Opposition mounting to plans for €5.5m salmon farm

Marine Harvest has applied to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for aquaculture and foreshore licences for the site at Shot Head. The firm says the development is part of a €14m plan by Marine Harvest Ireland to upgrade 16 aquaculture sites over the next five years, according to the Irish Examiner. It is envisaged six full time jobs will be created at the farm and the company is arguing the investment will secure the 40 jobs already in existence in Beara. However, objections to the plan are growing and a public meeting is due to be held at Adrigole Community Centre tonight (Friday). According to the newspaper, one local resident Brendan O’Keeffe has written to the department on behalf of his neighbours in Traflask outlining their opposition on the grounds of the levels of sewage that will be generated, the unsustainability of fish farming and the risk to native fish from lice and toxins at the farm. Friends of the Irish Environment are also to speak on the potential of the project to impede job creation in marine tourism.