Plague Of Jellyfish Destroys Provinces' Only Salmon Farm

A unique Antrim coast-based Salmon breeding company that supplies many famous customers – such as Irish chef Richard Corrigan who served the salmon to the Queen on her 80th birthday last year – has been devastated by a swarm of jellyfish.

The jellyfish invasion - of truly Biblical proportions - has now wiped out Northern Ireland's only salmon farm, killing more than 100,000 fish and costing the company, Northern Salmon, as much as £1m.

Billions of small jellyfish, known as Mauve Stingers, flooded into the cages about a mile into the Irish Sea, off Glenarm Bay and Cushendun.

There were so many of the jellyfish that they covered an area of 10 square miles and were so numerous as to be down to a depth of 35 feet.

Rescuers who tried to reach the cages and save at least some of the salmon were beaten back as the density of fish made it impossible.

Managing director John Russell said he had never seen anything like this in 30 years in the business.

"The sea was red with these jellyfish and there was nothing we could do about, it, absolutely nothing," he said.

"It's a disaster for this company - you cannot legislate for something like this."

He says the firm could take at least two years to recover.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture's fisheries division has carried out a full investigation, and talks with the N I Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew have taken place to try to rescue the farm and save the jobs of 12 staff.

(BMcC)