Marine Harvest Herald

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1 Marine Harvest Herald r Titte Issue 5 - spring 2013 Good Start to 2013 Although January was wild, wet and windy with gale gusts recorded on more than 20 days, February brought us excellent weather at just the right time to organise a smolt input into a second site in Inver Bay (Creevin), South Donegal. New and old staff at the new site in Inver Bay, South Donegal which was recently stocked. L - R: John Rose, Kevin Friel, Patrick McGrenaghan, Gerard Friel, Damien McBride Front: Billy Rose, John Gallagher, Oisin Doherty, Kevin McElwaine. Missing from the photo: Pauric McGettigan and Hugh Heraghty The Inver Bay (Eany) also known as the Whilins site is stocked with 12GS0 smolts, and Creevin was stocked just recently with 13GS1 smolts; both stocks have had a good start. I greatly regret any redundancies during the restructuring of our business and would like to take this opportunity to thank departing employees for their invaluable service and contribution to the Company. With the new site we welcome five new colleagues working with the team of nine who previously worked in Fanad. Unfortunately, since our North West reorganisation we have had 11 redundancies. Alternative work was offered to all employees affected by the redundancy programme. Nine employees have availed of this offer but regrettably some colleagues chose not to stay. I am very grateful to those who have chosen to relocate to Inver or work fewer days depending on our stock volumes. The greatest uncertainty for this year inevitably concerns the amoeba that irritates the gills of young fish and caused us problems in To what extent this will persist and cause damage is unknown but we are vigilantly monitoring all stocks and sea sites. For the time being the indications are that its presence is significantly less than at this time last year, hopefully the cold weather will be helpful! However, we must be prepared for this natural phenomenon s possible return. Aquaculture licensing remains an even greater uncertainty now with over a year having passed since our application for the Shot Head site in Bantry Bay completed the public consultation process. We are now more than three years down the road with this application, and while there are positive signs coming out of the Department of Agriculture, this process is too uncertain for business planning and is in need of a more reasonable and agreed time-frame. There is much to do for our regulators with the introduction of new license templates that should encourage best environmental and fish health practices. Hence, we remain hopeful that this will soon gain a more positive momentum. Our industry s greatest criticism arises from concerns about whether sea lice from salmon farms affect wild stocks or not. Recent published scientific research, led by Dr Dave Jackson from the Marine Institute, has established some very welcome facts surrounding this debate and I hope that this information will filter through into the media and be recognised for what it is factual! Furthermore, if we had more sites we would be able to rotate and fallow better and therefore avoid sea lice in the first place not facilitating our industry with new sites is counterproductive to the so called sea lice arguments against our activities. All our new stocks should be put to sea shortly after Easter, bringing new energy to our work in parallel to our hope for some warmer spring weather. Thank you to everyone for a good first quarter for MH Ireland, I look forward to this continuing into the next quarter. Jan

2 TECHNICAL UPDATE: Sea lice not a significant factor in the decline of wild salmon - Marine Institute Research. Society of St Vincent De Paul Christmas donations In lieu of customer gifts at Christmas, MHI donated 1,000 to each local St Vincent De Paul group in Donegal, Mayo and Cork. A nine year investigation by scientists in the Marine Institute into the possible causes of the steep decline in the survival rate of Atlantic salmon at sea concludes that sea lice infestation plays a relatively minor role. The study found that sea lice infestation accounts for only 1% of the overall marine mortality rate in the stocks studied, and is therefore unlikely to be a significant factor influencing the conservation status of salmon stocks. The collected data from 352,142 migrating salmon from 28 ranched salmon releases, at eight locations along Ireland s south and west coasts was reviewed between 2001 and The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest voluntary, charitable organisation in Ireland. The membership of 10,500 volunteers throughout the country are supported by professional staff working for social justice and the creation of a more just and caring nation. This unique network of social concern also gives practical support to those experiencing poverty and social exclusion by providing a wide range of services to people in need. Patrick Sweeney of Fanad SVDP, Co. Donegal, accepting a donation from Catherine McManus, MHI This is the third report published by Dr Dave Jackson and his team at the Marine Institute to confirm the insignificance of sea lice. It is published in the international Journal of Fish Diseases - Impact of Lepeophtheirus salmonis infestations (Jackson et al) January 2013, Blackwell Publishing Ltd. IFA Aquaculture Executive, Richie Flynn, welcomed the publication of this research and said that the finger of blame for wild salmon decline could no longer be pointed at the aquaculture sector. Mr Flynn said, The fact that the paper confirms sea lice is a minor and irregular component of marine mortality in the stocks studied and is unlikely to be a significant factor influencing conservation status of salmon stocks is hugely important in focusing attention on the real threats to wild fish. Mr Flynn also said, The perception that fish farming has impacted on wild salmon is strong but unproven. No mortalities linked to fish farms have ever been found and the rivers with most severe proven stock problems are always those found furthest away from fish farming areas. Pictured L to R: J.J. Mc Loughlin SVDP Beara; John Power, MHI presenting a cheque to Donal Kelly SVDP Beara, Co. Cork Fr. Gormley PP, Achill SVDP, accepting a cheque from Sinead Doherty, Clare Island sea farms, Co. Mayo 2

