Inshore ireland vol12 nr3 (summer) 2016

www.inshore-ireland.com The Marine & Freshwater Environment Publication

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National Seafood Conference 16-17

Our Ocean Wealth Conference 22-23

Summer 2016 Vol 12 Issue 3

ONLINE EDITION

You can now view the Spring issue on www.inshore-ireland.com or you can follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/inshore_ireland and Facebook www.facebook.com/InshoreIreland

Post Brexit: implications for Ireland’s fishing industry Gillian Mills & Gery Flynn

“

This is not going to be business as usual; there will be extremely complex and difficult negotiations,” remarked Sean O’Donoghue, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation.

O’Donoghue was speaking at a hastily convened breakfast briefing before BIM’s national seafood conference in July, along with Barry Deas, National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and Cecil Beamish, ASG, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, chaired by broadcaster and journalist Olivia O’Leary.

Under current arrangements,

‘Coastal States’ of Norway, the Faroes and Iceland, negotiate with the EU on the annual mackerel quota.

“In future, I will be sitting opposite Barry Deas because the UK would be a Coastal State. The UK has made it clear - and I would do the same in their shoes - they will be looking for a larger share of these stocks. If that happens, the big losers will

be Ireland, because we would have the largest mackerel share in the EU,” he added.

“Our two main stocks from an economic point of view are mackerel and nephrops. We will need access to UK waters regarding mackerel as roughly 40-50% of our activity is there.”

The situation will be similar regarding nephrops,” he added.

Gold at the end of the rainbow? The Marine Institute’s RV Celtic Explorer in Galway Docks (Seafest 2016 - see pages 22 & 23).

“I see the December Fisheries Council becoming irrelevant; the major issue will be the bilaterals between the EU and the UK.”

Post negotiations

O’Donoghue believes if Article 50 is triggered, the UK could seek to negotiate an arrangement similar to »» page 12

Photo Gillian Mills

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inshore ireland Summer 2016

NEWS

National Inshore Fisheries Forum consults with Ireland’s new fisheries minister on future development

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he Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has met with the six regional chairs and vice-chairs of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, to discuss the future development of the sector.

“I am pleased there was a focus in the discussions on priorities to ensure a positive long-term future for this sector. This government

has committed to the development of the inshore sectors,” he remarked.

He added that to deliver on this objective, it was “essential” to hear the views of the stakeholders through the NIFF. “With European Maritime Fisheries Fund now available, there are opportunities to secure sustainable inshore fisheries and [to] enhance incomes in rural and

Minister Michael Creed hosts his first meeting of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum

coastal communities.”

Topics discussed included access to herring stocks and proposals to develop national conservation measures for velvet crab.

The inshore sector (comprising fishing boats of less than 12 metres in overall length) make up more than 80% of the fishing fleet and are predominately active within six nautical miles of the Irish shore.

The NIFF was established to facilitate the development of a coherent inshore sector ‘voice’ by encouraging inshore fishermen to discuss issues and to generate commonly-supported initiatives.

A network of six Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFF) around the Irish coast, bring forward proposals to the NIFF for wider industry discuss. Regional members include inshore fishermen, environmental interests;

Marine Institute Foras na Mara

marine leisure; marine tourism and other marine stakeholders.

The structures also provide opportunities for collaboration between

the inshore fishing sector and their communities on sustainable strategies to optimise the income opportunities afforded by the coastal resource.

Global environmental standard for Irish salmon producer

M

arine Harvest Ireland (MHI) has attained the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) salmon standard for two of its sites, at Ahabeg in Bantry Bay and Inisfarnard in Kenmare Bay. The mark ― one of the highest international environmental and social sustainability standards in the fish farming sector ―follows previous accreditation for the company’s Deenish site in Co Kerry.

“This is a great endorsement of our brand and the high standards that we consistently aspire to and succeed in reaching. This particular accreditation was initiated by none other than the WWF which is recognised globally as a benchmark in building a future where human needs are met in harmony with nature,” remarked Jan Feenstra, MHI managing director.

Operations in Ireland contribute over €15m to the domestic economy annually, and over 800 Irish suppliers are currently doing business with Marine Harvest Ireland.

“Perhaps more significantly however, we have a €22m investment earmarked for Ireland over the next five years, subject to licence renewal. This alone, could create a further 250 direct jobs almost doubling our workforce here. The single biggest issue we face today is that we cannot meet the demand for our product,” he stated.

