The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) has called on the Government to phase out open-net salmon farming in Ireland, arguing the practice is incompatible with protecting wild fish stocks, marine biodiversity and water quality.
Launching a new aquaculture policy and public campaign on Wednesday (July 15), the coalition of 26 environmental organisations said open-net salmon farming "cannot be conducted sustainably" under current practices and warned it risks undermining Ireland's obligations under European water and marine legislation.
The report identifies pollution from fish waste and uneaten feed, the spread of sea lice and disease, escaped farmed salmon, antibiotic use and habitat impacts among the sector's principal environmental challenges.
SWAN claims these pressures have contributed to the long-term decline of Ireland's wild Atlantic salmon, noting populations have fallen by around 90% since the 1970s.
The network is urging the Government to halt new and renewed licences for open-net salmon farms during a transition towards alternative aquaculture systems. It points to jurisdictions including Denmark and Canada's British Columbia as examples of moves away from conventional open-net production.
At the same time, SWAN says Ireland should support the development of restorative and regenerative forms of aquaculture that enhance, rather than damage, marine ecosystems.
Meanwhile, as Afloat reported, the Marine Institute announced the publication of Ireland's first nationwide assessment of genetic mixing between escaped farmed salmon and wild Atlantic salmon. The study found evidence of introgression in around one-third of the wild populations examined and concluded that preventing farmed salmon escapes remains important to protecting the genetic integrity of wild stocks.
Emma Armshaw, SWAN's Marine and Coastal Policy Officer, said open-net farms allowed diseases and parasites, including sea lice, to spread to wild salmon and sea trout while escaped farmed fish posed further risks through competition and interbreeding.
"Harmful practices like open-net salmon farming drive the degradation of our coastal waters and fuel the dramatic decline of our iconic salmon.
"Phasing out these open-net farms from our ocean is essential if we're to have healthy seas and rivers, thriving wildlife, and flourishing coastal communities."
She said organic certification did not remove concerns over waste discharges, pesticide and antibiotic use, or the industry's reliance on wild-caught fish for feed.
The campaign includes a public petition calling for a national phase-out of open-net salmon farming.
The issue remains contentious in Ireland, with environmental groups and angling interests frequently raising concerns over sea lice, escaped fish and wider ecological impacts, while the salmon farming industry maintains it operates under strict regulation and provides employment in many coastal communities.
