Save The Swilly 9 April 2001

MUSSEL BARRELS ADRIFT IN LOUGH SWILLY

A group of more than 150 barrels or buoys from long-line mussel farms has come adrift between Rathmullan and Buncrana in Lough Swilly, creating a serious marine safety hazard.

Members of Save The Swilly on Sunday 8th April observed two RNLI lifeboats attempting to cut the barrels loose after they had become attached to Saltpan Buoy. Malin Head Air-Sea Rescue Service was informed and issued a bulletin warning mariners about the obstruction.

Save The Swilly expressed support for RNLI efforts to clear the obstruction caused by the barrels, which appeared to have come from the Rathmullan area. "Two RNLI boats battled with the barrels for a long time, but the weight of 150 barrels plus hundreds of yards of nylon rope was too much for the lifeboats." A group of Save The Swilly members visited the scene on a private boat later on Sunday, and described the tangled barrels as a potential disaster area.

"This is the third serious incident involving aquaculture installations in the past three months alone," a Save The Swilly spokesperson said. "In January a commercial fishing boat became entangled in netting from a salmon cage; in February a 25 metre-diameter salmon cage broke loose from its mooring and drifted across the lough overnight; now, more than 150 mussel barrels appear to have dragged their anchors. These incidents support our view that marine safety is one of the many victims of expanding aquaculture in Lough Swilly."

During a meeting with the Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Mr Hugh Byrne, at which Tourism Minister James McDaid and Deputy Cecilia Keaveney were present, Save The Swilly was assured that breaches by licencees would not be tolerated. Despite repeated incidents there has been no statement from the Department or from any elected representatives other than members of the Buncrana Urban District Council.

"Is the government waiting for a fatality before it recognises that a safety problem exists in Lough Swilly?" the Save The Swilly spokesperson asked.

Save The Swilly's petition calling on the government to stop further aquaculture licensing in Lough Swilly until an independent baseline study and an environmental impact assessment have been conducted is now approaching 9,000 signatures. The petition was presented to the Minister for the Marine, Frank Fahey, on 22nd March; his reply is awaited.

SAVE THE SWILLY Contacts:

Email: info@loughswilly.com
Phone: Tony Morrison (353) 07493-63733
Phone: John Mulcahy (353) 07491-59113; (353) 086-2808636
Address: c/o Buncrana Anglers Association,
Castle Lane, Buncrana, Co. Donegal
Website: www.loughswilly.com

Archived Press Releases:

September 25, 2006
Oyster crisis exposes "shambles" in management of Swilly

July 11, 2005
Attempt to double salmon-farming output in Lough Swilly

August 23, 2004
Which part of "No" don't they understand?

June 2, 2004
Coulter calls for political change in Donegal

December 15, 2003
Portsalon salmon-farming licence refused by ALAB

November 05, 2003
Sea Trout and Wild Salmon have been Victims of 'Ethnic Cleansing' - FISSTA

September 24, 2003
Prime Time Exposes Aquaculture's Shortcomings

July 24, 2003
Save the Swilly Calls for Farmed Salmon Mortality Monitor

July 21, 2003
Another Disaster in Inver Bay - Inquiry Essential

July 17, 2003
Rural Development Towards Sustainability

February 8, 2003
Save the Swilly Meets Inishowen Politicians

February 3, 2003
Blue Flag Beach Threatened by 80-Acre Fish Farm

January 29, 2003
Save the Swilly 10,000-Signature Petition Accepted by Europe

January 28, 2003
New Alliance Formed in Swilly

December 16, 2002
"Stop Ripping Up the Swilly" Indigenous People Demand

December 13, 2002
Lough Swilly's Indigenous Fishermen Speak Out

October1, 2002
Public Meeting to Discuss Integrated Coastal Zone Management

September 25, 2002
Save the Swilly Welcomes the Strategy on Coastal Zone Mangement

August 12, 2002
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Proposal Launched

August 2, 2002
Questions over decomposing salmon in Inver Bay

June 3, 2002
No Room for Tradition in Lough Swilly

May 3, 2002
Save the Swilly opts for "Swilly First"

May 3, 2002
Save the Swilly/Green Party candidate withdraws

May 1, 2002
Save the Swilly/Green Party candidate to contest Donegal North-East

April 18, 2002
Coulter to be "Ambassador at Large" for Save the Swilly

March 25, 2002
Save The Swilly presents 10,000-signature petition to EU

March 12, 2002
Study of Lough Swilly launched

November 30, 2001 STS letter to Hugh Byrne, Minister for State for the Department of the Marine

November 27, 2001 ICZM and OSPAR - not Clams - for Swilly

October 17, 2001 Salmon farm wants still more licences inshore

September 17, 2001 Save the Swilly meets Labour Party

September 13, 2001 Save the Swilly meets Minister of State Byrne

September 1, 2001 Save the Swilly begins fundraising drive

August 28, 2001 Save the Swilly welcomes I.F.A. initiative

May 15, 2001 Expansion of salmon farming tragic for Swilly

April 9, 2001 Mussel barrels adrift in Lough Swilly

March 22, 2001 Save the Swilly presents petition

March 13, 2001 Save the Swilly questions Minister Byrne

March 11, 2001 Save the Swilly reaffirms call for moratorium

February 20, 2001 Launch of Save the Swilly website

January 24, 2001

January 16, 2001 Delegation meets Minister Hugh Byrne

January 9, 2001 Save The Swilly
(from looking like Mulroy Bay)