Our wrasse population appears to have taken a nose dive along the Antrim coast line. We have now heard reports of all the wrasse the commercials can catch are going as cleaner fish into salmon cages to keep the massive infestation of sea lice down. There has been no surveys into the impact of this new rape of our coastline and no quotas or restrictions placed. It’s a free for all to help produce the poisonous salmon.
Here is our fishery officers question to the authorities.
I am shocked to learn that apparently the continued wholesale trapping and export of our many Wrasse species is routinely taking place to supply the Scottish Salmon open cage operations continuing exploding Lice problems.
I notified the dept DAERA around two years ago about this and the response was met with disbelief, now it is I who is in disbelief to find that it still apparently ongoing! Who’s getting paid?
Or more formally;
How many species of Wrasse and what numbers of our Wrasse are exported per month/year out of NI and for how much£? And what are the totals to date?
How is this managed, what are the licensing structures/numbers and costs involved?
And when is this scheduled to end?
There is palpable anger among sea anglers about this situation, and understandably so. Immediate action is required to avert Direct Action!
Regards
Garry Gregg