AN environmental group campaign to protect the sea trout in Ireland has been accused of misrepresenting figures and setting back the cause of anglers. The controversy has arisen again following the release of the latest official figures on sea lice levels in monitored fish farms.
The Save our Sea Trout (SOS) group claim figures from farms in the west have vindicated its claims earlier this year that the species was in decline due to lice infestation related to the level of lice in farms.
Irish Salmon Growers' Association chairman Mr Diarmuid Mulcahy said the group's claims were undermining efforts to mend bridges between angling and fish farming communities through the participation of both parties in the Second Report of the Sea Trout Monitoring and Advisory Group.
The May figures from monitored sea pens showed lice levels in 137 cases were below those recommended in the Whitaker Report. Nine pens exceeded recommendations and all these sites were identified, Mr Mulcahy said. "That's an impressive level of control, of 94 per cent success, at getting lice levels down to below those achieved in salmon farming anywhere else in the world."
SOS chairman Prof Graham Shaw said lice levels on many farms were out of control. March to May is the most critical period for lice control since it sets the tone for conditions experienced by young sea trout as they begin seaward migration.
"Warnings issued by us on receipt of the March figures were dismissed as hype in some quarters. Now the full extent of the present fiasco is there in black and white."
Particularly bad spots for lice included Mulroy Bay, McSwynes Bay and Inver Bay in Donegal, Killary Harbour in Co Mayo, and Kilkieran Bay in Co Galway, which has the highest concentration of fish farms in the State. "Five of the 11 sites sampled in the bay during May had reached the incredible total of more than 40 lice per fish and two had more than 20. Heavily lice infested sea trout have been observed in black spot areas."
More than two years had elapsed, said Prof Shaw, since the Sea Trout Task Force report identified lice infestation on sea trout in the vicinity of salmon farms as the factor most closely associated with the sea trout collapse.
"The latest debacle comes despite the introduction of two new lice treatments in April on a trial basis. There is, therefore, serious cause to doubt whether fish farms will ever exert the necessary control. We seek tough, new action against transgressors.
The ISGA said, however, that the public should ignore what it considered to be unsubstantiated reports of sightings of heavily liced fish. It reiterated its view that there was no scientific proof that lice from fish farms cause lice on sea trout, resulting in a collapse of stocks.