Save The Swilly September 24, 2003

PRIME TIME EXPOSES AQUACULTURE'S SHORTCOMINGS

The time has come for a comprehensive review of the process whereby aquaculture in Ireland is licensed, monitored, regulated and policed. This conclusion was reinforced, says Save The Swilly, by the recent RTE Prime Time programme, which highlighted some serious shortcomings in the regulation of salmon farming in Ireland, including allegedly illegal dumping of dead salmon in a bog in Galway. Unfortunately, there was no representation from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR), which is keen to publicise its role in promoting aquaculture, but less enthusiastic about regulating the industry. "It has never been more obvious than now that the expansion of aquaculture on our coastline must be reviewed," said Mr Tony Morrison, STS chairman. "Is every other legitimate user of our water resources - anglers, commercial fishermen, those involved in leisure and tourism - meant to stand back while the environment for our activities is destroyed?"

STS, citing the recent Inver Bay disaster, where huge numbers of farmed salmon have died for the second successive year from unknown or undisclosed causes, claims the Inver Bay events show that the regulatory mechanisms governing salmon-farming are inadequate. As the salmon-farming industry seeks to deflect blame for this summer's disaster from the industry itself, it has run into stiff opposition from the DCMNR. The Irish Salmon Growers Association has pointed the finger of blame for Inver Bay at both commercial fishermen and at the dredging activities associated with a substantial pier development at Killybegs. The DCMNR is naturally reluctant to acknowledge any responsibility for the deaths of a million farmed salmon, and it has officially denied any link between fishing or dredging and the fish kills.

Meanwhile, months after the latest Inver Bay disaster, and more than a year after last summer's fishkill, featured on Prime Time, when more than 50,000 dead salmon from a single cage were allowed to drop to the seabed to rot, there is still no evidence emerging from investigations being undertaken by the Marine Institute. Consultants hired by the fish farm concerned recommended that the dead salmon be left to decompose on the bottom of the bay and that regular monitoring be undertaken. Both DCMNR and the Marine Institute sanctioned this, saying the recommendations "constituted an appropriate way to deal with the situation." No reports have yet been released to the public. Given that history, Save The Swilly believes there must be a completely independent analysis of the situation in Inver Bay as a case study for the regulation of the industry generally. "The vested interests must be excluded from this investigation," the STS statement said. "Someone must be held accountable for the protection of our resources, and that responsibility must start with the Minister and his Department. We have argued repeatedly that there is an inherent conflict within the dual roles of the DCMNR. The chief promoter of the industry is also its regulator, and the second of those responsibilities is in direct conflict with the first," said Mr Morrison. "It is unacceptable that the Government, and indeed the Donegal County Council, should continue leasing Lough Swilly out to fish farmers without first assessing the impact on all other users – we can see from Inver Bay and from the dumping in Galway what the risks to the bays from salmon farming are."

Licensing of new salmon farms and other aquaculture operations cannot be allowed to continue without sensible and transparent research and consultation. "No one can tell us how much production Lough Swilly can take. What is the carrying capacity? If the licensing authority does not know what the capacity is, it is irresponsible to keep licensing. The introduction of coastal zone management would address this and other issues dogging the relationship between aquaculture and other users of the public resource."

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)