News and Releases, 2011

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9th June 2011 - SWIRL Conference
Salmon Watch Ireland Annual Conference 2011 - Document Download.
SWIRL's Annual Conference was held on Saturday 21st May 2011 at Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Tivoli, Cork.

The theme was "Current Issues in Fishery Management". Subjects and speakers were:
1. The challenge of falling salmon survival rates at sea – what SALSEA can teach us - Dr Ken Whelan, Atlantic Salmon Trust. (Download PowerPoint Presentation here).
2. Water quality – what can the Water Framework Directive process deliver – Dr Fran Igoe, Irish Char Conservation Group. (Download PowerPoint Presentation here).
3. Funding the rehabilitation of fisheries – Maura Walsh, Integrated Rural Development, Duhallow. (Download PowerPoint Presentation here).

Remarks by Niall Greene, Chair of Salmon Watch Ireland to the Annual General Meeting of the company held at the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork on Saturday, 21 May 2011.
Click here to download full pdf document.

10th May 2011 - IFI Press Release 3rd May 2011
"Irish Salmon set new record"
Inland Fisheries Ireland in partnership with Norwegian scientists conducted a pilot salmon tagging programme where kelts (previously spawned adult salmon returning to sea) from the Blackwater and Suir rivers were fitted with satellite tags in order to investigate their marine movements and feeding location.
Read full report at IFI website, here...

3rd March 2011 - Significant Press Release from IFI
IFI dismayed with DAFF sea lice report
Inland Fisheries Irelands(IFI) scientists warn that the recommendations from the “National Implementation Group Report on a strategy for improved pest control on Irish salmon farms” are disappointing and are insufficient to protect wild salmon and sea trout. The November 2010 report, prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF), identifies persistent and serious failures in controlling sea lice in spring, while expressing a desire to eliminate all “unnecessary treatments”. IFI is concerned that any weakening of the current sea lice protocols will lead to a situation where sea lice levels will be allowed to increase and that effective lice management will not be possible. This will impact on our already threatened wild sea trout stocks and could ultimately result in localised extinction of sea trout populations....
Read the full IFI Press Release, here...

20th February 2011 - Observer article from Andrew Flitcroft
"You're so wrong about salmon, Mr Salmond": the new trade deal with China has terrifying implications for our wild fish stocks
Visiting trade delegations do not often register on my radar. However, the high-level Chinese visit to Scotland in January was different. ... a new trade deal on Scottish farmed salmon between the two countries was signed, allowing access for the first time to the vast Chinese market...
Read the full article from the Observer, here...

20th February 2011 - Observer article from Andrew Flitcroft
"You're so wrong about salmon, Mr Salmond": the new trade deal with China has terrifying implications for our wild fish stocks
Visiting trade delegations do not often register on my radar. However, the high-level Chinese visit to Scotland in January was different. ... a new trade deal on Scottish farmed salmon between the two countries was signed, allowing access for the first time to the vast Chinese market...
Read the full article from the Observer, here...

25th January 2011
Salmon farms contaminate wild fish.
"Salmon farms may be contaminating local wild fish but how much depends on the species, finds a new study that raises another concern about the environmental impacts of salmon farming."
Read the full article from Environmental Health News, here...

5th January 2011 - SWIRL Statement
Salmon Watch Ireland slams ministerial statement on salmon farms and sea lice.(5 January 2011) – The following statement was issued today by the Board of Salmon Watch Ireland...
Read/download the full statement here...