Save The Swilly 16 January 2001

Delegation meets Minister Hugh Byrne

Save The Swilly, an umbrella organization launched on January 9, 2001 to stem the tide of aquaculture licensing in Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal, met Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Mr Hugh Byrne, in Dublin on Tuesday, 16th January.

Save The Swilly is seeking a moratorium on all aquaculture licensing in Lough Swilly until such time as a) a comprehensive baseline study has been conducted on the lough and b) on the nearby Mulroy Bay. The organization asked Minister Byrne whether he would agree to the conduct of an independent baseline assessment in Lough Swilly of water quality, bird and wildlife populations, archaeological merits and the interests of all users of the lough, including anglers, commercial fishermen, sailors, hotels, guest-houses, etc.

Mr Byrne would not commit to Save The Swilly's request, responding that aquaculture licence applications must be accompanied by an EIS. While that is true for fin-fish (but not for shellfish) applications, Save The Swilly spokesperson Tony Morrison said an overall EIS for the whole of Lough Swilly was needed, and it should be conducted by a qualified body independent of the aquaculture industry, the government and indeed all vested interests. The Minister of State did give an undertaking to the Save The Swilly delegation that "any licence application that comes in will be presented to all of you people for a view". Save The Swilly represents more than 20 groups around Lough Swilly, which in turn have more than 1,000 members.

In a current and continuing petition, the group has gathered more than 5,000 signatures from people in Buncrana, Letterkenny, Rathmullan, Ramelton, Fanad and elsewhere in the Lough Swilly area. While Mr Byrne was sceptical about the value of the petition, Ms Cecilia Keaveney, TD for Donegal East, who was also at the meeting, took a different position, and agreed that the petition had some validity.

Save The Swilly intends continuing its petition at least until the Dail returns from its recess at the end of January, when it will be presented to Mr Frank Fahey, Minister for the Marine. The organization presented a list of the issues it supports and opposes to Minister of State Byrne yesterday:

• Save The Swilly supports an environment in Lough Swilly that is a source of community pride rather than shame or embarrassment.
• It supports genuinely sustainable employment, such as long-term jobs in commercial fishing, tourism (including marine- and eco-tourism), angling, diving, sailing. It advocates the creative use of the loughÕs natural resources.
• It supports the promotion and development of Lough Swilly from a perspective of promise for the future instead of clinging to the relics of the past.
• Save The Swilly would like to see direct consultation with the public on the vital issue of Lough SwillyÕs future, instead of relying on statutory and quasi-government organizations which have not made any effort to understand the issues.
• It seeks full disclosure by the government about its ultimate intentions and objectives for Lough Swilly.

Mr Byrne said that only 1% of Lough Swilly had been licensed for aquaculture, and he would not be drawn on whether the optimal level of development was 2%, 3% or 4%. Save The Swilly later expressed grave concern about the apparent lack of a clear stated government long-term plan for Lough Swilly reflected in this statement.

Save The Swilly told the Minister of State it was opposed to the following issues:

• The presumption that aquaculture/fish-farming will be expanded in Lough Swilly regardless of the attitudes, interests and needs of other lough users.
• The lack of transparency and consultation that has characterized the relationship between members of the group and the Department of the Marine over many years.
• The evidently close relationship between the Department of the Marine and the aquaculture industry. The Department of the Marine has assumed the role of advocate instead of regulator through its stated objective to expand aquaculture in Ireland by 300%.

Save The Swilly presented the Minister of State with a list of specific questions regarding statistical and procedural information concerning aquaculture developments in Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay, which he undertook to have answered by the end of January. Save The Swilly said it appreciated the time given to the group by Mr Byrne this afternoon, and it was especially grateful for the role Ms Keaveney played in facilitating the meeting.

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)