The lack of any effective Government regulation of fish farming was highlighted last week when many environmental, angling and tourism interests sought an enquiry into the biggest Irish fish kill ever recorded. The exact cause of the fish kill remains uncertain to date as the interim report of the investigation passed to the Department by the Marine Institute could only rule out with any degree of certainty the fact that disease and algal bloom were not responsible for the mortalities which started taking place two weeks ago. As events still have to be investigated a statement from Mr Richie Flynn, chief executive of the Irish Salmon Growers Association, said "The Minister's Department was very slow to respond to this latest crisis, and its main concern now seems to be how the dead fish are being disposed of” has astounded all concerned with the Donegal Bay marine environment.

The Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers travelled to Brussels last week to brief EU support groups and lobby for assistance as they fear that it will take years to restore the salmon and seatrout population in Donegal Bay.

At present the Donegal County Council €60 million project on the Donegal Bay Waste Management Scheme*is called into question as events still unfold. There will be little or no benefit from such expensive investments while such opposed water quality policies from Lifford and Leeson Lane (Dept of Marine) continue to ruin the substantial earners such as tourism, commercial fishing and angling that has sustained our local economy long before fish farming started in the bay.

“The Donegal County Councillors must decide now on whether they continue to pour money into projects for clean water in Donegal Bay or fish farming. It is vital that the true reason for this kill is established immediately, so that the correct remedial action can be taken to save our already very scarce wild salmonid stock” said the FISSTA spokesperson.

* Donegal Bay is an area of high amenity and tourist value on the western coast of County Donegal, a 3km stretch of County Leitrim and the north west coast of South County Sligo. It includes Bundoran, the premier holiday resort in North West Ireland.

Industry within the Donegal Bay catchment has developed around the region's historical connections with fishing. Killybegs is Ireland's premier fishing port, which has seen substantial growth in size and diversity of its fishing fleet. Poor water exchange characteristics in the harbour at Killybegs has given rise to problems with pollution caused by the release of both domestic sewage and industrial effluent, primarily from fish processing plants.

Works Description
This project involves the provision of waste water collection systems and waste water treatment facilities to serve the main population centres discharging to Donegal Bay. In addition, the scheme includes sewage sludge treatment facilities to serve the southern part of County Donegal and the establishment of a catchment water quality management plan for Donegal.