Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There seems to be conflicting information. We all agree that farmed salmon escapes are very bad for our indigenous wild salmon population.

There were 65 farmed salmon caught in rivers in Galway and Mayo in August 2017 and September 2017. The number is estimated to total 500 farmed salmon by Inland Fisheries Ireland, one of the Minister's own statutory bodies. There were many questions but very poor answers.

On 11 October, Mr. Richie Flynn of the Irish Salmon Growers Association told the Irish Examinerits members always reported escapes, without exception. He said, "There has been no such escape to report." The day before, The Irish Timesran an article stating the Department had confirmed to Inland Fisheries Ireland it had received no reports of escapes, yet on 16 February 2018 Inland Fisheries Ireland published its report stating tests on a number of fish confirmed they were farmed fish. A few days later, however, the Department, alongside the Irish Salmon Growers Association, was dismissive of the one report. It came as a bit of a surprise when the Marine Harvest Group, in its end of year report, stated 20,000 farmed salmon had escaped from the site, as the Minister mentioned. Suddenly, the collective amnesia of the Department got a bit clearer.

Some 20,000 farmed salmon escaped on 3 July 2017. The Department was informed the next day, 4 July. Incredibly, no one in the Department, the Marine Institute or the Irish Salmon Growers Association seemed to remember that.

See this speech in context