3 NATURE FOCUS Biodiversity surrounding MHI Operations Part 1 - west coast Natura 2000 is a collection of designated sites intended to protect Europe s most endangered species and habitat types in accordance with both the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. The majority of Ireland s Natura 2000 sites are located along the coast, some of which we operate in. Over the coming editions of Marine Harvest Herald we will look at a selection of species protected at each of MHI s marine, freshwater and processing operations. This edition features the west coast, namely the Clare Island and Clew Bay sites. Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis A visitor from Greenland, the barnacle goose winters in Ireland between October and April. The Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo, are considered one of the most important sites for these geese, Inishkea translates to Inis Gé in Irish, meaning Goose Island. Other populations of the geese are found in Scotland and the Netherlands. Of MHI s four sites located in Mayo, Inishcannon and Inishdoonver are situated in a Site of Community Importance (SCI) referred to as the Clew Bay Complex. The remaining production sites, Portlea and the smolt site, in outer Clew Bay are neighbouring both the Clare Island SPA (Special Protection Area) and Clare Island Cliffs SPA. Site Species Protected Common Name Clew Bay Complex (SCI) Common Otter, Lutra lutra Ireland has the highest density of otters in Europe. They can live along the coast but require regular close access to freshwater to clean their fur. An otter s diet consists of fish (namely wrasse in marine habitats), frogs, crustaceans and even birds. Otters are extremely territorial, hunting mostly at night and returning to their den or holt during the day. Branta leucopsis Sterna paprdisaea Gavia immer Phoca vitulina Lutra lutra Barnacle Goose Arctic Tern Common Loon Harbour Seal Otter Clare Island Cliffs (SPA) Falco peregrinus Peregrine falcon Clare Island (SPA) Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed chough Selection of species protected in some of Mayo s Natura 2000 sites Common Otter ( Barnacle Geese ( Great Northern Diver (Common Loon), Gavia immer Also a winter visitor to coastal areas from September to April, the Great Northern Diver breeds in Iceland, Greenland and North America. It can dive to depths of 60m, feeding mostly on fish such as sea trout and herring. It can also feed on crustaceans, molluscs and insects. Great Northern Diver ( 3

4 MHI donates a life raft to the Bellacragher Bay Boat Club Late last year, MHI donated a decommissioned life raft to the Bellacragher Bay Boat Club in Mayo, for survival training and some fun! MHI V Beara United In a previous edition of our newsletter, we brought you the news that MHI had sponsored Beara United, a new football team in Cork. On Sunday 28th October, the under 16 team, played our more senior Cork-based employees and to the surprise of many and demonstrating an impressive level of fitness and skill, the MHI staff members won 7-3!! MHI installs Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in local communities MHI has installed a number of AED devices outside our premises in Rinmore and Kindrum in Donegal in addition to Cloughmore, Co. Mayo. Bellacragher Bay Boat Club was formed in 2003 by Seamus Butler, Claggan and Brian Masterson Achill, in response to interest from people in Achill, Mulranny and Ballycroy. The club provides training for children with special needs in addition to running ISA approved sailing and survival training courses. The club is a non-profit organisation and relies on grants from local authorities and sponsorship or fundraising for the maintenance and purchase of equipment. The company has trained 47 staff in Mayo, Donegal and Cork as qualified Occupational First Aiders which includes the use of AED devices. We also finance and maintain two AEDs in Glenvar and Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal along with the provision of training provided by our trainer, Phonsie McAteer. L to R: Damien O Toole (Financial Director) with a new AED and Phonsie McAteer (MHI AED trainer) Pictured are students from Colaiste Pobail Acla enjoying some post training entertainment in the life raft 4

