Yacht barges into salmon pen in Ireland
Mowi mobilises resources to prevent escapes after incident at post-smolt site in County Mayo
Mowi is sending two wellboats to a salmon farm in Ireland after a vintage 30-metre yacht ran over the top of a fish pen and came to rest inside a second pen.
The incident involving the Rara Avis, a flat-bottomed schooner modelled after Thames barge lines, is understood to have happened in the early hours of today at the Portlee Smolt site, Clare Island at the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo.
Fish Farming Expert understands that there were 25 French people on the boat, and no reported injuries.
The steel-hulled boat was built in the Netherlands for a wealthy American banker in 1957, and later sold to a French owner before being donated in 1973 to an association aiding young adults and rehabilitation through sailing.
Because the vessel has a flat bottom, it is hoped it can be removed from the pen in the same it came in, over the side. But Mowi’s first priority is to check the nets of the affected pens for holes.
Extra nets
Extra nets are being brought to the site to put around the pens, which contain 100,000 post-smolts with an average weight of 500 grams.
The wellboats will be used to transfer the fish, if required.
They can also be utilised if the fish have to be euthanised for welfare reasons if the water becomes contanimated with fuel from the yacht, although there is no sign of a spillage at present.
