Galway Bay fm newsroom – Concerns are being raised that a significant escape of farmed Salmon at Clare Island could have a devastating impact on Galway’s wild salmon stocks.
Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages says that thousands of farmed fish will now be attempting to enter waterways all along the western coast.
It says that if the farmed variety are successful in mating with their wild counterparts, the results will be devastating due to genetic differences between the types of salmon.
In a statement issued to Galway Bay fm news, The Department of the Marine refused to comment on the threat to Galway’s wild stocks – but says it is currently preparing a report on the incident.
However, it confirms the escape of 3000 salmon from the Marine Harvest site at Clew Bay, which occured when a work boat damaged the net wall of the salmon pen.
Chairman of GBASC Billy Smyth says the potential impact of the latest escape on Galway’s wild salmon stocks is enormous.
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