Environmental agency reiterates calls to ban salmon farms
One of Ireland's leading environmental organisations has reiterated the need to impose a ban on open-net salmon farming across the country.
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), is a coalition of 26 of Ireland's leading environmental agencies that are focused on water.
SWAN are introducing a whole series of policies that are designed that curb some of the current practices taking place in the aquaculture industry.
SWAN believes that Ireland is at risk of undermining its obligations under EU water and marine laws.
Impact on Donegal Salmon Farms
If the new reforms on aquaculture were implemented then they would have a huge impact on a number of salmon farms that are in operation across the county.
The primary operator in Donegal is Mowi Ireland (formerly Marine Harvest Ireland), which manages organic-certified, open-pen finfish sites along the Atlantic coast, including prominent locations in Mulroy Bay , Lough Swilly , and McSwynes Bay.
At the heart of SWAN's concerns lies sustainability.
Their new policy report has reached the conclusion that open-net salmon farming “cannot be conducted sustainably” because of its damage to water quality, wild fish populations and marine habitats.
It points to pollution from uneaten feed and waste, the spread of disease and parasites (such as sea lice), escaped farmed fish, antibiotic use, and other impacts, all despite ‘organic’ certification.
The practice is identified as one of the main pressures behind the 90% decline in Ireland’s wild salmon since the 1970s.
SWAN is calling on Ireland to adopt similar measures implemented by in Denmark and British Columbia as a use-case.
Emma Armshaw, SWAN Marine and Coastal Policy Officer, said harmful practices like open-net salmon farming drive the degradation of Ireland's coastal waters and have resulted in the dramatic decline in salmon.
"Open-net salmon farms allow the spread of diseases and parasites, such as sea lice, which have been devastating to our wild populations of salmon and sea trout. Adding to this the competition and breeding from farm escapees, we see open-net fish farms being a significant threat to the future of the small number of wild salmon we have left," said Armshaw.
Armshaw added that wild salmon holds a deeply prominent place in Irish culture, folklore, and tourism.
"We can’t let a polluting and cruel practice like this continue to add to this precious fish’s decline. Many might not realise that, while labelled ‘organic’, the farms discharge faeces, uneaten feed, pesticides, and antibiotics into bays, polluting them further. Wild salmon and sea trout are at risk from the sea lice and disease which spread from open nets.
"To make matters worse, the farmed salmon are fed wild-caught fish, including sprat, which takes a much-needed food source from Ireland’s iconic and beloved species, such as seabirds, dolphins and whales," said Armshaw.
Armshaw said that the phasing out of open-net farms from our oceans is essential.
"If we’re to have healthy seas and rivers, thriving wildlife, and flourishing coastal communities then we’re asking people to support this call by signing the petition on our website.
"We believe that with reform and investment in more restorative and regenerative forms of aquaculture, Ireland can lead in sustainable marine food production that supports, rather than harms, biodiversity and water quality.”
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