In regard to mortalities in the Inver Bay area of County Donegal, it is important to state that no cause has been established yet by the Department. The independent co-ordinator of the investigation, experienced fish pathologist Dr. Marian McLaughlin, indicated that far from solving the problem, the investigation is unlikely to provide any conclusive answers. The investigation has already ruled out disease, pollution from land and the farm's own practices as being the cause. Farmers are alleging that the dredging of 200,000 tonnes of material from Killybegs harbour caused the problem. However, the material was dumped at an appropriate and safe distance and there is no evidence to prove a link between the dredging and the salmon deaths.