Save The Swilly February 3, 2003

BLUE FLAG BEACH THREATENED BY 80-ACRE FISH FARM

The decision to grant yet another salmon-farming licence in Lough Swilly, this time in Ballymastocker Bay near Portsalon, is short-sighted and potentially tragic for one of only two Blue Flag beaches in the area. Save The Swilly is urging anyone concerned about this development to appeal to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board before the end of February. (Appeals forms are available at www.alab.ie)

Save The Swilly is also calling on the Donegal County Council to use its influence to delay all aquaculture licensing while considering proposals put forward for an overall management plan for the lough. The outline of such a plan is contained in the Scoping Study for an ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) Strategy for Lough Swilly, prepared by the University of Ulster's Coastal Research division. The study has been passed to members of Donegal County Council as well as to the Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources.

A public notice in the Derry People and Donegal News last week states that the area to be licensed is Dooanmore, adjacent to Ballymastocker Bay, site of Portsalon's Blue Flag beach. Acreage licensed is 80 acres - almost double the area the company gave in its documentation for public consultation. With no restrictions in number, there could be as many as 24 cages placed in the area north of Portsalon Pier. The site lies in the sailing approach to the bay and will present a significant obstacle to the visiting yachts that have been encouraged to use the new moorings at Portsalon. It also poses a threat to wild salmon and sea trout runs into the Crana, Lennon, Swilly and Mill rivers, Research published by Bord Iascaigh Mhara acknowledges that salmon farming is already a significant contributor to pollution in Lough Swilly. Those figures were based on production of 1,000 tons of salmon a year. The company concerned has been given the right to increase production by 50%, to 1,500 tons a year.

The decision to add this licence – now the fourth in Lough Swilly – comes at a time when serious consideration is being given to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) by the Irish Government. "It is inappropriate and provocative to issue another salmon-farm licence now, when the Dept of the Marine is well aware that an ICZM process is under way. In a letter to Save The Swilly a week ago, a Dept of the Marine official accepted the ICZM Scoping Study and said it would be considered in the context of the national strategy on ICZM. This decision shows that the Department was being less than sincere in its claims to be developing an ICZM strategy," said Tony Morrison, chairman of Save The Swilly.

A question must now arise as to the Donegal County Council’s attitude to Blue Flag beaches. A report to the Council in 1999 offered the prospect of a second Blue Flag beach for Portsalon. "If efforts are made to improve beach facilities at Portsalon, a second Blue Flag application may be possible," said the preliminary report on the LIFE Project: Implementing Alternative Strategies in Irish Beach and Dune Management.


Two other statements from Donegal County Council documents in recent years:

• "The Council will oppose [aquaculture] proposals on sites on or adjacent to designated Blue Flag Beaches and where such development would significantly interfere with recreational use of popular beach areas."
• "It is an objective of the draft County Development Plan 1998 to prepare Beach Management and Development Plans for all Blue Flag Beaches and potential Blue Flag Beaches. It is envisaged that these beaches will become centres for a wide range of beach and coastal leisure activities . . .It is therefore recommended that exclusion zones be designated within an agreed radius of Blue Flag beaches."

"Is Portsalon beach and bay, unquestionably one of Donegal’s most spectacular, to be colonised by the industry which gave us Mulroy Bay?" a spokesman for Save The Swilly queried.

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

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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)