FIE has written to the European Commission and to Irish Ministers demonstrating that the proposed Galway Bay mega fish farm is contrary to an agreement for a moratorium in salmon farm development reached under the National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 [NDP].

The Irish Seafood National Program 2007 – 2013 published under the National Development Plan in July 2010 acknowledges Central and Regional Fisheries Boards concerns which were supported by the Department of Communication, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) about the negative impact that sea lice emanating from salmon farms are having on migratory wild salmonids.

‘To address these concerns [the negative impact of sea lice], it has been decided that no financial assistance will be given to marine salmon aquaculture licence holders during the course of this National Programme until such time as the sea lice issue has been satisfactorily resolved.’

In spite of this, only just over a year later in December 2011 the Minister for Agriculture specifically provided an increase in the grant–in–aid for BIM ‘in view of the added responsibility which it will have in relation to the deep sea aquaculture’. The Minister has assigned BIM the task of obtaining the necessary licenses for the proposed ‘deep sea’ Galway Bay salmon farm that will double national production.

Read the Press Release   |  Read the letter

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 Conclusions ‘not supported by any scientific investigation

‘A submission by the Government agency Inland Fisheries Ireland will slam the proposed Galway Bay Fish Farm. The application for the 15,000 ton salmon farm – which would be the biggest in Europe – is being made by the semi–state agency who will then franchise the licensce to the highest bidder.

The ‘Submission by Inland Fisheries Ireland on the Environmental Impact Statement for a Deep Sea Fish Farm Development in Galway’ is available from the IFI website. It is highly critical of the Environmental Impact Statement [EIS].The submission alleges that the EIS contains many statements ‘not supported’ by research and that some relevant research is noticeably absent – such as data gathered  at the proposed site by the Celtic Voyager.

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Simon Coveney, TD,

Minister for Agriculture, Marine, and Natural Resources,

Dublin

29 September, 2012

Dear Minister;

In the course of examining the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board decision of 25 September, 2012, to refuse permission for the cultivation of mussels in Dunmanus Bay, County Cork, we are greatly concerned to find that the Board has breached Article 7 of the Access to Information on the Environment legislation.

 Article 7: Dissemination of environmental information

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that public authorities organise the environmental information which is relevant to their functions and which is held by or for them, with a view to its active and systematic dissemination to the public, in particular by means of computer telecommunication and/or electronic technology, where available. [Directive 2003/4/EC] 

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AND NOW SEE THE VIDEO FROM THE IRISH EXAMINER

Residents of the west cork coastline packed a Community Centre to form a committee to try and prevent the Norwegian multinational Marine Harvest from opening a new fish farm. More than 100 acres in size, the site, at Shot Head in Bantry Bay threatens local fishermen and the tourist industry while offering few jobs on the automated operations. The profits are going to Norway while the environmental damage to wild fish stocks is now well documented. The multinational, renowned for its destruction in Patagonia, plans 13 new sites along the western Irish coast.

Visit the website Save Bantry Bay  |  Read what the retired Regional Manager of the Parks and Wildlife Service told the meeting in the Examiner.| Read our Submission to the EIS |  Irish Examiner Feature and editorial

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In our appeal, we point out that the proposal will undermine the local communities who are developing a comprehensive development plan for the area.

We also point out that failing to allow the public to comment until after the decision is made is contrary to the Aarhus Convention and EU law and that the fee of more than €150 is a barrier to public participation.

To date, the Aquaculture Appeals Board has never granted a request for an Oral Hearing.

Read the Appeal   |   Press Release

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A 3 year study part funded by the European Union has shown conclusively that salmon farms with high levels of sea lice infect wild salmon passing through the bays on their way to sea.

The authors of the Irish Report say that 'The finding that salmon smolts are being impacted by sea lice on their seaward migration in salmon aquaculture bays is a new finding and a cause for concern.'

Annually published surveys demonstrate that sea lice control on Irish fish farms has never been adequately controlled and in fact has worsened steadily in spite of every effort since the industry began.

FIE is seeking the recall of the affected salmon farm licenses for scientific assessment.

 Read our Press Release   |   Read the Report. | Read Michael Viney in the Irish Times: From small sea lice do great problems grow

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