Connemara lake levels drop due to salmon fish farm

There is consternation in South Connemara over the extraction of millions of litres of water from a lake which is being used by the operators of a local fish farm.

Locals say that the lake is often used to feed the local regional water supply when there is a drought – and they add that water levels are dropping dramatically.

Added to all of this is the fact that the two mile long pipe from Loch an Oir lake to the sea at Cill Chiaráin was allegedly damaged and is now the subject of a Garda investigation.

The operators of the fish farm off the coast at Cill Chiaráin are bringing fresh water from the lake to treat salmon that have contacted Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD).

It seems that the salmon stocks are immersed in the fresh water as a means of getting rid of the potentially fatal disease.

But there is anger that a pipe measuring between two and three miles was installed without any planning permission, it is alleged by locals.

A spokesperson for Marine Harvest said that they were working closely with all the relevant authorities to ensure that these essential measures could be undertaken swiftly and appropriately.

“This is a short term measure, taking place over five days, and we do not anticipate any impact on the water supply to the local population.

“There has been extensive consultation locally and we have the expressed support of the local community group,” the spokesperson added.

Resident Aine Ni Cheannabhain said that the pipe was going over a mountain and across a Special Area of Conservation without any permission being sought. She argued that an Environmental Impact Study should have been carried out but this was not done either.

Ms Ni Cheannabhain said that Udaras na Gaeltachta had the licence for fish farm and that it was being operated by Marine Harvest, who breed organic salmon in various parts of the world.

Cllr. Tomas Welby explained that there was an upper and lower lake and this particular lake was used in the event of a shortage of water.

He also said that the water was extracted by means of a diesel pump and there were local fears that this could cause contamination to the lake.

Cllr. Welby added that if it was an individual using so much water, they would be charged handsomely for the privilege by Irish Water.

Irish Water said that there was no agreement in place to extract the water from the lake and that they were monitoring the situation to ensure that there was no impact on the drinking water.