Environmental groups are insisting that the planned expansion of the fish farming industry along the west coast of Ireland will lead to diminishing wild stocks and be detrimental for the local community and businesses.
The Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) proposals aim to create ‘mega’ salmon farms off Inis Orr in the Aran Islands and anger over the planned proposals bubbled over into a 250 strong protest outside Marine Minister, Simon Coveney’s, constituency office in Carrigaline, Co Cork over the weekend.
Environmental groups such as the Save Bantry Bay, Save Galway Bay, No Salmon Farms at Sea (NSFAS), Friends of the Irish Environment and the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers (Fissta) all came together at the protest to present the minister with a petition.
One of the main issues is that a WWF report on the dangers of salmon farming has been ignored and that the government should not ignore the very real risks of excessive farm chemicals and viruses and parasites that could affect wild stocks.
The groups are undertaking an aggressive social media campaign to help garner support for the opposition over the proposals.
