Sir , – The Irish Times has reported on yet another farmed salmon escape (“Escaped salmon spread to more rivers in the west of Ireland”, News, August 23rd). Sea cages are simply too high risk. While the fish are in them, the problems like sea lice and disease which may spread to wild fish continue, and when a pen fails, then we have extra escape problems. We do not have to grow or eat farmed salmon in Ireland. We choose to. But our wild salmon and seatrout have to go home to their rivers to spawn and we have a legal and moral duty to protect them. Their return must not be a gauntlet of obstacles.
Will any party promise to ban salmon sea cages in the forthcoming election, as Canada did in June this year? – Yours, etc,
KARIN DUBSKY,
Gorey,
Co Wexford.