A European Commission investigation into the impact of sea lice on salmon farms is to be reopened.

The investigation, closed 14 months ago, could have implications for planned Marine Harvest and Bord Iascaigh Mhara fish farms in Bantry Bay and Galway Bay.

In deciding to re-open the file, the Commission referred to recent research which found ‘fundamental errors’ in earlier Marine Institute research which had shown the mortality rates of salmon infested by sea lice is just 1%.

This Marine Institute research had been used to underpin Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s plans to massively expand the country’s farmed fish production.

Instead, the commission pointed to an article in the Journal of Fish Diseases in August and forwarded to them by Friends of the Irish Environment, which found mortality rates of salmon affected by sea lice are 30%…….

Irish Examiner 26/11/2013 Read the article ‘Probe into impact of sea lice on salmon farms to reopen

Irish Examiner - Salmon Leaping