Save The Swilly August 2, 2002

QUESTIONS OVER DECOMPOSING SALMON IN INVER BAY

Save The Swilly is calling for an independent inquiry into the recent fish kill in Inver Bay, Co. Donegal, where at least 50,000 mature farmed salmon have been decomposing on the sea-bed for two months. It is not known how many live fish escaped during the incident, but thousands of suffocated salmon were allowed to sink to the bottom by the licence-holder.

Responsibility for this matter rests primarily with the company concerned, Ocean Farm (one of the two founding members of Irish Quality Salmon), as well as with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Northern Regional Fisheries Board. The Donegal County Council, which is responsible for water quality in the county, also has a duty to reassure the public that it is fulfilling its monitoring function.

A spokesman for Save The Swilly said a full and independent investigation was needed to establish the cause of the salmon kill, and to address the response of the licencee and the Department of the Marine, the risk to water quality in Inver Bay and the optimal strategy for the necessary clean-up. It was irresponsible to dismiss this environmental disaster as a "technical accident", he said.

"Thousands of fish died in this cage and were allowed to drop to the seabed. This is not a routine matter, but an example of the risks to the coastal environment posed by this industry," the spokesman said. "It is not good enough for the salmon-farming industry to deploy its spin-doctors in an attempt to minimise the gravity of the situation. The public has a right to know how this occurred, why it has taken two months to come to light, and what the Department of the Marine's response is. If the operator is deemed to have been careless or negligent or in any way in breach of its licence there must be some sanction. It is imperative that the Department of the Marine issue a statement on the action being taken to clean up Inver Bay immediately, without waiting for a report from the fish farmer."

Save The Swilly has commissioned a Scoping Study for an ICZM strategy for Lough Swilly, and the group's spokesman said the Inver Bay salmon kill was clear evidence that the current practice of self-regulation of the fish-farming industry in Ireland was unreliable. "It is high time the Department of the Marine accepted its responsibilities as the guardian of Ireland's coastline, instead of pandering to the aquaculture industry. The Irish government and the European Commission continue to pour hundreds of thousands of euro in subsidies into this industry in Donegal and elsewhere in the country, and we must question whether this money is well spent. Action is demanded, not least in the interests of all stakeholders in Inver Bay."

SAVE THE SWILLY contacts:

Email: info@loughswilly.com
Phone: Tony Morrison (353) 07493-63733
Phone: John Mulcahy (353) 07491-59113; (353) 086-2808636
Address: c/o Buncrana Anglers Association,
Castle Lane, Buncrana, Co. Donegal
Website: www.loughswilly.com

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Archived Press Releases:

September 25, 2006
Oyster crisis exposes "shambles" in management of Swilly

July 11, 2005
Attempt to double salmon-farming output in Lough Swilly

August 23, 2004
Which part of "No" don't they understand?

June 2, 2004
Coulter calls for political change in Donegal

December 15, 2003
Portsalon salmon-farming licence refused by ALAB

November 05, 2003
Sea Trout and Wild Salmon have been Victims of 'Ethnic Cleansing' - FISSTA

September 24, 2003
Prime Time Exposes Aquaculture's Shortcomings

July 24, 2003
Save the Swilly Calls for Farmed Salmon Mortality Monitor

July 21, 2003
Another Disaster in Inver Bay - Inquiry Essential

July 17, 2003
Rural Development Towards Sustainability

February 8, 2003
Save the Swilly Meets Inishowen Politicians

February 3, 2003
Blue Flag Beach Threatened by 80-Acre Fish Farm

January 29, 2003
Save the Swilly 10,000-Signature Petition Accepted by Europe

January 28, 2003
New Alliance Formed in Swilly

December 16, 2002
"Stop Ripping Up the Swilly" Indigenous People Demand

December 13, 2002
Lough Swilly's Indigenous Fishermen Speak Out

October1, 2002
Public Meeting to Discuss Integrated Coastal Zone Management

September 25, 2002
Save the Swilly Welcomes the Strategy on Coastal Zone Mangement

August 12, 2002
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Proposal Launched

August 2, 2002
Questions over decomposing salmon in Inver Bay

June 3, 2002
No Room for Tradition in Lough Swilly

May 3, 2002
Save the Swilly opts for "Swilly First"

May 3, 2002
Save the Swilly/Green Party candidate withdraws

May 1, 2002
Save the Swilly/Green Party candidate to contest Donegal North-East

April 18, 2002
Coulter to be "Ambassador at Large" for Save the Swilly

March 25, 2002
Save The Swilly presents 10,000-signature petition to EU

March 12, 2002
Study of Lough Swilly launched

November 30, 2001 STS letter to Hugh Byrne, Minister for State for the Department of the Marine

November 27, 2001 ICZM and OSPAR - not Clams - for Swilly

October 17, 2001 Salmon farm wants still more licences inshore

September 17, 2001 Save the Swilly meets Labour Party

September 13, 2001 Save the Swilly meets Minister of State Byrne

September 1, 2001 Save the Swilly begins fundraising drive

August 28, 2001 Save the Swilly welcomes I.F.A. initiative

May 15, 2001 Expansion of salmon farming tragic for Swilly

April 9, 2001 Mussel barrels adrift in Lough Swilly

March 22, 2001 Save the Swilly presents petition

March 13, 2001 Save the Swilly questions Minister Byrne

March 11, 2001 Save the Swilly reaffirms call for moratorium

February 20, 2001 Launch of Save the Swilly website

January 24, 2001

January 16, 2001 Delegation meets Minister Hugh Byrne

January 9, 2001 Save The Swilly
(from looking like Mulroy Bay)