I RECEIVED the following correspondence from Donal McGuire of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which I give in full in the interest of balance:
“I refer to your column of the March 23rd, and in particular the piece you carried regarding a petition to halt salmon farming in Bertraghboy Bay in Connemara.
“Bord Iascaigh Mhara is the agency with the remit for the development of the Irish seafood industry, including aquaculture. As a result we take a deep interest in this matter and go to some lengths to keep ourselves abreast of the latest knowledge and research with regard to this issue. We would therefore appreciate the opportunity to bring some balance to the argument.
“The petition quite rightly states that the salmon farming sites in Bertraghboy Bay were left fallow from salmon farming for more than four years. This is a long period and it is therefore not possible for any sea-lice from salmon farming to have survived.
“Nevertheless, within six weeks of salmon smolts (juvenile salmon at this stage of their life cycle are free of sea lice, which only occur in saltwater) being put to sea from fresh water, a considerable sea lice infestation was observed on the farmed fish.
“This demonstrates beyond any doubt that there is a potent wild source of sea lice infestation in Bertraghboy Bay, whether or not salmon farming is present.
“It also, somewhat ironically, demonstrates quite clearly that the presence of a salmon farm is not required for rapid and heavy sea lice infestation of salmon smolts to occur.
“Anglers in Ireland have always taken an anti-salmon- farming stance and unfortunately this one-sided argument is counterproductive. The only winner in this conflict scenario is the sea-louse itself. It continues to thrive while salmonid stocks decline, regardless of whether salmon farms are present in a particular locality or not.
“Both angling and salmon aquaculture make valuable contributions to our coastal communities and it is quite possible for them to co-exist sustainably, if a respectful and balanced dialogue and relationship could be engendered between the interests promoting both activities. Yours sincerely, Donal Maguire, aquaculture development manager, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
** In Northern Ireland the Loughs Agency reports good salmon fishing on the River Finn, with fish recorded almost daily from various sections. John McLaughlin from Lough Swilly Flies Tackle, Letterkenny, landed a fresh run springer from the Cloghan area.
** The North Western Regional Fisheries Board’s live feed from the Ridge Pool in the River Moy is expected to come on line within the next few days. See www.northwestfisheries.ie.
** The season opened on the Newport River/Lough Beltra on March 20th and Dr Noel Cahill, originally from Dublin, landed the first salmon on the second day, a fresh fish of 3.8kg. Local man Eamon Kennedy found success on Lough Beltra. The system is fly-only and catch-and-release until May 11th. Day permits are available from 098-41222.
** Opening hours for the coming season at Rathbeggan Lakes in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, are now posted on its website www. rathbegganlakes.com.
** Waterways Ireland has arrived at Lecarrow Harbour to undertake a programme of development in partnership with Roscommon Co Council.
The investment will exceed €500,000 and involves construction of an access road, slipway and car park; construction of a playground, service block and boat pump-out.
John Martin, Waterways Ireland chief executive, says: “The investment in Lecarrow comes on top of a multi-million euro investment in waterways infrastructure on the Shannon Navigation in the past three years.”
** Results of last Sunday’s Dublin Pike Anglers’ competition on the River Shannon, near Athlone, were: 1, Paul O’Donoghue (12 fish, 20.9kg); 2, Ian Church, (10f, 17.3kg); 3, Colin McAllorum (7f, 10.5kg). In total, 84 pike were caught.