Save The Swilly September 25, 2006

OYSTER CRISIS EXPOSES "SHAMBLES" IN MANAGEMENT OF SWILLY

The year is 2006. The Irish Navy has steamed down Lough Swilly into the estuary area to quell a disturbance among local oyster fishermen. Not quite sure what they are meant to be resolving, the Navy confronts a number of legitimate fishermen, engaged in what they believed they were licensed to do, but without possession of all documentation. “Tie up or your equipment will be confiscated,” the Irish Navy gunboat warns the fishermen. Called in to “arrest” two boats allegedly “poaching” in someone else’s licensed ground, the Navy ignores the “poachers” and issues its warnings against fishermen licensed by the Northern Regional Fisheries Board (NRFB). It seems that the NRFB, the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources (DCMNR), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Coordinated Local Aquaculture Management Systems (CLAMS) and the Inshore Fisheries Development Officer for this area all neglected to mention to the oyster fishermen that they were required to register their boats with the DCMNR in addition to seeking licences from the NRFB.

Strange?...........Yes. True?..........Yes. Unique?.............No.

A week after the Navy’s intervention, two fishing boats collide in an incident still being investigated, but almost certainly related to the dispute over oyster ground. The collision takes place in the area of Lough Swilly the Irish Navy had been sent to investigate in the first place. Unsurprisingly, the Navy’s action the previous week, essentially against innocent bystanders, had no impact at all on the dispute at the heart of the matter. The State agencies, as usual, appear incapable of dealing with the issue, or even of making an attempt to address the facts.

The most important fact is that there is no effective management of Lough Swilly, and that effective management is impossible without an overall plan. There is no overall plan because there is no real commitment to an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) policy despite years of pleading with the DCMNR, the Donegal County Council and all elected politicians to introduce some planning into the management of our marine resource.

A number of years ago former Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Hugh Byrne, announced a one-off grant of IR£20,000 to enhance the Swilly wild oyster fishery. The funds allocated were placed under administration of the Inshore Fisheries Development Officer, who spent much of the money on wild oyster “seed”, and then reached a verbal agreement to place the seed in ground licensed to a member of the Lough Swilly Shellfish Co-op, an existing aquaculture co-op. In return for the use of this licensed area, the Inshore Fisheries Development Officer appears to have agreed that the licensee could retain some of the mature oysters. What is the true nature of that deal, which has never been disclosed?

It is no exaggeration to state that the management of the Swilly is a shambles. Aside from the above dispute, there is a litany of unresolved matters, including: the long-delayed proposal to establish a wild oyster co-op; clear definition of the actual wild oyster ground; and, awarding of licences in breach of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 to cultivate bottom-culture mussels within an oyster sanctuary. Overall, the DCMNR appears incapable of enforcing the regulations and licence conditions for which it is responsible.

Ireland’s marine resource belongs to the nation. Its stewardship is in the hands of the DCMNR, which is obliged to manage the resource in the best interests of the State. Recent events in the Swilly suggest the Minister and his officials are failing in their duty.

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)