5 MHI Launch Cycle to Work scheme In February 2013, MHI launched their Cycle to Work scheme. The company have partnered with Bike to Work T/a TravelHub, to offer an easy online service to help employees take advantage of the government tax free travel scheme. MHI sponsors Mulroy Hoops kits Julie Coyle, Processing Manager with MHI, presented new sports kits for Mulroy Hoops basketball club in Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal to Phonsie McAteer, Chairman of the Club during a recent training session. Through the Cycle to Work scheme you can buy a bike and accessories worth up to 1,000 and the cost is deducted from your gross salary, saving you up to 52% of the total price (depending on your tax bracket). Using Bike to Work you can choose from over 300 bike shops nationwide so there s something to suit everyone. Here s how to get your bike: 1. Open the company microsite: marineharvestireland.travelhub.ie 2. Print the quotation form. 3. Bring the form to the bike shop (list available on website). 4. Choose your bike and get a quotation number. 5. Fill the order out and submit it online. 6. Print the Cycle to Work procedure and the terms/conditions, sign and return to the HR Manager. For more information please read the Cycle to Work Policy or feel free to contact your manager or Maurice Kelly. Bulk text alert This month, the company will launch a bulk text service with key news items sent to staff mobile phones. This service will send out messages to all staff with updates on general information, competition winners and news. Please let your manager know if there is any news you would like to be kept updated about. The club caters for children from four years of age right up to adults and sees over 60 children training every week. The club are also starting to cater for children outside the Fanad Peninsula, in Downing s and Rathmullan, Co. Donegal. At the presentation Phonsie thanked Julie and MHI for their sponsorship, new kits and the interest that MHI have shown in the development of the basketball club as well as other sport clubs in the locality. The sponsorship is hugely important to the club and is greatly appreciated by all. Mulroy Hoops have developed quite significantly from small beginnings in Parents have grown the club to its current levels resulting in the club producing some strong teams to compete in local leagues and blitzes. Phonsie thanked the parents for their commitment in attending training every week. As the current level of training continues, he also thanked the trainers, who are all voluntary, for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to the children and the club. TY Student Placement Transition Year student, Jack Graham from Milford Community School completed a term of work placement in Rinmore laboratory, between September and December Jack was a welcome addition to the laboratory as he helped Nigel and Laura out with many routine laboratory tasks. 5

6 MHI 2014 Calendar Competition Due to the success of the 2013 inaugural calendar we are going to run the competition again for This time we would like to see a wider range of entries from all our locations around the coast and on the same wildlife theme. So get snapping! Our 2013 calendar was distributed widely and we received many compliments and positive comments from recipients; Just a note to say many thanks for your new Marine Harvest 2013 calendar!...well done to your employees on their fab photos! Mary Hannan, BIM. It s splendid! I can hardly believe that the photos were taken by amateur photographers. Catherine Gueheneuc,MH Kritsen, France Calendar competition winners: back row - Kathleen McGrory and Maggie Sweeney. Front row - Nigel Teape and David McGloin. Missing from the picture - Paul Tanner Many thanks for the fine 2013 MHI Calendar which you sent on; excellent photos especially the seals at sunset and the jellyfish! Micheal ó Cinneide, Office of Environment Assessment, EPA All entries must be submitted to Catherine McManus or Maurice Kelly by Friday November 8th, Marine Harvest Ireland - Staff Profile Me and My Job: Bernie Power Sales Administrator Bernie, a native of Adamstown in Co Wexford, has worked for MHI for more than seven years. After leaving school, Bernie began working life as an Office Junior with Littlewoods Lotteries in London. Later she joined the Claims and Purchase ledger team and worked there for two years. From there Bernie moved to Technicolor where she started as Purchase Ledger Clerk and eventually moved to the Sales Ledger Department dealing with invoicing, pricing and credit control. In 2002 she came to Donegal for a two week holiday but loved it so much she stayed! After living in the hustle of the city for 6 years this was exactly what she wanted. Bernie s current role as Sales Administrator involves invoicing customers, credit control and dealing with customer complaints. Each day begins with checking pricing and sending invoices. She checks all overdue accounts and chases customers for payment where required. She also deals with any invoice, statement, management and customer queries or complaints. Bernie is qualified as a Certified Accounts Technician and feels that her London experience was invaluable. She maintains that patience and honest communication with the customer and the sales team is vital. You have to be tough at times but also have some understanding too. Getting to know the customers, having some trust and building a history with them is important she explains. When asked what she likes about her job Bernie replied I like the interaction with the customers even though they don t usually want to hear from me chasing payments!! I get to deal with a lot of the other departments when resolving customer queries too. I like to meet any targets set for the month and try to better them where possible. It can be a challenge chasing monies but it s great when the payment arrives and target has been met. On March 16th last, Bernie married Sean Paul Gallagher who works in Marine Harvest Dispatch at the Rinmore processing plant. 6

