Save The Swilly 25 September 2002

SAVE THE SWILLY WELCOMES EU STRATEGY ON COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

Save The Swilly has welcomed the European Commission’s (EC) recent recommendation that aquaculture must be integrated "in strategies based on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)". Last week's statement from the EC on fish-farming acknowledges that there is potential conflict in coastal areas: "potential development is already hindered by competition for space between various users of coastal waters: small-scale, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism…" And, "Stakeholders have not been sufficiently involved in policy shaping."

A Save The Swilly spokesman said the group’s substantial investment in the recently released Scoping Study for an ICZM Strategy for Lough Swilly was designed expressly to address the issue raised by the EC. Save The Swilly, an umbrella organisation representing 35 groups, continues to call for a moratorium on aquaculture licensing in Lough Swilly until risks and rewards of differing uses are assessed. Dr Andrew Cooper, co-author of the Scoping Study, believes "Various groups are not working together to make best use of [Lough Swilly's] valuable resource . . . Subsequently, major economic development opportunities are being missed." An overall plan is a common-sense starting point for an ICZM strategy, according to the STS spokesman.

"All we have asked for is a genuine, independent and objective analysis of the best uses of Lough Swilly," said Mr Tony Morrison, the group’s chairman. "We do not see commercial fishing, both white fish and inshore, as a ‘hindrance’ to anything. Rather, these are traditional and legitimate pursuits of indigenous people, who are now confronted by the encroachment of a new competitor, aquaculture."

Save The Swilly does not believe any one user of the coastal resource, which is public property, should be entitled to set the agenda or long-term strategy for a bay as valuable in economic and heritage terms as Lough Swilly. "We believe a strategy for Lough Swilly based on ICZM is the only way forward," said Mr Morrison. "We do not deny aquaculture has a right to exist, but we - and obviously, the EC agrees - believe other users are not being given their due regard," he added.

It is not Save The Swilly’s desire nor intention to see a single job lost in the process of reaching agreement on the best management strategy for Lough Swilly. "Many people are seriously concerned about the lack of consultation and communication from the Department of Communications, Natural Resources and the Marine on intentions for Lough Swilly," Mr Morrison said. "We have asked senior politicians in the new coalition government elected last May, up to and including the Minister, to meet us and discuss our suggestions, which are based on independent research by the Coastal Studies Research Group at the University of Ulster. They have not fixed a time for any meeting yet."

The question of employment is not as clear as it appears, STS believes, and there is some dispute as to whether jobs lost in fishing can be replaced by a smooth one-for-one transfer into increased aquaculture. According to a 1999 report to the EC Fisheries Directorate by MacAlister Elliot and Partners, "The potential contribution of aquaculture to generate employment in place of capture fishing jobs remains limited. . . . There would appear to be limited overlap of skills (apart from boat handling and handling of the harvested crop)," it concluded.

Save The Swilly is urging all parties concerned with Lough Swilly to take some time to consider the recommendations contained in the University of Ulster Scoping Study, which can be accessed at www.loughswilly.com

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)