Minister bides time on Galway Bay fish farm
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney says he’s not going to rush into making a decision on the planning application for a controversial massive salmon farm in Galway Bay.
The Minister, speaking on RTÉ radio, said that he is “cautious” about the salmon farm industry but he said there is an opportunity for it to grow in Ireland.
“We have a very large application in for Galway Bay,” said Minister Coveney.
“I’m insisting on getting very detailed scientific and environmental advice in relation to that and when I have the advice that I think I need then I’ll make a decision on that. I’m certainly not going to rush it. I think there will be a decision before the summer but let’s wait and see how that goes.”
He was speaking to the Countrywide programme on Radio One last Saturday morning.
Asked about the status of the plans for the fish farm, which were submitted to the Department of Agriculture two years ago, Minister Coveney told presenter Damien O’Reilly, “Let’s be clear. There aren’t plans for it; there’s a planning application in at the moment for a number of salmon farms, not that many actually.”
Minister Coveney added: “Just to be clear on this, I haven’t given any planning permission for a single salmon farm in four years since I came into office. People need to know that I am cautious about this industry but I do think there is an opportunity for the salmon industry to grow in Ireland and I have introduced a very robust and environmentally responsible licensing system for aquaculture and salmon farming.”
BIM applied for a licence in August 2012 for 15,000 tonne of salmon, which equates to 7.2 million fish. It is for a ‘twin site’ farm – one for smolts at Inis Óirr and another for more developed salmon off Indreabhán.
The total area of the site covers 1,126 acres, and it has the capacity for 30,000 tonnes, which would produce some 14.2 million salmon, although the application is for 15,000 tonnes.
BIM says the project would benefit the local community through a €60 million initial investment plus “an annual wage flow of over €14 million”.
Opponents of the planned farm say locals “don’t want jobs that pollute to produce”.
Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages says the fish farm will “destroy” the local inshore fishing industry and the angling-related tourism industry. They say shrimp, prawn, lobster, oyster and crab fishing in Galway Bay will be destroyed if the proposal gets the go-ahead.
Both sides are awaiting the Minister’s decision.