7 Extended contract for 2013 The German company, Okofrost have been so happy with our salmon quality and supply that they have extended their contract with us for the first half of Okofrost currently supplies the organic supermarket, Alnatura with the Bio Polar and Alnatura brands. Ilone Lang (Ökofrost), Regine Kahal, Anke Frenzel (Bio Polar) and Annette Rodgers(MHI) Sponsored swim BioFach 2013 Once again MHI took part in BioFach Organic Food Fair in Nuremberg, Germany from 13th to 17th February. The show attracts organic producers from all areas of the world who exhibit thousands of different products. There has been a significant increase in the production of organic seafood from Ireland which was evident through the 13 Irish seafood companies in the exhibition. Irish ambassador for Germany, Dan Mullhall and Annette Rodgers, MHI On Christmas day, MHI sponsored the annual swim at Tralahan strand in Castletwonbere, Co. Cork to support the maintenance of the local strand and associated amenities. Launch of New Organic Salmon Brochure and Logo MHI has recently reviewed its organic salmon brand and from January 2013 the name has changed to The Irish Organic Salmon Company. School visit Phonsie McAteer, diving supervisor with MHI, gave a presentation to 1st and 2nd class pupils at Scoil Cholmcille Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal on his role as a fish farm scuba diver. The children had an opportunity to see the scuba gear and asked lots of questions about diving and MHI. A brochure has been launched to incorporate the new logo and updated information. Congratulations on the new additions Donna McAteer and John Patrick Heraghty welcome Kyle (Donegal) Patrick and Sinead Shovelin welcome Caoimhe (Donegal) Darren Walsh and Lorna Rush welcome Leah (Donegal) Phonsie McAteer with 1st and 2nd class pupils of Scoil Cholmcille in Kerrykeel 7

8 Competition Win a 100 shopping voucher for Currys For a chance to win this fantastic prize, simply complete the word search below by Friday May 17th and return by post or to: Maurice Kelly, Marine Harvest Ireland, Rinmore, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. maurice.kelly@marineharvest.com Name: Address: Contact No: Word Search 1. SALMON 5. ATLANTIC 2. MARINE 6. INISHKEA 3. WILDLIFE 7. SPRING 4. BIODIVERSITY 8. SNAPPING C N G O M C J C S P R I N S D L H K X D H P M S N J B N C X T A L B N C B E C R M C P A W I L D L I F E H R F B A L A T T T I K L C M N R D F T O G Q G Y V N V I C N M Q G P T Z T H O A P H N L M U L I C I P E N S S A H X O B T I I M F C C E Q S T F F E R X R P D T L X P O I N I Y U H T Z A P H O T G L F D H P N R D T Q A K X G C R O C I M B Y A U A R S T N C C E H C F C C H G Y T M C I N T A V A J B A C R C A R C S I N C A T S C Y U L W T S S A L M O N S A H C P C W C U Y T P T D A H I C Q R V F K I N B U Q B B A C U T G C C F E B S T C I Y C M C B T T W R M Z I S V R L J O J M N O A L A S H E S R M E I S K I N E H P E I R A A O X Z H A N D A L E D S A F W C C I T N B T C U V O X C A F C W L A C O R N W O R Y F E I Q U L W E H M L R X C C E L C O Y V B Y A C S P R I N G T C C M C C K C Z Terms and conditions: The competition is open to all employees of Marine Harvest Ireland. There is one prize only. No cash alternative will be offered. The prize winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received before the closing date of Friday May 17th. The judge s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Only one entry allowed per person. Competition Winner Congratulations to Christine McElwaine who is the winner of the 4th edition of the Marine Harvest Herald s quiz competition. Christine, who works with our Evening Hygiene team, has won a Currys Superstore shopping voucher. If you have any comments on this newsletter or ideas for future features please contact Catherine McManus at catherine.mcmanus@marineharvest.com or Maurice Kelly at maurice.kelly@marineharvest.com Marine Harvest Ireland, Rinmore, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. T: F: