Salmon farming can create jobs and protect environment

I refer to a letter carried by the Irish Examiner on Dec 5 from a Mr Marshall in the United States.

The letter in question is an unfortunate example of the heated, uninformed and over the top attack that does maximum damage to the image and credibility of genuine parties interested in conservation, local development and the environment.

If this is to be the level of debate that progressive modern food companies, industry regulators and scientists are expected to deal with, it should be no surprise to understand our frustration attempting to engage with a dogmatic and baseless stance where sound argument, the evidence of years of experience and the realities of modern fish rearing are completely ignored. Opposition for opposition’s sake is unbecoming and unfair to the many people who may want to genuinely engage with the industry and put any valid queries to us to develop a better understanding on all sides. The inconvenient truth for those who have an irrational objection to investment and job creation is that salmon farming can provide employment and activity while also protecting the environment and enhancing Ireland’s reputation as a food island abroad.