The complaint was closed in favour of the State on the 11th of October 2012.