SEA-TROUT CAMPAIGN

Sir, Joe McElwee ("Sea Trout Agenda") speaks of SOS ("Save Our Sea Trout") as being a "one man campaign"

Sir, Joe McElwee ("Sea Trout Agenda") speaks of SOS ("Save Our Sea Trout") as being a "one man campaign". This is incorrect, as SOS is a nationally based campaign with representatives from such groups as FISSTA (Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Association), TAFI (Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland), NARA (National Anglers Representative Association), the National Clean Waters Association, the South West Salmon Anglers Council, the WGA (Western Game Fishing Association).

It also receives support, both nationally and internationally, from other groups who are concerned about our sea trout stocks. Surely this can hardly be called a one man campaign!

He also wishes that we would "come clean with the public on our "real agenda". Very simply, it is to stop finfish farming (salmon cages) from causing the destruction of our sea trout stocks as the result of the explosion of sea lice from salmon farms. One salmon farming site can produce up to 38 million lice, which subsequently eat alive the sea trout during their migration.

He accuses SOS of being concerned with "one issue - sea lice". Because the only cause of the sea trout decline/collapse is the sea lice explosion from salmon cages, naturally it concerns us. All the major scientific studies, STAG (Seatrout Action Group), Working Group 92, 93, 94 and the Whittaker Task Force have pointed their finger in one direction only sea lice from salmon cages. Precisely the same has happened in Scotland and Norway, where salmon farming also occurs. All other possible causes have long been eliminated.

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Furthermore, he wonders why Professor Shaw doesn't issue press releases on other environmental issues. Quite simply, as I have explained, other environmental events have not caused the sea trout collapse and so do not directly concern us in SOS. Many of us are in other organisations concerned, and so campaign when and where appropriate.

He talks of SOS's "battered reputation". Far from being battered, its reputation is intact, while those who are responsible for this environmental disaster, or charged with overseeing its resolution, have constantly attempted to avoid the central truth of the whole affair. SOS has consistently spoken the truth as to what was happening and its cause, while others have tried to fudge the issue and not face the scientific and logical facts. As attempted fudge by Mr McElwee is to say there is a sea trout collapse on the River Feale, in north Kerry. I have made extensive enquiries, and sea trout fishing is excellent there.

In conclusion, the only rivers/ lakes to suffer a sea trout collapse are those within 20 km of a salmon farm. The correlation is obvious and the solution clear - move the cages 20 km from our rivers. Anyone wishing to speak with authority on this issue should firstly read the Task Force Report or the Supplement to the 94 Working Group Report, and so avoid further delaying a seatrout recovery. - Yours, etc.,

Vice chairman,

SOS,

Downeen,

Rosscarbery,

Co Cork.