Save The Swilly October 17, 2001

SALMON FARM WANTS STILL MORE LICENCES INSHORE

The company engaged in salmon-farming operations in Lough Swilly is pursuing further licences in the lough, even though it has recently been awarded two additional licences and the full production quota it sought, a 50% increase in tonnage.

A consultant has been employed by the company to conduct a Visual Impact Assessment, although in discussions with several Save The Swilly member groups, the consultant acknowledged that she was only assessing which of the two additional sites - Doaghbeg or Dooanmore - would be more suitable. She is expressly not being asked to assess whether either site is suitable, and she is not concerned with anything other than the visual impact.

The consultant told Save The Swilly member groups that the company was "not interested" in the two additional Lough Swilly sites they were granted in May 2000, and asked the groups' representatives whether Doaghbeg or Dooanmore was preferable. She acknowledged that she had not arranged meetings with anyone in the Doaghbeg area, and had no plans to consult residents of Inishowen.

Save The Swilly has called once again on the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to clarify its plans for Lough Swilly. The umbrella group established a year ago was refused its demand - backed by a petition signed by more than 9,000 - for an independent baseline study and environmental impact assessment for Lough Swilly. It is now preparing a scoping document prior to commissioning an independent baseline study on behalf of residents surrounding the lough. "It is wholly inappropriate that the Department should even contemplate granting further licences in Lough Swilly when a wide cross-section of the population around Lough Swilly are demanding that further research be carried out before any expansion of the aquaculture industry in the lough is allowed," a Save The Swilly spokesperson said. He also drew attention to EU objections to aquaculture licensing procedures in Lough Swilly which remain unanswered, several months past the final date for response.

The Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, Mr Hugh Byrne, said in an interview in April this year that "any large-scale [fish-farming] developments would have to be sited further offshore." Save The Swilly has called on the Minister to honour this position, and insists that fish-farming developments be concentrated out of Lough Swilly, where the environmental damage can be minimised.

Scientists from the EU-LIFE Environment Programme, who produced the Rural Beach Management guide published by Donegal County Council, believe a second Blue Flag beach is possible for Portsalon, and An Taisce has indicated that it would be prepared to consider an application for a second Blue Flag Beach in Ballymastocker Bay.

"It is true that both Doaghbeg and Dooanmore should be rejected as salmon-farming sites for visual impact reasons. But far more serious threats are to the wild fish in the lough, as well as to the compromised livelihood of commercial fishermen, and the recreational use of adjoining beaches. These locations are far too close to the existing Portsalon Blue Flag beach," Save The Swilly said.

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)