FISH FARM CLAIM THAT ALGAE BLOOMS ARE ‘NATURAL’ CONTESTED AS 80,000 SALMON DIE Mass mortalities reported by Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest) because of algae blooms at two of their salmon farms in Bantry Bay are ‘partly caused the farms themselves’, according to local group Save Bantry Bay. Algal blooms are becoming an increasing problem worldwide, … Continue reading
By Lorna Siggins Inland Fisheries Ireland chief executive Ciaran Byrne has said that the evidence is “pointing towards” moving fish farms onshore for a more sustainable aquaculture industry. Dr Byrne was responding to a decision by the Danish government to halt any further fish farming in coastal areas. Denmark’s environment minister Lea Wermelin said late … Continue reading
The Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board (ALAB) has asked the developers behind the Shot Head salmon farm to undertake further Appropriate Assessments as required by EU habitats law to ensure endangered birds are not put at risk. These assessments are to be completed by 23 September 2019, meaning any decision on the development of the salmon … Continue reading
Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/18/skye-salmon-farms-approved-despite-warnings-of-irrecoverable-damage Two new island fish farms given the go-ahead in spite of Scottish parliamentary report warning of possible environmental impacts Alexandra Heal and Ellie O’Donnell Two new salmon farms are to be built off the Scottish island of Skye after receiving permission from the Highland council, despite opposition from residents over the possible … Continue reading
By Mark Macaskill Charlie Whelan, the former Labour spin doctor, has taken a swipe at the Scottish government for its “criminal” support of fish farming. Whelan, who advised Gordon Brown during the 1990s and was political director of the trade union Unite, believes disease spread by salmon farming is the biggest threat to wild fish. … Continue reading
An organisation opposed to the development of another salmon farm in Bantry Bay says the area is “already overburdened” with them and believes there’s a direct link between such farms and sea lice infestation which can kill wild fish. Save Bantry Bay secretary, Alec O’Donovan, made his organisation’s concerns known on day two of a … Continue reading
On 21 September the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board (ALAB) heard final appeals against a new Marine Harvest salmon farm at Shot Head in Bantry Bay. The Panel, chaired by Prof. Owen McIntyre heard evidence from the developer Marine Harvest and fourteen separate appellants. “After the Department for Agriculture approved the licence in October 2016, ALAB … Continue reading
Marine Harvest has revealed that more than two-thirds of its salmon farms in Scotland broke statutory sea lice limits last year. The figure of 69% was more than four times the average for the Norwegian group’s overall operations. Marine Harvest cited a number of factors for the difficulty in tackling the problem of sea lice … Continue reading
Every day, salmon farmers across the world walk into steel cages – in the seas off Scotland or Norway or Iceland – and throw in food. Lots of food; they must feed tens of thousands of fish before the day is over. They must also check if there are problems, and there is one particular … Continue reading
What has occurred across the west coast of Scotland over the last few decades is nothing short of a travesty. We have been responsible for the systematic demise of a great natural resource, decimating the wild populations of salmon and sea-trout in order to support big business in farmed salmon. In the case of the … Continue reading
Save Bantry Bay 