Ireland: Galway Bay organic salmon farm planned

The Irish Sea Fisheries Board BIM is applying for a license to facilitate the development of a deep sea salmon farm in Galway Bay, at two sites north of Inis Oirr. The proposed site is 1.7 km from the nearest land mass, much further out to sea than conventional fish farms. Its overall size, at 456 hectares spread over two sites, is also much larger than usual, but the footprint of the farm enclosures is significantly smaller.

The enclosures, including all moorings and anchors, will occupy a maximum area of 180 hectares. What will be visible on the surface when the farm is in full operation will cover only 36 hectares, or 8% of the total area. The large area was mapped in order to minimise environmental impact and create optimal conditions for fish welfare. Conventional farms allow for about 95% water to 5% fish, but BIM’s licence requires the operator to maintain a ratio of 99% water to 1% fish, to meet strict organic conditions. The farm will employ approximately 350 people directly by year four (65 on the farm itself), with a further 150 jobs in supporting industries.

The planned farm will have two identical units at a northern and southern site. Each unit will have three blocks of circular sea pens, or enclosures. The site containing the smolts – the juvenile salmon – will have fewer enclosures than the other, which will hold the more mature salmon. The fish are kept in these enclosures, where they are fed a sustainably-sourced, organic fish feed. Strict controls are in place to ensure that fish feed does not go to waste. Organic salmon feed is one of the most expensive feeds in the world, BIM reports, so underwater monitoring equipment stops the pellets from being released as soon as the fish stop feeding.

When the farm is in full production, there will be no more than 60 enclosures spread across the two sites (see map by BIM). Because the tonnage and number of enclosures are restricted by the license, there is no possibility that the area will fill up with salmon enclosures. As fish are harvested, the enclosures they occupied are removed for cleaning and refurbishment, ensuring that there are no enclosures unnecessarily in the water, and that those in use are kept in ideal condition. The fish will then be sent for processing locally. More information is available from BIM.