A provision in the licencing law has cast doubt over plans to expand a Bantry salmon farm, according to residents.

Murphy’s Irish Seafood has applied for a licence to add 12 salmon cages to its operation near Gearhies in Bantry Bay.

If approved, six more cages would be added, increasing its total production to 1,125 tonnes of salmon.

The application states Murphy’s will operate the farm in conjunction with MOWI Ireland, formerly Marine Harvest.

But campaigning residents in Gearhies say the farm is  currently relying on a temporary allowance meant for short-term use while a licence is renewed.

They argue the current application is for a larger operation, not a simple renewal, saying they feel misled by a licensing oversight.

Finbarr Lynch, who lives close to the salmon farm, said the situation had raised concerns about public trust in the licensing authority.

Mr Lynch said: ‘They are sticking to the letter of the law, but not necessarily the spirit. This legal provision is probably meant to give a flexibility of some months, not 14 years as in this case.’

He added: ‘A lot of people do not want to see the expansion of the salmon farm, and some even want to see the existing farm taken away. MOWI is an international operation and their farm would not bring any economic benefit or jobs to the area. The general feeling is that they want to come and have use of our bay and our foreshore for nothing.’

Finbarr said people in the area had started sending their objections to the plans to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, while some had approached politicians, asking for support.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: ‘The licensee is currently permitted to operate under Section 19A.(4) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.

Section 19.A(4) permits a licensee who has applied for the renewal of an aquaculture licence to continue operating, subject to the terms and conditions of the original licence held, pending a determination in respect of the renewal application in question.

‘As this licence application is currently under active consideration by the Department as part of a statutory process, it would not be appropriate to comment further.’

John Murphy, of Murphy’s Irish Seafood, said the firm ‘operates in accordance with the national aquaculture licensing framework.

Our renewal application was submitted as required in 2011,  all salmon licenses in Ireland operate  under Section 19A.(4) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act.

We continue to operate within the provisions set out in the legislation while the review process is ongoing.’