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The ITCA Topper Ireland Traveller is a well-established series, and Donaghadee Sailing Club on the North Down coast will host an event on 26 May.

Stuart Ogg is the event organiser, and he and his team say that the club extends a warm welcome to all the Topper class sailors, their parents, and supporters.

The fleet will launch from the slip in the town’s famous Harbour, built in 1825 and overlooked by its 1930-built lighthouse. The race area will include the Donaghadee Sound inside the Copeland Islands, giving the competitors the experience of outwitting the tidal streams, adding to the excitement of racing.

In the previous event at Ballyholme, the winner in the 5.3 division was Leo O’Doherty from Sligo Yacht Club, and in the 4.2s, it was Adam Green from Lough Erne Yacht Club in Co. Fermanagh.

Bookings will close 10 days prior to the fixture to allow for the necessary planning, preparation, and organisation of the event. In the meantime, the next Topper Traveller will be at Waterford Harbour, SC, this Sunday, May 12.

Published in Topper
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RYA Northern Ireland has officially named its performance squads for the ILCA and Topper classes ahead of the 2023/24 season.

According to RYANI, selection for both squads was based on the performance throughout the year across various events, both international and local — including the RYANI Youth Championships, which took place in September at Ballyholme Yacht Club.

RYANI performance manager Andrew Baker said: “The squads are great way to support committed sailors in their progression and it’s a critical step towards helping them at national level competition.”

For more details, including the full list of both performance squads, see the RYA website HERE.

Published in RYA Northern Ireland
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Topper dinghy sailing is going strong this winter at Royal Cork Yacht Club, four months after the Munster Club successfully staged the massive 250-boat Topper World Championships in Crosshaven.

On Sunday, both Topper and ILCA youth sailors hit the water for winter training and the first race of the club's winter dinghy frostbite league at the same time as the club's November/December White Sail keelboat League got underway in Cork Harbour.

The ILCA 7 fleet featured some dramatic racing between the ILCA 7s and a single RS Aero 7 sailed by Emmet O’Sullivan from MBSC, who swapped the outright lead several times in each race. Jonathan O’Shaughnessy leads by a point from Micheal O’Suilleabhain, in

In the Topper fleet, Ellen MacDonagh and Kate Deane traded first places, but MacDonagh leads after day one.

See Bob Bateman's photo gallery of Sunday's training below

Published in Royal Cork YC

The Royal St George Yacht Club has announced their 2023/2024 winter training for Topper dinghies.

"The club is keen to build a fleet of the exciting and durable dinghy in anticipation of even greater demand for single-handed sailing", former Commodore Richard O'Connor told Afloat.

The coaching schedule has been timed to complement a busy winter dinghy offering at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and participants of the Royal St George’s schedule will be able to join up with other winter squads on occasion.

Toby Hudson Fowler, who has extensive coaching experience, having coached numerous National and Regional champions in multiple fleets, will lead the Topper trainingToby Hudson Fowler, who has extensive coaching experience, having coached numerous National and Regional champions in multiple fleets, will lead the Topper training

The coaching is open to participants from other clubs and will be run very similarly to the Topper fleet’s Traveller Events, keeping costs down as much as possible. Coaching will commence this Sunday, October 22nd.

Bookings can be made here

Published in Topper

A famous Laser sailor in the Seventies, Ed Baird, is reputed to have said that spending time on the water was what counted. The 258 young sailors competing in the Royal Cork Yacht Club hosted Topper World Championships last week got plenty of that with up to 15 races over the week and undoubtedly have felt the benefit. The calibre of the fleets was outstanding, with intense competition in very taxing variable conditions.

The best performances from the Northern Ireland contingent came from Luke Simpson from County Antrim YC on the north shore of Belfast Lough and Tom Driscoll on the opposite side of the Lough at Royal North and Ballyholme.

Luke finished sixth overall in the enormous 98-strong Gold fleet, and Tom followed in seventh. Ballyholme's Cormac Byrne was also in the top quarter, sails at Strangford SC at 13th, and Emily McAfee (Ballyholme) at 23rd. Another BYC competitor, Katie Brow, finished in the top half at 47th, and at 48th was Calum Pollard, a club mate of Luke Simpson at County Antrim YC. Calum was racing a 5.3 for the first time after winning 2022 4.2 National Championship and topping that year with the World Championship win at Lake Garda.