Almost ninety per cent of fish produced by MHI is exported to France; Germany; Belgium; Italy; Poland; Switzerland; USA; Canada and Asia. Last year, the company generated total sales of €72.2m in Ireland from operations situated at 16 locations along the western seaboard

Aquaculture Stewardship Council

Our Ocean - A Shared Resource Ár n-Aigéan - Acmhainn Comhroinnte

Founded in 2010 by WWF and IDH (Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative), the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is an independent notfor-profit organisation with a global reach.

With its partners, the ASC aims to transform the world’s seafood markets and to promote the best environmental and social aquaculture performance. This means increasing the availability of certified responsibly produced seafood to buyers, and promoting the ASC logo.

Ireland’s National Agency for Marine Research and Innovation An Ghníomhaireacht Náisiúnta um Thaighde Mara agus Nuálaíochta

www.marine.ie Inishfarnard, Kenmare Bay

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3

News

R

TE Radio 1’s maritime programme with Marcus Connaughton will be off air for two weeks during August (12-19) to facilitate coverage of the Olympic Games in Rio de

Seafest 2016

Janeiro.

On Friday 5 however, listeners will have the opportunity of hearing from our sailing squad, including:

»» Annalise Murphy, Laser Radial »» Finn Lynch, Laser Standard »» Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern, 49er »» Saskia Tidey, 49erFX »» James O’Callaghan, ISA Performance Director »» We’ll be previewing the Annual Whale Watch weekend on August 27 by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). »» On Friday September 2, we have a feature on the LIEBHERR plant and its relationship with Tralee Bay and Fenit

BIM Training Schedule for September 2016 National Fisheries College of Ireland (NFC)

Friday September 9 We visit Spike Island in Cork Harbour and talk to archaeologist Barra O Donnabhain about the island’s rich monastic and maritime heritage.

Friday September 16 Grainne McPolin takes a look at Casement and the Aud with contributions from historian Pat Lawler; HE the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins; Carmel Smyth, great grandniece of Captain Robert Monteith; Lesley McNaughton from New Zealand, great grand-niece of Sir Roger Casement Friday September 23 We feature writer, playwright and prolific literary talent, Dermot Bolger, in conversation about his recent book The Lonely Sea and The Sky, published by New Island. Based on a real life rescue in 1943 when the Kerlogue’s crew risked their lives to save 168 drowning German sailors.

Second Hand Ltd1: 05 September to 12 December - NFC Castletownbere Second Hand Full1: l Commencing 29 August - NFC Greencastle l 05 September to 12 December - NFC Castletownbere Electronic Navigation Systems (Fishing)1: 29 August to 16 September - NFC Greencastle GMDSS General Operator Certificate (GOC): 05 to 15 September - NFC Castletownbere Engineer Officer (Fishing Vessel)2: Commencing 19 September - NFC Greencastle Commercial Fishing QQI Award (Major) Level 5: Commencing 19 September - NFC Greencastle Marine Engineering Processes QQI Award (Minor) Level 5: 26 September to 14 October - NFC Castletownbere STCW-95 Fire Prevention and Firefighting (3-day): 06 to 08 September - NFC Greencastle STCW-95 Medical First Aid Aboard Ship: 11 to 13 October - NFC Greencastle Three Day Basic Safety Training: 27 to 29 September and 18 to 20 October - NFC Greencastle l 18 to 20 October - NFC Castletownbere l

Seascapes is presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton and is transmitted every Friday evening at 10.30pm on RTE Radio 1

Inshore Ireland is published by IIPL Ltd

Enhanced Safety Training: 04 October - NFC Greencastle For information on our courses visit www.bim.ie or contact: NFC Greencastle on 074 9381068 NFC Castletownbere on 027 71230 l East and South East Coast/Galway- Mayo Coast at 086 3856885 l l 1 2

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Fishing Vessel) Certificate of Competency Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Class 3 Certificate of Competency

www.bim.ie

Editor

Features Editor

Gillian Mills

Gery Flynn

mills@inshore-ireland.com

flynn@inshore-ireland.com

01 235 4804

091 844822

Sales & Marketing sales@inshore-ireland.com

087 290 2045 085 747 5797

Design

Durgan Media info@durganmedia.ie

074 91 77893

The publishers do not accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors and advertisers. While care is taken to ensure accuracy of information contained within Inshore Ireland, we do not accept responsibility for any errors or matters arising from same.

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inshore ireland Summer 2016

News

European Maritime Day focusses on investment in the ‘blue economy’ Gillian Mills

I

nvesting in smart and sustainable solutions for competitive blue growth was the theme of this year’s international conference and exhibition celebrating European Maritime Day annually.

The two-day conference hosted by Finland was addressed by Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, who said the EU was leading on several blue economy technologies such as renewable energy and clean shipping.

