March 12, 2002

Study of Lough Swilly launched

Save The Swilly (STS) has commissioned a Scoping Study for an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) strategy for Lough Swilly. The independent study will be conducted by the Coastal Studies Research Group at the University of Ulster's School of Environmental Studies in Coleraine.

The study will review the current physical, biological and chemical status of Lough Swilly. It will assess the economic, social and cultural aspects of the lough's current usage, as well as the responsibilities of government departments, local authorities and other organisations. Recommendations on the structure of an ICZM initiative will be made, and an assessment made of similar initiatives in Ireland (Bantry Bay Charter); Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland; "Focus on Firths" in Scotland and Cardigan Bay in Wales.

Save The Swilly, an umbrella organisation now grown to comprise 35 member groups, came together in January 2001 to lobby the Irish government to declare a moratorium on aquaculture licensing in Lough Swilly until a comprehensive and independent baseline study and an environmental impact assessment of the lough is completed. During the past year, STS membership has grown to the current total of 35 groups.

STS chairman Mr Tony Morrison said: "We believe this study will be the foundation for a better understanding of the invaluable resource that Lough Swilly represents to Donegal and to Ireland. Our only regret is that the Irish government has not yet recognised the need to take stock of the state of the lough. We again ask the Minister for the Marine to declare a moratorium on aquaculture licensing until this assessment has run its course." A 10,000-signature petition seeking such a moratorium is to be submitted to the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament soon. It was presented to Mr Frank Fahey, Minister for the Marine last year but he has not commented.

Mr Fahey, responding to a question from Mr Eamon Gilmore of the Labour Party in the Dail a year ago, said: "I have no proposals to commission a study on the overall aquaculture potential of Lough Swilly." Mr Morrison said the government clearly had no intention of producing serious evaluative research on Lough Swilly, ignoring requests to commission a study itself. Neither did the Department of the Marine respond positively to requests for aid in funding the STS initiative.

Save The Swilly, left with no alternative in their objective of establishing the best way forward for Lough Swilly, launched a fund-raising campaign in September and has since received sufficient backing from the public to cover the cost of the Scoping Study. STS will use the study's recommendations to raise further funds from Europe, from international environmental agencies and from concerned Irish citizens to proceed with the comprehensive ICZM study of Lough Swilly.

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)