COUNTY MAYOR CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF LICENSING PROCESS FOR INIS OIRR FISH FARM

Date Published: 10-Dec-2012

County Mayor Thomas Welby has called on the Minister for the Marine to suspend the licensing process for a proposed fish farm off Inis Oirr.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara has applied for the deep sea salmon farming licence at a site roughly 6 kilometres off Inis Oirr.

Mayor Welby says an independent review is required due to what he describes as an "inconsistency of information between state agencies Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Inland Fisheries Ireland.

It follows two separate presentations to Councillors in County buildings over the last week.

Inland Fisheries has expressed concern over the possible effects on wild stock such as sea lice and the potential for cross-contamination.

However Bord Iascaigh Mhara has reassured Connemara Cllrs that escapes from farmed cages will not occur and that sea lice has not been an issue in the decline of wild stock.

A question mark has also been raised by Inland Fisheries over the number of jobs the proposed deep sea farm is likely to create, however BIM stands over its estimate of its capability to create up to 500 jobs.

The plans are now nearing the end of an eight week public consultation process which began in mid-October.

Speaking on Galway Talks, Mayor Welby says an independent review would clarify a number of issues.