Galway Bay fish farm - IFA today's Times

[Divisadero]

In the letters page of today's Irish Times is a letter from the powerful IFA (Irish Farmers Association) supporting sea salmon farming. The letter is from Richie Flynn, Executive, IFA Aquaculture.

I had no idea the IFA had expanded its remit to represent fish farmers/aquaculture. Or is this a new development due to the Galway farm debate?

Regardless it is yet another reason for angling to get its act together and organise under one banner.

Walter

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[corbyeire]

there is real trouble if the IFA are behind the fish farm

[Divisadero]

That may be so Hurler (your post has since disappeared!) anyway I'm afraid that the IFA are very much on the side of the fish farmers and seem to be representing same. As I said above Mr. Flynn's title is Executive, IFA Aquaculture.

I don't know whether you can access the Times letters page online but here is a quote from the letter to give you a flavour. "The latest tactic by lobby groups who wish to save wild salmon for rod and line slaughter is to tout a bizarre "solution".

He then goes on to rubbish land-based salmon farming and to praise the merits of sea farming. To me that is somewhat of a distraction from the core issue. Even if he has a point re the difficulties of land-based salmon farming the fact remains that a sea salmon farm especially of the size proposed in Galway should not even be seriously considered.

The IFA will also have easy access to and have a working relationship with Minister Coveney from the CAP negotiations etc...

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[hugo]

"The latest tactic by lobby groups who wish to save wild salmon for rod and line slaughter is to tout a bizarre solution".

There are a good few farmers round here who are also keen salmon/sea trout anglers. Looking forward to some entertainment in the local boozer on Friday night.....

[hurler01]

I removed it myself Divisadero as I didn't read you're opening statement properly and I haven't read the article, my comment probably doesn't seem particularily helpful.

[Divisadero]

No probs Hurler. It's just by the time I had finished writing my response on this tiny phone your post was gone.

I blame the IFA.

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[hurler01]

http://www.irishtimes.com/debate/letter ... -1.1335658

[hurler01]

http://www.nosalmonfarmsatsea.com/archives/466

[Bradan]

there is real trouble if the IFA are behind the fish farm

The salmon famers have been members of the IFA for years. The IFA gets a percentage of the grants they get, as well as membership fees, and in return the fish farmers are part of the biggest lobby group in the country.

As for Richie Flynn, formerly of the Irish Salmon Growers Association, check out his appearance on this Primte Time documentary from 2003 http://vimeo.com/51718073 . Go to 30 mins in, where he is caught on the spot, and states that its ok to bury dead fish anywhere. The very same Richie Flynn is now a board member of the Marine Institute - its one big incestuous circle with these guys!

[Divisadero]

That's interesting (and also worrying). I had wondered if the fish farmers had approached the IFA due to the Galway bay debate. Or perhaps even vice versa although the fish farmers have more to gain from the arrangement than the IFA as its coffers are already full.

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[The Austrian]

This is all about backhanders and buddies - Mafia, expressed in a simple word! Even if we only would have rain, ourselves and pure air as our only natural resources left, they surely would trade us all in without even a blink, only for their perverse and ruthless need to satisfy this insatiable and despicable greed for profit which seems so acceptable and normal nowadays, globally... and this is so so sad