Mowi Ireland plan may spark heritage concerns
MOWI could be facing official opposition to its latest salmon farm plan in the west of Ireland.
The state organisation Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is responsible for the protection of river and lake fish, is reported to be preparing to question company plans to develop a 22-cage facility in Ballinakill in Connemara.
The problem for the company is that the site is set in a proposed Natural Heritage Area – an area considered important for the habitats present or that holds species of plants and animals whose habitat needs protection.
Mowi had a similar problem in northern Norway last year when it wanted to open a salmon farm in the Vega Islands, a UNESCO heritage area. The plan was opposed by several groups and was initially rejected, although provisional permission was eventually granted.
However, the company was allowed to go ahead following an appeal and support from the local community who said it would create badly needed jobs and prosperity.
Mowi Ireland said it intended to start a public consultation with the community in Connemara.
Irish newspaper Sunday Independent wrote that details of the project had been circulated to notifiable bodies, including Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.
It said both state bodies had reservations about the location, and the possible impact on wild salmon and sea trout, adding that IFI had already submitted its own views on the plan.
The final decision rests with Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
Set against Norway and Scotland, Mowi Ireland is a relatively small operation for the world’s largest salmon farmer. But it produces high-quality organic salmon that is much in demand worldwide.
It has organic farms in five counties along Ireland’s Atlantic seaboard, with further expansion planned in Bantry Bay, Cork.
Meanwhile, after 40 years working in salmon aquaculture, Jan Feenstra, Managing Director at Mowi Ireland, has announced he will be retiring as from 1 July 2022.
Feenstra first joined the Irish operation in 1982 when it was called Fanad Fisheries, which at that time had a 50/50 joint venture with Mowi. He took on the leadership role in 1997 and participated in several ownership and name changes over subsequent years.
Ivan Vindheim, Mowi CEO, said: “I am most grateful for Jan’s long tenure with our company during a period that has seen our Irish business unit grow into a world-leading supplier of premium organic salmon. Jan’s vast experience raising organic salmon and his ability to lead a highly effective and motivated team will be difficult to replace, so we are pleased that Jan will continue to support Mowi throughout 2022 in order to share his knowledge.”