Efforts are being made to trap salmon which escaped from a fish farm off the Connemara coast last week.
As The Irish Times reports, the fish escaped last weekend while work was being carried out at the farm at Rosroe, Renvyle in rough weather.
A tear in a cage net was confirmed by divers last Monday, and the company claims the number of fish which escapes is “insignificant”.
The license previously issued to Killary Salmon Farm Co was assigned to Docon Ltd, Mulrany, Co Mayo, last October.
Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages (GBASC) claims the escape numbered between 10,000 and 30,000 fish.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and Inland Fisheries Ireland have been notified, and the department says it is preparing a report on the incident.
GBASC said the escape “will have a devastating impact on the Erriff and Delphi rivers flowing into Killary Harbour and other nearby rivers such as Kylemore river, Clifden river, Culfin river and Ballynahinch river”.
The department says it has been informed the damaged cage has been repaired, and the company says specialised nets are being set west of the cages to try and capture the fish.
IFI also agreed to place additional draft nets on the north shore, and the company has said it will provide finance for the recovery operation.
The operator told the newspaper that the fish will not mature until winter 2025 at the earliest and survival till then will be minimal.
Read The Irish Times here