Save The Swilly January 29, 2003

SAVE THE SWILLY 10,000-SIGNATURE PETITION ACCEPTED BY EUROPE

The Save The Swilly petition, in which 10,000 signatories have called for a stop to aquaculture licensing in Lough Swilly until a fully Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Strategy has been implemented for the bay, has been accepted by the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament.

The Chairman of the Petitions Committee, Mr Nino Gemelli, in a letter dated 24 January 2003, said: "I would like to inform you that the Committee on Petitions considered your petition on 9 December 2002 and declared the issues which you raise therein admissible in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament."

The Petitions Committee has begun its examination of the Save The Swilly petition, "and decided to ask the European Commission to state its views on the various aspects of the problem. The Committee will continue its examination of your petition as soon as it is in receipt of the necessary information. This petition will be examined in public."

"It is clear that the European Parliament has taken our concerns seriously, and it is also clear that it would be inappropriate for the Irish government to issue any further aquaculture licences in Lough Swilly until all options for development have been fully assessed," said Mr Tony Morrison, chairman of Save The Swilly.

The University of Ulster's Coastal Studies Research Group, which conducted an independent Scoping Study for an ICZM Strategy for Lough Swilly, concluded in August 2002 that the management structures in the Swilly "fail to take advantage of available resources and major development opportunities are being missed".

Dr Andrew Cooper, the report's lead author, has recommended that a proper economic appraisal of the uses of Lough Swilly be carried out. The study also recommends an assessment of the Swilly's carrying capacity for various uses. Up to now, the Department of the Marine has ignored calls for an assessment of carrying capacity for aquaculture, and there are serious concerns about the licensing for salmon and shellfish farming without a proper scientific and economic assessment of the implications for other stakeholders.

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)