SAVE THE SWILLY - November 23 ,2005

ICZM arriving in Lough Swilly?

Donegal County Council appears to have bitten the bullet on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). In July, the Council announced plans to appoint a group of consultants, including the University of Ulster, to complete a Feasibility Study on the establishment of a Coastal Research and Education Centre at Buncrana in Co. Donegal. The overall purpose of the Centre will be to “test and develop a strategic approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM),” according to the Council’s project description.

The Council referred to the University of Ulster’s 2002 report “Scoping Study for an ICZM strategy for Lough Swilly” (commissioned by Save The Swilly), which highlighted “a lack of integration in management of activities. This lack was identified as one of the contributory factors to ongoing user conflict.” A Workshop launching the Feasibility Study and organised by the Council was held on 2 November at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana. Dr Andrew Cooper, head of the Coastal Studies Research Group at the University of Ulster and lead author of the Scoping Study, together with an associate consultant, chaired the meeting. In addition to elected representatives from Donegal County Council and Buncrana Town Council, attendees included fishermen, anglers, non-governmental groups (including Save The Swilly), representatives from Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Cross Border Aquaculture Alliance/CLAMS and the aquaculture industry, as well as members of the general public.

While the idea of establishing a physical centre was generally welcomed, several attendees made the point that a building did not create ICZM, and that a management plan launching an actual ICZM strategy was needed. No officials responded to this suggestion, but Dr Cooper and his associate stressed that the planning and building of the centre would be the first stage of the project, and that the intention is to develop awareness of the requirements for a formal ICZM policy.

The Terms of Reference for the appointment of the consultants is to advise on the establishment of a coastal centre that will:

• Conduct research in support of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) with due regard to the needs of development and conservation;
• Be a focus for research activities;
• Showcase research findings for public education purposes in order to raise public awareness of marine and coastal issues;
• Provide a focus for commercial development.

The Workshop is expected to be the first of a number of consultation exercises as the project moves ahead.

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