On 13 August 2024 my Department received notification from the Licensee that there had been an escape of salmon from one cage at a site in Killary Harbour, Co. Galway. The Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland were also informed, in accordance with the applicable aquaculture licence conditions.
My Department’s Marine Engineers carried out an inspection of the site on 15 August and a report was prepared.
The operator has indicated that approximately 7,000-8,000 fish escaped through a tear in the net which was damaged by a boat working at the pen during inclement weather. The net was subsequently repaired and has since been replaced. A final figure of escaped fish will be available at the next grading of fish on the site.
The Licensee has advised that efforts are ongoing to recapture fish and they are liaising with Inland Fisheries Ireland in this regard.
A report has also been prepared by my Department’s scientific advisor, the Marine Institute. A disease surveillance inspection was carried out at the site on 17 May 2024, under Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (‘Animal Health Law’) and its supplementing Regulations. This inspection did not indicate the presence of any disease listed in Annex II to that Regulation, or an emerging disease, as referred to in Article 6 of that Regulation. The Marine Institute has not been notified of any change to the health status of the site since then, and neither has the presence of any non-listed disease been reported.
Freshwater treatments have been carried out at the site, to prevent the development of Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) in the establishment. The Marine Institute have advised that such timely treatment of early infection is good practice which is used to prevent the development of disease, thereby contributing to the overall health and welfare of fish on the site.
My Department is continuing to monitor the situation.