Luke Simpson (left) with Calum Pollard of County Antrim YC Photo: Bob BatemanLuke Simpson (left) with Calum Pollard of County Antrim YC Photo: Bob Bateman

Luke Simpson reflected on his performance. "It was a great event. Good organisation, a great venue, and plenty of wind with very tricky conditions kept everyone on their toes. Overall, I am very happy with my performance coming second in the qualifying series and finishing 6th overall in the Gold fleet.

Tom Driscoll Seventh overall at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanTom Driscoll Seventh overall at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

I'm looking forward to competing in the British Nationals at Plas Heli next week and hope to improve on my 4th place from last year".

One of the sailors who learned from his time on the water was 13-year-old Calum Pollard, one of the youngest in the Gold Fleet. "As this is my first year in 5.3, my goal was to get into the Gold Fleet, and I was delighted to achieve my goal and race in the Gold Fleet. The size of the fleet was immense, and I had never been on such a big start line, but the number of boats made it feel small as there was no space. I was pleased to get a 13th on the final day and other top 20 results during the week. The conditions were a mixed bag, and I was pleased to be able to handle the stronger breeze. It was a great learning experience, and I had a fantastic time with all my friends and meeting new people".

A long startline at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanA long startline at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Joseph Robinson (BYC) was third in the Silver fleet, counting three seconds and a third, and Rose Kelly of East Down YC on Strangford Lough was 25th in the 60-strong fleet, with Sophie Cairns (BYC) at 40th. Ronan Hodge of Strangford SC counted an excellent 3rd to finish 23rd in the Bronze division.

That adage about time on the water certainly holds for 14-year-old Rose Kelly. She began her sailing in mid-week club racing at East Down Yacht Club and said, "Without its continuous support and endless encouragement, I would never have been able to progress my journey so far".

Rose Kelly from East Down YC 25th in Silver fleet Photo: courtesy Kelly familyRose Kelly from East Down YC 25th in Silver fleet Photo: courtesy Kelly family

Then Rose participated in the Around the Lough Youth Series, where she met other Topper sailors from Killyleagh and Strangford, increasing her competition experience. After her leap into the RYANI Squad, her interest in racing grew. After much more work, Rose was ready to compete in the Worlds. "I had never seen so many boats of the one class", which she emphasises provided her with a magnitude of learning and, "so with the final two days being medium winds, I went home feeling well stretched and tired".

Northern sailors also achieved good results in the 60-strong 4.2 fleet. From Lough Erne YC in Co. Fermanagh, Adam Green was 8th, counting a second and 12th as his best scores. Polly Robinson and James Eadie from Ballyholme were 19th and 29th, respectively, James scoring a top place of second.

On then to the 2024 Worlds in Mar Menor in Murcia, Spain.

Published in Topper
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There was a home success in a breezy conclusion to the 2023 Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club on Friday afternoon, when Ireland took gold and silver in the smaller 4.2 rig division, while the main rig title went to Great Britain.

Friday's three back-to-back races confirmed Britain's Alex Jones of Parkstone Yacht Club as the 2023 Topper 5.3 World Champion at Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Jones had established a winning point cushion of 12 points over six races (with two race wins) and extended this on the final day to ten points with a last-race victory in Cork Harbour.

2023 Topper 5.3 World Champion Alex Jones of Parkstone Yacht Club (centre) with Ruoque Su of China second and Rory Clow third. Photo: Bob Bateman2023 Topper 5.3 World Champion Alex Jones of Parkstone Yacht Club (centre) with Ruoque Su of China second (left) and Rory Clow third. Photo: Bob Bateman

Jones's teammate Rory Clow of Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club, who had moved up to second overall going into Friday's races, was overtaken by Ruoque Su of China for the silver medal. Clow took bronze after nine races sailed in the 98-boat fleet.

The best of the Irish in the 5.3 rig was consistent Luke Simpson of County Antrim Yacht Club, who finished sixth.

Ireland's Whyte is Topper 4.2 World Champion

In the smaller 4.2 rig fleet, Fifteen-year-old Rory Whyte from Waterford Harbour and Royal Cork Yacht Club recovered from an OCS in race one in a three-race final series to win the 4.2 World Championship Trophy. Second, was his clubmate Andrew O'Neill with Che Liu of China in Bronze.

Fifteen-year-old Rory Whyte from Waterford Harbour and Royal Cork Yacht Club is presented with the 4.2 World Championship Trophy by Cork County Mayor FrankO'Flynn. Second, was his clubmate Andrew O'Neill with Che Liu of China in Bronze.Fifteen-year-old Rory Whyte from Waterford Harbour and Royal Cork Yacht Club is presented with the 4.2 World Championship Trophy by Cork County Mayor Frank O'Flynn. Second, was his clubmate Andrew O'Neill (left) with Che Liu of China in Bronze Photo: Bob Bateman

Topper World Championships 5.3 Gold Fleet Racing (Friday) and Prizegiving at Royal Cork Yacht Club Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

4.2 results below and 5.3 results here

Published in Topper

Friday's three back-to-back races will decide the 2023 Topper 5.3 World Champion at Royal Cork Yacht Club

Although Great Britain's Alex Jones has established a winning point cushion of 12-points over six races (with two race wins), it is still all to play for going into the final day in Cork Harbour.

Thursday's penultimate day of the Topper World Championships was a long day on the water in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob BatemanThursday's penultimate day of the Topper World Championships was a long day on the water in Cork Harbour Photo: Bob Bateman

Jones's teammate Rory Clow of Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club has moved up to second on 25 points, with China's Shiyin Niu from the Beijing Sailing Centre now third on 33 points. 

Just two points off the podium is the best of the Irish squad Luke Simpson of County Antrim Yacht Club.

Day Four 2023 Topper World Championships Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

See results below

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Great Britain's Alex Jones leads the International Topper World Championships after the first day of gold fleet racing in the 5.3 division. China's Shiyin Niu is lying second, with Britain's Rory Clow third in the Cork Harbour competition.

The best of the Irish is County Antrim Yacht Club's Luke Simpson in fourth place.

Local hopes were dented when Royal Cork's Craig O'Neill, who held a commanding lead in the qualification stage of the competition, counted a 'Did Not Compete' (DNC) in the first race of gold fleet racing and is currently lying in 48th place.

See gold fleet results after three races below.

Wednesday’s forecast was for grey, wet weather with NE winds up to 20 knots and proved pretty accurate. As a result of the forecast and the distant location of the 4.2 race course, the decision was taken to cancel the Topper 4.2 fleet for the day and race the first of the Topper 5.3 Finals series on the closer Curlane bank course.

The 5.3 fleet, are now split into the Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets for the finals series. The Gold fleet of 98 boats kicked off with a general recall as the strong tide pushed boats along and over the line.

The Topper 5.3 World Championships Gold fleet of 98 boats kicked off with a general recall in Cork Harbour as the strong tide pushed boats along and over the line Photo: Bob BatemanThe Topper 5.3 World Championships Gold fleet of 98 boats kicked off with a general recall in Cork Harbour as the strong tide pushed boats along and over the line Photo: Bob Bateman

PRO Con Murphy went straight to the Black Flag with the wind down to 9 knots as a rain shower deadened the breeze. After the start, 75% of the fleet tacked to the right in an effort to stay up-tide, whilst those going left found themselves pointing at mark 2 of the reaching leg and struggled to get back against the current to the windward mark.

Topper World Championships 5.3 Gold Fleet Racing (Wednesday) Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

After the second loop of the trapezoid course, it was IRL 406, Riona McMorrow Moriarty, that led through the downwind gate, just ahead of GBR 114 Alex Jones and CHN 841 Shiyin Niu, making it a 1-3 for the girls, followed by a tight bunch of boats all finishing together, giving the spotters on the finish boat a tough time.

In the Silver and Bronze fleet start, MLT 800, Daniel Agius from Vikings SC rounded first, showing the benefit of all his warm weather training back home in Malta, but he was caught on the top reach by IRL 410, Luke Simpson, as the top three enjoyed a close battle for the remainder of the race, with Sam Roche, IRL 470 eventually taking the gun, ahead of Joseph Robinson IRL 737 and Daniel Agius with a very satisfying third.

The tides in Cork have proved a new challenge for sailors from China and Malta, who usually sail on waters that don’t move beneath them!

Published in Topper
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After five qualification races sailed at the Topper World Championships, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Craig O'Neill (17) continues to lead the 5.3 fleet after day two. 

