The latest issue of Trout & Salmon magazine features the massive community opposition to the Irish Government's proposed 15,000 "mega" salmon farm in Galway Bay:
Read article as a PDF online here
The Southern Star (15 January) reported earlier this week that Save Bantry Bay is calling for continuing moratorium on salmon farming expansion due to sea lice infestation across Ireland:
Read online via "Bantry group calls for continuing salmon farm moratorium"
For more details about the campaign against salmon farming in Ireland read "Gathering Ireland Against Salmon Farming"
Gathering Ireland Against Salmon Farming is gathering momentum fast.
Community, environmental and fishing groups across Ireland are rising
up against the Irish Government's shameful promotion of foreign-owned sea lice infested salmon farms (over 60% of Ireland's salmon farming production is now controlled one Norwegian-owned company: Marine Harvest).
Watch video report via “Message to Norwegian Embassy
in Dublin: Fish Farms Out!”
The latest sea lice data (November 2012) compiled by the Irish Government's Marine Institute reveals that Marine Harvest is
breaching the sea lice protocol level (set at 2 ovigerous – pregnant
female – lice per farmed salmon) for the FIFTH month running.
Read more about sea lice-infested Irish salmon farms online via: "FishyLeaks: Lice-Infested Irish Salmon (Continued)!"
The Sunday Times Ireland reported (16 December):
"Gerry O’Donohue,
of Mannin Bay Salmon, said sea lice were a problem for all fish farms. “We are
very careful to ensure that we do everything possible to reduce the prevalence
of sea lice in our salmon stocks. “We have learnt
how to deal with sea lice. When high levels of sea lice are detected, we
harvest the fish, as we are an organic farm and do not use chemicals,” he said.
Marine Harvest
Ireland said its Irish operations were audited 14 times a year by officials
from the Marine Institute. “We note that
the control protocols in respect of sea lice operated by the Marine Institute
on behalf of the state are more advanced than those operated in other
jurisdictions, as the inspection regime is independent of the industry,” the
company said.
“Data obtained
as a result of inspections is published and treatment trigger levels are set at
a low level. These controls are widely accepted as representing best practice
internationally. Marine Harvest Ireland conforms fully with this leading pest
control strategy. “We implement
tried-and- tested operational procedures to control sea lice. On occasion,
given certain climatic conditions, lice can be more prevalent and this has
occurred this year as the reports clearly illustrate.”
The Marine
Institute declined to comment."
The Irish Examiner reported (15 December):
"Marine Harvest last night defended the figures, saying sea
lice control protocols in Ireland are “more advanced that those operated in
other jurisdictions as the inspection regime is totally independent of the
industry”. “These controls are widely accepted as representing best
practice internationally. Marine Harvest Ireland conforms fully with this
leading pest-control strategy. Given certain climatic conditions, lice can be
more prevalent and this has occurred this year”.
“Best practice in fish farming is to optimise stock rotation
and separation by having a greater number of sites. This is why we have applied
for a licence application for Shot Head, to complement our existing facilities
by enabling improved rotation of our fish stocks therefore implementing best
practice with regard to lice control.”
The Donegal Democrat reported (17 December):
Read a year’s data on sea lice infestation on Irish salmon farms via:
– November 2012: online here
– October 2012: online here
– September 2012: online here
– August 2012: online here
– July 2012: online here
– June 2012: online here
– May 2012: online here
– April 2012: online here
– March 2012: online here
– February 2012: online here
– December 2011 to January 2012: online here