Balancing social equity and environmental integrity in Ireland's salmon farming industry

Abstract

Drawing upon insights from research on agriculture and fisheries, interview data, and information from industry and government sources, this article provides evidence to account for the resilience of small producers in the Irish salmon farming industry. Although group marketing, unpaid family labor, and a local infrastructure have supported small firms, such production may be undermined by conflicts with the more powerful tourism industry. These conflicts point to the place of small firms in the sustainable development of the salmon aquaculture industry. The article concludes with public policy recommendations that may enable salmon farming to coexist with other user groups in the marine environment, and in the process provide for a balance between social equity and environmental integrity in the management of fisheries resources.

Key words:

• alternative management
• environmental integrity
• salmon farming
• small firms
• social equity