ORGANISATIONS opposing the proposed 456-hectare deep-sea fish farm off the North Clare coast have this week countered claims made by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the body behind the project.

Last week BIM cited new research from NUI Galway and the Marine Institute published in the Journal of Fish Diseases, which it said showed sea lice infestation is unlikely to be a significant factor influencing the conservation status of salmon stocks.

Donal Maguire, director of Aquaculture Development Services of BIM stated, “This is confirmation of the validity of the approach that BIM has taken with regard to the development of the aquaculture industry. The scare stories in relation to sea lice being a threat to wild salmon put out by the opponents of salmon farming have no basis in scientific fact.”

Friends of The Irish Environment accused BIM of bringing Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, into “disrepute” after it announced that recent research supports its claim that there is “no evidence to support the contention that salmon farming causes any environmental damage”….

The Clare Champion. 13/03/2013. Read the article.  ‘War of words over salmon study’