The Atlantic Ocean of the Connemara coastline continues to be one of the main locations for the Irish salmon farming industry.
However, recent data shows that the industry is now badly hampered by rising costs and other factors.
Máirtín Ó Catháin has the details:
Salmon farming was heralded as the new Klondike on the Connemara coastline some decades ago.
Potential investors were beating a pathway to the doors of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
But while the industry has carried on through thick and thin, recent years have been particularly challenging.
In its latest annual report, Bord Iascaigh Mhara states that the three years between 2020 and 2023 have been barely profitable for the industry all along the Atlantic coastline from Cork to Donegal.
While the Klondike idea has long since vanished, three companies continue to produce organic farmed salmon in the Atlantic off Connemara.
Last year's output was 3,212 tonnes which was worth over €32m. on the markets.
According to Bord Iascaigh Mhara statistics, 58 people were directly employed in the industry in Connemara in 2023 not counting indirect employment.
The industry, by its nature, can have good years and bad years.
However, spiralling costs allied to a shortage of good working sites are a continuing source of concern.
