Wild salmon research

Sir, – On reading Kevin O’Sullivans excellent article (“Letters reveal sharp differences of opinion on how Irish salmon farms are licensed”, News, August 1st), I was appalled but not surprised that the Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, and the Marine Institute are still using the outdated Jackson research paper on sea lice when it comes to salmon farm licensing.

I have read enough peer-reviewed scientific research papers on sea lice, compiled by competent Irish and international marine scientists, to know that sea lice have a devastating and detrimental effect on migrating wild salmon and sea trout populations.

The vast majority of these research papers contradict the findings of the Jackson paper which says that sea lice-induced mortality is only 1 per cent on wild smolts.

So why are these scientific research papers not taken into account by the department when assessing salmon farm licence applications? –