Save The Swilly November 27, 2001

ICZM AND OSPAR - NOT CLAMS - FOR SWILLY

Save The Swilly (STS) has called on the Irish Government to establish a genuine Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) scheme so that all interests in Lough Swilly can be treated equally. STS was responding to a statement by Minister of State Hugh Byrne in the Seanad on 22 November, when he called on the group to "embrace the [Coordinated Local Aquaculture Management Systems] plan".

Restating its position on CLAMS, whose stated objective is to "provide a framework for the development of the [aquaculture] industry", STS said Mr Byrne had misrepresented CLAMS' role. In his Seanad submission Mr Byrne described CLAMS as a body where "all interests around a bay meet and voice their views with a view to achieving a consensus that is not driven by aquaculture alone".

However, according to CLAMS' own document , "The CLAMS group will only be comprised of representatives of all bona fide aquaculture interests; producers and their representatives (technical and associations), liaison officer, relevant regional BIM, Department of the Marine, Marine Institute and Udaras officers." A spokesman for Save The Swilly noted that none of its member groups - which include commercial fishermen, hoteliers, anglers, sailors, divers and others - met any of the CLAMS qualifications.

"CLAMS is designed to represent the aquaculture industry and STS is concerned about the expansion of this industry in Lough Swilly. It is neither logical, appropriate nor even possible for STS to become a member of CLAMS, which is an aquaculture club. What we seek is a genuinely independent Coastal Zone Management body that is not beholden to the industry in this way. We have repeatedly stressed to the Minister, most recently at a meeting in Letterkenny in September, that CLAMS is a legitimate participant at the table of consultation, but it is not itself that table."

STS is pursuing its plan to commission an Independent Environmental Impact Assessment on Lough Swilly. A starting point for this study will be the Precautionary Principle outlined in the 1992 OSPAR Convention, to which Ireland is a signatory: "(OSPAR contracting parties shall apply) the precautionary principle, by virtue of which preventive measures are to be taken when there are reasonable grounds for concern that substances or energy introduced, directly or indirectly, into the marine environment may bring about hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine ecosystems, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea, even when there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between the inputs and the effects."

The Irish government is using the OSPAR Convention as the basis for its current suit against the UK government over the Sellafield Nuclear Plant.

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)