“The sustainable marine economy is not a dream, it is a reality. Across Europe, people are working hard on innovations to push boundaries. We are leading because we have invested.

Our commitment to sustainability is what gives us our competitive edge and what will open up new global business opportunities for our industry.”

Finnish Prime Minister, Juha Sipilä, said their goal was to make Finland a forerunner in the bioeconomy, circular economy and in cleantech by 2025.

“Sustainable solutions speed up export and employment.

With better regulation we can increase investments that will help boost economic growth.”

The conference offered a networking environment for the 1,200 delegates who also attended stakeholder workshops and five thematic sessions: Investing in blue growth; Improving ocean governance; Boosting skills development; Harnessing clean energy and Facilitating joint action, along with 2 Leadership Exchange panels.

Keynote address

I

n a keynote address, Vice-Admiral Mark Mellet, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, gave a broad overview of the maritime economy and maritime governance dating back to 1609 when Mare Librum was the forerunner to the Law of the Seas Convention (LOSC) that now guides much of current maritime activities.

‘Governance however goes beyond just that; it is an interplay between governments and law, institutions, civil society and industry, and it needs to adapt to changes to how the seas are being used. Getting it right matters because in global terms while the ocean covers over 70% of the earth’s surface (over 90% of the biosphere), it is the critical enabler to life on earth.

Estimates suggest the value of marine ecosystem goods and services are twice that of the terrestrial.

Estimates also suggest that deep sea habitats could host millions

of as yet unidentified species. The ocean absorbs more CO2 and produces more oxygen than any other ecosystem in our biosphere.

It is also the primary source of water and a significant source of mineral wealth and hydrocarbons.

The sea is a source of beauty and recreation with the potential, if properly governed, to exemplify the three pillars of sustainability, economic development, social development and environmental protection in a complex shared space.

Day-to-day threats to the sea are primarily anthropogenic.

They include pollution; dumping; acidification and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing including sub-optimal governance, wasting fisheries and destroying vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Drivers of insecurity seek to undermine the institutions of State and civil society, prioritising power, criminality and fundamentalism.

Civil society is a human right of every man, woman and child, where people are free, where the institutions of the State function, where wealth can be generated and where the vulnerable are protected.

Ocean governance is a function of the interplay of government, policy and the law, the institutions of civil society and of the market and enterprise. This interplay is a function of how institutions integrate and the norms and principles that frame that integration and the efficacy of the security and compliance regime.

T

he Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster, IMERC is a ‘Triple Helix Partnership’ with both formal and informal arrangements between the Irish military, Irish academia, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology.

It has four pillars, Marine Energy, Shipping Transport and Logistics, Maritime Safety and Security and yachting

products and services with cross cutting themes focused on for example ecosystem governance, engineering and ICT. To date it has enabled a number of disruptive innovations facilitating local area development. It has fed into policy formulation at a National level, is codified as an exemplar in our cross government Defence White Paper and in the current National programme for Government.

Nested within the cluster is the National Maritime College of Ireland a partnership between Cork IT and the Irish Navy where both military and merchant naval personnel train, reflect & develop.

As an innovative network IMERC allows a broader context, sensing and exploring and driving the innovation network through collaboration, with a focus on end user identified solutions to end user identified problems.

While it is clear that coordination could be improved at a regional sea level, the anchor of international political theory can be found in the space of the sovereign territorial State which in addition to holding exclusive sovereign rights, also has obligations.

In terms of security and compliance, the State is the key to upholding sovereignty and sovereign rights. A State’s sovereign rights are a manifestation of the property rights of its citizen - rights that cannot or should not be alienated.

Marine Spatial Planning should protect these rights through a State jurisdiction approach using, for example, a marine cadaster or State property rights institutional arrangement. Sovereign rights that are not upheld are more imaginary than real.

Markets are powerful institutions that are critical in building economies, but they can harm ecosystems as they do not always tell the ecological truth, sometimes failing to consider the damage to ecosystem goods and services. Properly integrating the institutions of market with government and civil society, will facilitate functioning property rights and greater corporate social responsibility.

Defining what actions are acceptable for an ocean governance regime requires codification of, and adherence to, clear norms and principles. Principles are the basis for governance as they prescribe behaviour and allocate authority.

Under conditions of high or

radical uncertainty and existence of ecological thresholds, policy should be guided by principles such as the “precautionary approach”.

Other principles include use of the best available science, ecosystem approach, adaptive management, and a rights-based approach which is three dimensional.

The most important principle is sustainability. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainability should be a norm of civil society, recognising that economic development must fit within ecological limits.

Some estimates suggest that by 2020, worldwide, there will be up to ten times more data compared with that of a few years ago.

