Blown in: Mauve Stinger jellyfish attacked the Glenarm salmon

Local & National

Can Ulster salmon farm survive attack of killer jellyfish?

Friday, November 23, 2007

By Linda McKee

Northern Ireland's only salmon farm could have done nothing to guard against the massive jellyfish attack that wiped out more than £1m worth of stock.

That's according to Mark McCaughan, the Chief Fisheries Officer with the Department of Agriculture, who visited the site at Glenarm Bay yesterday.

He described the scenes of devastation that met him when he first visited Northern Salmon Farm last week after a swarm of billions of Mauve Stingers descended.

"I saw a lot of dead salmon, some very dejected individuals and hordes of jellyfish. I was trying to bring practical solutions to assist the company in clearing up these dead fish," he said.

The company managed to find a company in Co Meath that could incinerate the 120,000 dead salmon.

But now they face the massive headache of how to regroup in the wake of the disaster. While the company still keeps younger salmon at a site in Red Bay, the entire stock of mature salmon that were ready for market has been wiped out, just a month before Christmas.

"Northern Salmon Company will have no cash flow until they are able to source fish from the Red Bay site from autumn 2008," Mr McCaughan said.

There was nothing the company could have done to prevent jellyfish attack, either last week or in the future, he added.

"It's an unusual natural phenomenon which is unprecedented in Northern Ireland," he said.

"One of the difficulties with the Glenarm site is the strength of the tide. The tide pulled in the jellyfish and the water cannot move through the cages.

"The fish have been stung and asphyxiated, because they have no water moving through the cages to bring oxygen.

"Around 120,000 fish were killed, equating to 200 tonnes. The Northern Salmon Company has a very high quality product which is quite renowned among the catering trade, particularly since it was featured in Her Majesty's 80th birthday banquet."

Jellyfish attacks on fisheries have never been seen in Northern Ireland before, but have been documented in the west of Scotland, the West of Ireland and the Western Isles, the Chief Fisheries Officer said.

"It's fair to say that there is very little science on jellyfish, particularly this species which differs from the big moon jellyfish that you find on the beach at Groomsport," he said.

"It's not unknown for jellyfish to be blown in huge numbers onto the shore or close inshore and under these circumstances they can affect salmon farms.

"I am told that they are now dispersing, but if it was to happen at Red Bay, I think there is little action that the company could take."

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew visited the company to see the effects but stressed that there is no fund available within her Department's budget to bolster the company's recovery. However, there may still be hope.

A DARD spokesperson said yesterday: "There is no fund available to assist but Minister Gildernew said she wished to take the views of her Executive colleagues before responding to the case made by Northern Salmon Company."

It is understood the company could seek EU funding provided it stays in business. Ian Paisley, the First Minister at the Northern Ireland Assembly and the MP for north Antrim is also expected to have talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.