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
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
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
Conference highlights impact of climate change, fish farming and non-target catching on Irish stocks The Atlantic wild salmon is in a “serious position” and various conservation measures “don’t seem to have worked”, Inland Fisheries Ireland chief executive Dr Ciaran Byrne has said. Speaking at the annual Salmon Watch Ireland conference in Galway, Dr Byrne said … Continue reading
The Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board (ALAB) has granted an Oral Hearing to those appealing the decision by the Department of Agriculture to give a licence for a salmon farm in Bantry Bay. This decision validates the concerns raised by locals, environmental groups and fishermen. “It is now five years since Marine Harvest first applied for … Continue reading
“Norway’s Wild Salmon Declares Bankruptcy – Fish Farms the Principal Cause” read the rather harrowing slogan which greeted 300 people in attendance at the recent wild salmon conference in the Alta Ice Hotel, Sorrisnivia, Norway. His Royal Highness King Harald, an ardent salmon fisher, was guest of honour accompanied by environment and fisheries ministers, top … Continue reading
Norway’s salmon-farming industry is hitting a wall. Because salmon farming began earlier there than in B.C., I wanted to get a glimpse of where we might be headed if our industry continues on its current path. This is the reason I organized the Wild Salmon Delegation to Norway, which spent two weeks there this month. What … Continue reading
Norwegian salmon farmers are dumping tonnes of polluted sea water along the Norwegian coast. Chemicals for lice treatments are supposed to kill the salmon lice, but in addition it kills all shell animals in the sea, like shrimp and lobster. The lobster and shrimp catch has been radically reduced the last years, after the salmon … Continue reading
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