Salmon farm plan caught on hook of controversy

It’s a project that’s promising up to 500 jobs in a remote part of the country, but a steady campaign of opposition has been building since Bord Iascaigh Mhara announced its plan to develop an organic salmon farm off the Galway coast.

The State agency has completed a 16-week consultation on its application and is waiting for approval from the Department of Agriculture. If it gets the green light, the farm will produce up to 15,000 tonnes of salmon a year – double Ireland’s current salmon production.

If approved, the best-case scenario could see the first fish going into the water in autumn of next year, according to BIM chief executive Jason Whooley.