Below is a selection of comments submitted with Save The Swilly's flyer petitions or by e-mail

"Five friends and myself visit Ireland for a week's fishing every year. As organiser for our fishing trip for 2002 I write to inform you that my preliminary research into arranging a week in your area has proved a total waste of time. We have not and never will visit any areas which recklessly endanger the future of wild stocks by allowing/encouraging salmon farming. I'll let you assess the loss of income to the local economy."

"Already in 1994, I think nearly all teams competing in the World Flyfishing competition in Galway signed a support for a campaign against sea farming of trout and salmon. This was meant to make people aware of the dangers and that no further licences should be issued until all risks on wild fish and the ecological impact of sea ranching were fully understood. . . . I can just see now that very little has happened since." [Team Captain, Flyfishing Team Sweden]

"As a regular visitor to Lough Swilly I am very annoyed with the way the government is approaching this situation. I hope that they see some sense soon!"

"As a fairly regular visitor to the area, even from as far away as Johannesburg, I think that to spoil the beautiful lough would be a shame. Jobs in Ireland cannot be that difficult to obtain. Everyday in the papers in South Africa we see advertisements for Irish jobs."

"Being a fisherman and running a travel company involved in fishing I feel the Swilly should be kept natural. SO, SO much more revenue is created for the local economy from 'Tourist Anglers' than farmed fish."

"I wish you every success in your efforts. It's a pity there are not more people like you in Donegal and maybe some of our scenery which is now history could have been saved."

"Glad to see someone making the effort. Why spoil what is so precious."

"Please do not allow Lough Swilly to become like Mulroy Bay. Learn from their lessons."

"It is a shame what they have done with Mulroy Bay, the nicest bay in Ireland."

"Haven't we learnt yet!!!!!" [Co. Waterford]

"If the results [of a full environmental impact assessment] prove the expected detrimental environmental effects that aquaculture will have on the Swilly and its surrounds, then no further expansion of the industry should be tolerated."

"I think it's an utter disgrace and an outrage, that the Irish government in this day and age after all that¹s happened with B.S.E. and now the latest 'foot and mouth', can still allow these money orientated people to go ahead and mess about with nature. Look what's happened in animal force farming. . . . I hope some one in power who may just care a bit about something other than money, will read this."

"Salmon farming is shown to be to the detriment of the wild stocks of both salmon and especially seatrout. If the Department is considering this proposal, a full environmental assessment should be carried out with stringent parameters, and unless this development can be shown not to be detrimental to the wild fish stocks, it should be shelved."

"A firm stand must be taken against this type of development. The people and company involved in seeking the licences for Lough Swilly are only interested in profit and when the damage is done and their profit starts to fall they will be away leaving us all with a ruined environment which may never recover."

"The tourism dollars generated by a beautiful pristine Lough Swilly may well outweigh those generated by aquaculture."

"I'm sending this because I'm really anxious that my voice (which represents a lot of voices) will be heard. I congratulate you on what you are doing to save the Swilly."

"I had fished the Loch Maree system in Scotland for several years until the devastation that salmon farming had caused to sea trout and salmon populations made me change my allegiance to Ireland. Don't let your wonderful loughs and rivers go the same way."

"As a regular angler in Ireland . . preserve please your wild fish and don't make the mistakes we did in France; Ireland do not deserve such a stupid politics."

"Government needs to be responsible. It has long past the time of behaviour like that of the ostrich."

"I come in contact with many thousands of tourist every year, who would share the belief that fish farming would destroy Lough Swilly. I would give permission to Save The Swilly organization to leave some of your petition leaflets in my premises, for the customers to sign." [Fanad peninsula]

"Once we destroy our natural heritage nature will not allow us the opportunity to change our minds!" [Councillor Heidi Bedell, Green Party]

"If the proposed development goes ahead it will be one of the greatest losses every suffered by Inishowen. Throughout the country people are beginning to look at ill thought out projects like this with regret. For most of them it is too late to go back, but the Swilly can still be saved. Inishowen's greatest asset is its scenery to lose this would be to lose everything."

"I am a scientist / agricultural consultant working with farmers in Donegal for over 30 years. I have campaigned against the worst aspects of intensive farming for many years. We are only now witnessing the folly of these methods. I have no doubt that the same will happen with fish farming."

"If the Swilly continues to support artificial fish farms, the results would be disastrous for the future of any business based on the natural beauty and clean waters of Donegal. Please god the Minister has the foresight to see that by far the greatest resource Donegal has, is its scenery and naturalness. These are rare commodities nowadays, and people all over the world are willing to pay to visit and appreciate them."

"I feel very, very sad that the Lough that I grew up with and grew up on is going to be changed and damaged in this way. I don't know how many generations of my Mother's family earned their living from fishing, ferrying and boatbuilding on it. In my generation it has become increasingly difficult to make a living from the Lough for various reasons, but I think developments like this will be the final nail in the coffin. I don't understand how people can look at all the evidence and come to the conclusion that aquaculture is appropriate or sustainable on the Swilly."

"I was born in Carndonagh . . . I have travelled the world and have always extolled the beauty of the Swilly and would be devastated if anything was to spoil this natural treasure."

"The Irish Fishermen's Organisation is seriously concerned at the extent to which marine sheltered waters are being colonised by intensive fish-farming activities. The resultant negative impact of these operations on resident marine species and the local marine environment has profound implications for traditional fishing operations, both in terms of the reduction/disappearance of traditional marine organisms and the resultant negative socio-economic impact on the fishermen whose livelihoods depended on them." (IFO General Secretary, Frank Doyle).

"Aquaculture/mariculture development of the Swilly and Trawbreaga Bay must be stopped before the marine ecosystems suffer any further and possibly irreparable damage."

"I study archaeology at present and am very aware of the dangers imposed by lack of careful thought to changes in the environment and full support the Swilly petition."

"At present plans are underway to bring new life into this property, plans which would include new jobs. If the Swilly continues to support artificial fish farms, the results would be disastrous for the future of any business based on the natural beauty and clean waters of Donegal. Please God the Minister has the foresight to see that by far the greatest resource Donegal has, is its scenery and naturalness. These are rare commodities nowadays, and people all over the world are willing to pay to visit and appreciate them."

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