ANGLING NOTES:MOST of the top names in fly tying and angling will be in Galway next month for the inaugural Irish Fly Fair. More than 30 world-class experts will demonstrate their art and skill, and provide lessons in assembling salmon, trout and other flies.
Casting demonstrations from qualified instructors will take place throughout the weekend and those looking for Christmas gifts will be spoilt for choice with lots of bargains in tackle and other items.
And the French firm, Scatri, will facilitate guests to practice their angling skills on a range of fishing simulators. Galway Aquarium, along with an entomology (insects) expert, invites visitors to see their range of fish and other creatures that live in our waters.
Bord Bia will be on hand to offer seafood dishes and Galway Bay FM will broadcast live on the Saturday.
The two-day fair takes place in Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, on November 13th-14th.
Scottish salmon-farming companies are being encouraged to match the international standard in the way they grow their young fish.
The recent publication of the final draft by the Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue (Sad) will lead to certification for farmed salmon through the international Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). It recommends that farms using smolts raised in open pens will not be able to get accreditation under the new scheme.
The standard guide states: “Some of the concerns related to open smolt production, such as disease transmission and the genetic effect of escapees, have been highlighted as being particularly important in regions where native salmonids exist.
For this reason, the draft allows only closed or semi-closed smolt systems to be certified under the Sad standard in areas of wild salmonids. “At present, almost half (more than 17 million) of farmed salmon smolts raised in Scotland are held in net pens within freshwater lochs, the majority of which have populations of native migratory fish such as salmon and sea trout.”
Fisheries managers are unhappy about this, as escapees from the pens go directly into salmon and sea trout habitat, and these fish may then “home” to these spawning grounds and interbreed with native fish.
There is also concern over the way the migratory behaviour of sea trout may be disrupted, since their parr can find a ready supply of food by eating pellets which fall through the farm nets.
“This sends a very strong message to Scottish politicians who have dragged their heels on smolt pens in salmonid lochs. We do not believe that salmon can be farmed sustainably in open net pens in freshwater systems which contain migratory fish,” said Tony Andrews, chief executive of Atlantic Salmon Trust.
Retailers who sell farmed salmon are keen to see ASC-certified fish on their shelves, and this fact alone should encourage the Scottish industry to adopt the more sustainable option.
The draft criteria for the ASC salmon standard will go out to public consultation for 60 days. Contact: Fiona Cameron 07771-577686 or Fiona@cameron-stark.co.uk