Scientists have found that microplastic pollution is increasing on the Irish continental shelf, one of the largest seabed territories in Europe.

The state agency in charge of the country’s rivers has called on the Department of Agriculture to consider a study which concluded fish farming has a "general negative effect" on sea trout stocks, when deciding to grant permission to a planned 1,000-acre fish farm off the Aran Islands.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara has applied for an aquaculture licence to develop a deep-sea salmon farm off Inis Oírr, and is working on two further projects off the west coast to create jobs for local communities, writes Donal Maguire.

KENMARE-BASED Kush Shellfish is the first seafood business in Ireland or Britain to win the carbon trust standard, an award which recognises a company’s efforts to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.