Who makes licensing decisions?
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) oversees the licensing and regulation of aquaculture activities in Ireland. Our role supports decisions that are based on science and open to scrutiny.
- reviewing scientific evidence
- assessing environmental risks
- providing advice to inform decisions
Intensive and extensive aquaculture
Aquaculture, or fish farming, in Ireland is divided into intensive and extensive classes under S.I. No. 240/2018, the Aquaculture (Licence Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.
Extensive fish farming has no external supply of feed. Production and food supply depend entirely on natural processes. Shellfish and seaweed farming typically fall within this class.
Intensive fish farming produces biomass beyond what could be supported naturally without additional feed. Finfish culture is defined as intensive fish farming.
All aquaculture licensing is subject to environmental assessment.
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Aquaculture licensing legislation
Read the regulation cited for the classification of intensive and extensive aquaculture activities.
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