Jellyfish attack wipes out N. Ireland's salmon farm

7 hours ago

BELFAST (AFP) — Northern Ireland's only salmon farm was completely wiped out by a freak jellyfish attack, the owners said Wednesday.

More than 100,000 fish worth more than one million pounds (2.1 million dollars, 1.4 million euros) were killed in the invasion at Glenarm Bay and Red Bay, on the County Antrim north-east coast.

"We are still assessing the full extent, but it's a disaster," said John Russell, managing director of Northern Salmon Co. Ltd.

"In 30 years, I've never seen anything like it. It was unprecedented, absolutely amazing. The sea was red with these jellyfish and there was nothing we could do about it, absolutely nothing.

"I have never experienced such concentrations of jellyfish spread over such a wide area. The vastness was unbelievable."

The seven-hour attack over Tuesday and Wednesday last week saw the jellyfish covering a sea area of up to 10 square miles (26 square kilometres) and 35 feet (11 metres) deep.

"It's touch and go if we can survive this," added Russell whose firm supplies salmon worldwide. "It's a disaster."