Competent Authority

The Marine Institute is the Competent Authority* responsible for the implementation of Council Directive 2006/88/EC in Ireland which deals with the health of aquaculture animals and the prevention and control of certain aquatic diseases. The Directive was transposed into Irish Law by the European Communities (Health of Aquaculture Animals and Products) Regulations 2008 (SI No. 261 of 2008), European Communities (Health of Aquaculture Animals and Products (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 398 of 2010) and 2011 (S.I. No. 430 of 2011).

In its role as the Competent Authority the Marine Institute carries out a number of functions including:

• Fish Health Authorisation of aquaculture production businesses
• Co-ordination of the national fish health surveillance programme
• Registration of importers of ornamental fish
• Registration of specialist transporters of aquaculture animals
• Assessment and management of imports, exports and internal movements of live aquatic animals

 *A Competent Authority is an organisation that has been legally delegated or invested authority, capacity, or power to perform a designated function