Last week, 16000 farmed salmon, each of around 10lbs in weight (4.5kg) escaped from a sea cage into the Kilbrannan Sound between Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. These fish may end up in Ayrshire’s rivers and the last thing we need is them breeding with our wild salmon. Marine Harvest who operate the farm reported approximately 16,000 of over 23,000 fish from one cage, escaped last week.
Anyone catching an escaped fish, please kill it and retain a small amount of flesh and a few scales for genetic analysis. Let the Trust know and we will arrange to collect the sample.
Look out for damaged pectoral and dorsal fins and tail and a slightly different shape to typical wild salmon.
A farmed salmon caught on the River Ayr in September 2006
Another salmon but this time in spawning colours but caught only a few weeks after the bright hen fish in the previous photo.
The same fish as above.
Stuart
Would it be sensible to put a comment on this in the local newspaper so that all anglers will see
This as not everyone is able to see it online
Sandy, it may be something each Board or the Improvement Association want to consider. I am just writing to the river boards and the RIAIA now to let them know about this. I wrote to Marine harvest yesterday expressing concerns and seeking an explanation and improved communication from them.
this definitely needs to be addressed this should be in the papers and in the spotlight more hope all local clubs have been well imformed
The Ayrshire Boards have been written to informing them of this event and the River Irvine Improvement Association too. These organisations should inform owners and clubs if they decide that’s the best way to deal with this. We are preparing a press release but can’t guarantee that they will publish.