Salmon Watch Ireland seeks discussions around fish farming

Salmon Watch Ireland welcomes the recent publication of an international review of over 300 scientific publications on the effects of sea lice on stocks of wild sea trout.

The review carried out by scientists from Norway, Scotland and Ireland concludes that sea lice have negatively impacted wild sea trout stocks in Ireland, Scotland and Norway and that Atlantic salmon stocks have also been impacted with 12-29% fewer salmon spawning in areas utilised for salmon farming.

The review indicated that in areas where salmon farming takes place, an increase in sea lice in the marine habitat occurs, with a consequent disastrous negative effect on both Atlantic salmon and sea trout stocks.