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Tha tuathanas bhradain aig ire thràth ann an Èirinn an taca ri dùthchannan ·¡Ã²°ù±è²¹ch eile. Tha Èirinn an-dràsta ag àraich mu 12,500 tunna de bhradain sa bhliadhna; 10% dha na tha Alba a’ dèanamh, is 1% dha na tha Nirribhidh. Ged-thà, le costa fada is coimhearsnachdan iomallach a tha feumach air cosnaidhean, tha fàs fa-near do thuathanas bhradain ann an Èirinn. Chan e gnìomhachas a th’ ann a tha às aonais chonnspaid ged-thà. Tha truailleadh bho fhodair nach deach ithe is salchar nan èisg, a bharrachd air mialan-mara uile air a bhith gan cleachdadh mar adhbharan a bhith faiceallach mu thuathanas bhradain.

Ìý

An t-seachdain-sa, tha Darren Linc a’ rannsachadh suidheachadh Inis Oírr anns na h-Eileanan Àrain. Tha am Bòrd Iasgaidh Mhara (BIM) air cuir a-staigh airson cead tuathanas bhradain organach a stèidheachadh aig muir eadar Inis Oírr is tìr mòr na h-Èirinn. Ged-thà, tha dragh mòr air na h-eileanaich mu de dh’fhaodas seo ciallachadh dhaibh-san. Tha iad ag argamaid gu faod eilean a th’ air a bhith crochadh fad ghinealaich air iasgach ‘s turasachd fulang gu mòr leis cho grànda ‘s cho salach sa dh’fhaodadh tuathanas èisg a bhith.

Fish farming in Ireland is an industry in its infancy compared to other European countries. Ireland currently produces around 12,500 tonnes of farmed salmon a year; roughly 10% of Scotland’s output and 1% of Norway’s.Ìý However, with a long Atlantic coastline and a number of coastal communities in need of employment opportunities, salmon farming is looking to expand in Ireland. It is nevertheless an industry surrounded by controversy. Pollution by uneaten feed and salmon excreta as well as sea lice spreading from farmed to wild salmon have long been cited as reasons to be wary of the aquaculture industry.

Ìý

This week, Darren Laing investigates the situation in Inisheer, one of Ireland’s Aran Islands. The Irish Sea Fisheries Board has applied to the government for a licence to establish an organic salmon farm between Inisheer and the Irish mainland. However, the islanders have grave reservations as to what this could mean for them. An island, they argue, that is historically dependent on fishing and tourism could see those industries ruined by the pollution and visual impact caused by a fish farm.

As a’ chumantas, tha an tinneas fala Hepatitis C air aon neach a-mach às a h-uile leth-cheud anns an Roinn ·¡Ã²°ù±è²¹. Thèid a ghlacadh ann an iomadh dòigh, agus tha e duilich mothachadh dha. Ma thèid fhàgail gun leigheas, ‘s e tinneas marbhtach a th’ ann. Tha dùbhlan ma choinneamh na seirbheisean slàinte nuair a thig e gu bhith a’ dèiligeadh ris an tinneas, gu h-àraidh leis cho cosgail is a tha cungaidhean leigheis. Eu-choltach ri dùthchannan eile na Roinn ·¡Ã²°ù±è²¹, chan eil Latbhia a’ cur ach trì chairteal den chogais ma choinneamh na cungaidhean air a bheil daoine feumach. Mura h-eil an airgead aca, chan eil roghainn aig cuid ach fulang às aonais leigheas, air neo a dhol gu dùthaich eile far a bheil cungaidhean saor an-asgaidh ri fhaotainn. An t-seachdain-sa tha Alasdair Friseal ann a Latbhia a’ coinneachadh ri feadhainn air a bheil an tinneas.

Hepatitis C on average affects one person out of every fifty in Europe. People can contract the blood disease in many ways and it’s usually difficult to spot. If left untreated the disease can be fatal. Health services face challenges when it comes to treating the disease mainly due to the high cost of medications. Unlike many other European countries, Latvia only provides funding for seventy five percent of the cost of the drugs that sufferers need. But if you don’t have the funds, there are few options. You can either suffer without treatment or go to a country where the treatment is available free of charge. This week Alasdair Fraser travels to Latvia to meet some of those suffering with the disease.