And in a further show of strength from the Ireland squad in the 190-boat fleet, County Antrim Yacht Club's Luke Simpson lies second, and Sligo Yacht Club's Leo O'Doherty is third. 

China has taken the lead in the smaller 4.2 division, with Che Liu from Beijing Sailing Centre leading from Rory Whyte. Royal Cork's Andrew O'Neill lies third.

Tuesday dawned with bright skies and a gentle breeze in Cork Harbour building from the southwest, the completely opposite direction from the previous day.

After the morning briefing and traditional spot-prize giving, the 4.2 fleet launched first and were all towed out to their more distant race course beyond Spike Island.

With the wind in the opposite direction, the tide was now under the fleet on the startline, resulting in a general recall for the Topper 4.2 first start.

Topper World Championships 4.2, Day Two Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

After the re-start for the green flight, local sailor Rian O Neill from RCYC rounded first, closely followed by Alegra Schwoerer (SUI) and Rui Chang (CHN), underlining the international makeup of the fleet. Alegra and her family live aboard their yacht, the TOP to TOP climate expedition ship, based in the Norwegian Arctic for the last two years. Four of the family of six are racing in the Topper Worlds after sailing their floating home down from the Lofoten Islands in an effort to get to Crosshaven.

In the Topper 4.2 race 5 Orange flight, IRL 479, Andrew O’Neill was first round the windward mark, followed closely by fellow Royal Cork clubmate Rory Whyte (IRL 706) and CHN 831 Che Liu. On the second upwind, O’Neill held his lead in the building breeze as Che Liu muscled passed Rory Whyte to take the runner-up spot on the line.

Topper World Championships 5.3, Day Two Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Meanwhile, over on the 5.3 course, race 5 for the white and blue flights started with a black flag in a 6 knots southerly breeze. On the first leg, the Irish team led with IRL 493 Leo O’Doherty and IRL 455 Isha Duggan holding the first two places followed by CHN 864 Wenwei Fu.

 5.3 results below and 4.2 results here

On Wednesday, the Topper 5.3 sailors begin their Finals series, with the fleet split into Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets, so there is all to play for.

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After three qualification races sailed at the Topper World Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club, the top three slots in the 5.3 fleets are all filled by Irish sailors, with Craig O'Neill from the host club having the best of the day.

Caoimhe Corkery from Kinsale YC and Royal Cork YC holds second, and Conor Kelly lies third overall.

Near-perfect conditions greeted the fleets for the first day of racing in Cork Harbour. After the heavy showers of Sunday evening, the sun made a welcome return, accompanied by a northerly westerly breeze that varied from 5 – 12 knots throughout the day.

250 participants from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Malta, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Brazil are racing in the Topper world Championships at Royal Cork, with entrants aged between eight years old to their teens Photo: Bob Bateman250 participants from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Malta, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Brazil are racing in the Topper world Championships at Royal Cork, with entrants aged between eight years old to their teens Photo: Bob Bateman

Race 1 for the Topper 5.3 fleet of 198 boats, split by flights into two starts, got away smoothly in 9-12 knots, which then dropped towards the windward mark for the yellow and blue flight race.

First to round coming out of the right-hand side of the beat was Cameron McDaid (GBR, Largs SC), with a 30m lead ahead of the bunch, from which Gemma Brady (IRL, National YC & LDYC) reached over the top of the group on the leg to Mark 2, and into second place. Cameron’s lead was worn down on the second upwind of the trapezoid course as Sam Brown (GBR, Burghfield SC) climbed to second, but Gemma Brady held on well to take 4th.

In the red/white flight race, Caoimhe Corkery (IRL, Royal Cork YC) used her local knowledge of the harbour to her advantage to take the win, as the tide built against the sailors upwind, making it slow going as the wind dropped at the windward mark to 5 knots.

In Race 2, the wind was back to 12 knots, Will Brown, (GBR, Island Barn SC) rounded first, ahead of IRL Conor Kelly and Ian Ma, (HKG), finishing in that order.

After three races, the top three slots in the 5.3 fleets are all filled by Irish sailors, with Craig O'Neill from the host club having the best of the day, with a very consistent 3,1,2 scoreline, ahead of Caoimhe Corkery on 19 points after she slipped to 17th in the third race, tied on points with Connor Kelly in 3rd.

Rory Whyte from Ballyholme nailed the day with an impressive 2,1,1, score in the 60-boat 4.2 division Photo: Bob BatemanRory Whyte from Ballyholme nailed the day with an impressive 2,1,1, score in the 60-boat 4.2 division Photo: Bob Bateman

Topper World Championships Day One Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Over on the Topper 4.2 course, Rory Whyte, (IRL) nailed the day with an impressive 2,1,1, score, leading the 60-boat fleet from Shirley Ma, (CHN, Vanhang Sailing) and Victor Montgomery (GBR)

Topper 5.3 results are below and 4.2 are here

Published in Topper
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Aquaculture Information

Aquaculture is the farming of animals in the water and has been practised for centuries, with the monks farming fish in the middle ages. More recently the technology has progressed and the aquaculture sector is now producing in the region of 50 thousand tonnes annually and provides a valuable food product as well as much needed employment in many rural areas of Ireland.

A typical fish farm involves keeping fish in pens in the water column, caring for them and supplying them with food so they grow to market size. Or for shellfish, containing them in a specialised unit and allowing them to feed on natural plants and materials in the water column until they reach harvestable size. While farming fish has a lower carbon and water footprint to those of land animals, and a very efficient food fed to weight gain ratio compared to beef, pork or chicken, farming does require protein food sources and produces organic waste which is released into the surrounding waters. Finding sustainable food sources, and reducing the environmental impacts are key challenges facing the sector as it continues to grow.

Salmon is the most popular fish bought by Irish families. In Ireland, most of our salmon is farmed, and along with mussels and oysters, are the main farmed species in the country.

Aquaculture in Ireland

  • Fish and shellfish are farmed in 14 Irish coastal counties.
  • Irish SMEs and families grow salmon, oysters, mussels and other seafood
  • The sector is worth €150m at the farm gate – 80% in export earnings.
  • The industry sustains 1,833 direct jobs in remote rural areas – 80% in the west of Ireland
  • Every full-time job in aquaculture creates 2.27 other jobs locally (Teagasc 2015)
  • Ireland’s marine farms occupy 0.0004% of Ireland’s 17,500Km2 inshore area.
  • 83% of people in coastal areas support the development of fish farming
  • Aquaculture is a strong, sustainable and popular strategic asset for development and job creation (Foodwise 2025, National Strategic Plan, Seafood
  • Operational Programme 2020, FAO, European Commission, European Investment Bank, Harvesting Our Ocean Wealth, Silicon Republic, CEDRA)
    Ireland has led the world in organically certified farmed fish for over 30 years
  • Fish farm workers include people who have spent over two decades in the business to school-leavers intent on becoming third-generation farmers on their family sites.

Irish Aquaculture FAQs

Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants, and involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions- in contrast to commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. Mariculture refers to aquaculture practiced in marine environments and in underwater habitats. Particular kinds of aquaculture include fish farming, shrimp farming, oyster farming, mariculture, algaculture (such as seaweed farming), and the cultivation of ornamental fish. Particular methods include aquaponics and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, both of which integrate fish farming and plant farming.

About 580 aquatic species are currently farmed all over the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which says it is "practised by both some of the poorest farmers in developing countries and by multinational companies".

Increasing global demand for protein through seafood is driving increasing demand for aquaculture, particularly given the pressures on certain commercially caught wild stocks of fish. The FAO says that "eating fish is part of the cultural tradition of many people and in terms of health benefits, it has an excellent nutritional profile, and "is a good source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and essential micronutrients".

Aquaculture now accounts for 50 per cent of the world's fish consumed for food, and is the fastest-growing good sector.

China provides over 60 per cent of the world's farmed fish. In Europe, Norway and Scotland are leading producers of finfish, principally farmed salmon.

For farmed salmon, the feed conversion ratio, which is the measurement of how much feed it takes to produce the protein, is 1.1, as in one pound of feed producing one pound of protein, compared to rates of between 2.2 and 10 for beef, pork and chicken. However, scientists have also pointed out that certain farmed fish and shrimp requiring higher levels of protein and calories in feed compared to chickens, pigs, and cattle.

Tilapia farming which originated in the Middle East and Africa has now become the most profitable business in most countries. Tilapia has become the second most popular seafood after crab, due to which its farming is flourishing. It has entered the list of best selling species like shrimp and salmon.

There are 278 aquaculture production units in Ireland, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) *, producing 38,000 tonnes of finfish and shellfish in 2019 and with a total value of €172 million

There are currently almost 2,000 people directly employed in Irish aquaculture in the Republic, according to BIM.

BIM figures for 2019 recorded farmed salmon at almost 12,000 tonnes, valued at €110 million; rock oysters reached 10,300 tonnes at a value of €44 million; rope mussels at 10,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; seabed cultured mussels at 4,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; "other" finfish reached 600 tonnes, valued at €2 million and "other" shellfish reached 300 tonnes, valued at €2 million

Irish aquaculture products are exported to Europe, US and Asia, with salmon exported to France, Germany, Belgium and the US. Oysters are exported to France, with developing sales to markets in Hong Kong and China. France is Ireland's largest export for mussels, while there have been increased sales in the domestic and British markets.

The value of the Irish farmed finfish sector fell by five per cent in volume and seven per cent in value in 2019, mainly due to a fall on salmon production, but this was partially offset by a seven per cent increased in farmed shellfish to a value of 60 million euro. Delays in issuing State licenses have hampered further growth of the sector, according to industry representatives.

Fish and shellfish farmers must be licensed, and must comply with regulations and inspections conducted by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute. Food labelling is a function of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There is a long backlog of license approvals in the finfish sector, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine says it is working to reduce the backlog in the shellfish sector.

The department says it is working through the backlog, but notes that an application for a marine finfish aquaculture licence must be accompanied by either an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). As of October 2020, over two-thirds of applications on hand had an EIS outstanding, it said.

The EU requires member states to have marine spatial plans by 2021, and Ireland has assigned responsibility to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF). Legislation has been drawn up to underpin this, and to provide a "one stop shop" for marine planning, ranging from fish farms to offshore energy – as in Marine Planning and Development Management Bill. However, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine confirmed last year that it intends to retain responsibility for aquaculture and sea-fisheries related development – meaning fish and shellfish farmers won't be able to avail of the "one stop shop" for marine planning.

Fish and shellfish health is a challenge, with naturally occurring blooms, jellyfish and the risk of disease. There are also issues with a perception that the sector causes environmental problems.

The industry has been on a steep learning curve, particularly in finfish farming, since it was hailed as a new future for Irish coastal communities from the 1970s – with the State's Electricity Supply Board being an early pioneer, and tobacco company Carrolls also becoming involved for a time. Nutrient build up, which occurs when there is a high density of fish in one area, waste production and its impact on depleting oxygen in water, creating algal blooms and "dead zones", and farmers' use of antibiotics to prevent disease have all been concerns, and anglers have also been worried about the impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild fish populations. Sea lice from salmon farmers were also blamed for declines in sea trout and wild salmon in Irish estuaries and rivers.

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

Yes, as it is considered to have better potential for controlling environmental impacts, but it is expensive. As of October 2020, the department was handling over 20 land-based aquaculture applications.

The Irish Farmers' Association has represented fish and shellfish farmers for many years, with its chief executive Richie Flynn, who died in 2018, tirelessly championing the sector. His successor, Teresa Morrissey, is an equally forceful advocate, having worked previously in the Marine Institute in providing regulatory advice on fish health matters, scientific research on emerging aquatic diseases and management of the National Reference Laboratory for crustacean diseases.

BIM provides training in the national vocational certificate in aquaculture at its National Fisheries College, Castletownbere, Co Cork. It also trains divers to work in the industry. The Institute of Technology Carlow has also developed a higher diploma in aqua business at its campus in Wexford, in collaboration with BIM and IFA Aquaculture, the representative association for fish and shellfish farming.

© Afloat 2020

At A Glance - Irish Aquaculture

  • Fish and shellfish are farmed in 14 Irish coastal counties
  • Salmon is the most popular fish bought by Irish families. 
  • In Ireland, most of our salmon is farmed, and along with mussels and oysters, are the main farmed species in the country.
  • The industry sustains 1,833 direct jobs in remote rural areas – 80% in the west of Ireland
  • Every full-time job in aquaculture creates 2.27 other jobs locally (Teagasc 2015)
  • Ireland’s marine farms occupy 0.0004% of Ireland’s 17,500Km2 inshore area.
  • 83% of people in coastal areas support the development of fish farming

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