Farmed Salmon in Ireland

The salmon farm industry is the largest aquaculture sector in Ireland, worth an estimated €127 million in 2020. Farming takes place in large pens in sheltered bays with deep waters along the west coast. 

However, salmon farming comes with a cost. We speak to NGO activists Salmon Watch Ireland, who tell us about the impact that salmon farms have on wild salmon and sea trout and express concerns about general fish welfare, such as sea lice and overcrowding. 

We visited an Irish organic salmon farm, Bradan Beo Teoranta, part of the Irish Seafood Producers Group in Connemara on the west coast to see firsthand how these farms work and how fish welfare is handled. We learn how organic principles are put in place and how the treatments for sea lice and disease happen on the farm.

We also speak to Susan Steele, recently appointed director of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) who from a young age worked on salmon farms and has vast experience in the regulation of the aquaculture industry. 

But is there a way for wild fish and salmon farms to live in harmony? We learn about potential solutions such as closed containment systems (RAS), semi-closed containment at sea, and other new technological developments in the farming industry. 

This is a fascinating listen with stories and opinions from all sides. We hope you enjoy it. 

Listeners may also be interested in these articles on salmon farming in Ireland

https://www.noteworthy.ie/nw-troubled-waters/news/

https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/areas-activity/aquaculture/sea-lice

https://bim.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/BIM-The-Business-of-Seafood-2020.pdf

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/what-ever-happened-to-the-irish-salmon-farming-industry-1.4123596

The NeighbourFood Podcast is presented by Jack Crotty and Joleen Cronin.

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