There is no ‘do-nothing’ option, for data underpins information that is key to knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

With so much data and knowledge being generated, it is essential that government, the market and civil society leverages these data in an innovative and integrated way. It presents huge opportunities, at individual, community, State, regional EU and indeed international levels.

Moving from closed innovation, where we innovate within organisations, to open innovation where we innovate between organisations, institutions and indeed States, requires a systematic change that permeates organisations, bridging cultural identities, challenging silo mentalities and seeking new

ways of doing things.

This resonates with the EU’s consultation on international ocean governance which found that coordination has to be both horizontal: ‘between UN agencies and programmes and between regional organisations’ and vertical ‘between the global, regional and national levels.’

Innovation requires principles such a trustworthiness and reciprocity; principles that drive the common information sharing environment and the need to share, advocated by the ‘Wise Pens’.

Most of all, it requires leadership.

The triple helix of academia, enterprise and State institutions that enables greater diversity, should not only include science, technology, engineering and maths but also the arts and the humanities encompassing economics, social and political science. The rule is simple.

The more diverse an organisation is and the more diverse its network, the greater the opportunity.

In essence, ocean governance is inextricably linked with day-today governance of the State. Most of the major challenges we face: climate; migration; population increase; resource degradation and sustaining economic growth, have a maritime dimension.

Our security and our survival as a society – indeed as a species – are inextricably linked with the sea and the ecosystem. We must position ourselves as part of the ecosystem, demonstrating by being good actors our reciprocity for the good and services we receive.

That is key to sustainable development.’

inshore ireland Summer 2016

5

News

Net is cast wide to find the best throughout the Irish seafood sector

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he first ‘dedicated’ seafood awards, focussing on skills, sustainability, innovation and competitiveness, will celebrate the best fishermen, fish farmers, processors and retailers throughout Ireland’s seafood sector in an event organised by BIM. “The Irish seafood sector comprises some of the most interesting, innovative and driven people in business life. BIM is delighted to create an occasion to celebrate, highlight and promote the excellent people and enterprises working in this sector. I urge as many

people as possible to apply and help us acknowledge the truly exceptional work undertaken in this vibrant industry,” remarked Tara McCarthy, BIM chief executive, announcing the call for entries.

Recognising the importance of upskilling and developing a career path in the sector, BIM will also name the Student of the Year as well as the Young Fishmonger 2017.

The ‘sustainability’ umbrella will host the Responsible Fisherman of the Year, Aquaculture Social and Environmental Award and the Green Processor Award.

Celebrating ‘innovation’

across the industry will include the Best New Fishing Practice Award, Innovation in Aquaculture Award and the Innovation in Seafood Processing Award.

Seafood leaders and entrepreneurs will also be recognised for their competitive edge through the Fishing Enterprise of the Year, Aquaculture Enterprise of the Year and Seafood Entrepreneur/ Enterprise of the Year Awards.

The Awards will be announced at a gala evening on November 17 in the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Closing date for entries is Friday September 16, 2016.

Creed meets with Brexit consultative committee

A

t his first ‘Brexit’ meeting comprising stakeholders and agencies, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, welcomed the “constructive input” on the challenges ahead for the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, following the UK’s decision to leave the EU. “I believe the most effective way to deal with the many challenges that we in the Irish agri-food and fisheries sector will face following the result of the UK referendum, is to work together as closely as we can to identify issues of importance to us, and to agree on how these issues might best be addressed.

“My Department has already been working with the sector in considering the areas in which the greatest risks may arise, and the Consultative Committee will help us take that work forward by facilitating regular discussion and analysis as the negotiations evolve.”

The Minister said a calm and measured approach was required, and noted that the future EU-UK relationship would ultimately depend on the outcome of the exit negotiations, which he said were unlikely to formally get under way “for some time”.

In the meantime, the key

issues were the exchange rate volatility and to assist traders with managing that volatility and reducing their exposure to the UK market, he said.

The Committee also discussed other challenges such as trade and tariff issues; controls and certification requirements; regulatory

standards and the EU budget.

“While the UK deliberates on its next steps, we must use the time at our disposal to best effect so that we can position ourselves to present the best case and achieve the best outcome for the Irish agri-food and fisheries sector from these negotiations.”

Details available on: www.bim.ie/our-services/ industry-awards-2016/

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inshore ireland Summer 2016

Report

Effects of noise on aquatic life Dr Simon Berrow Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

M

any of us raised on Jacques Cousteau believed in his silent world beneath the sea. It is far from silent however, with sounds generated by waves, rain and seaquakes as well as from whales, fish and crustaceans, but also produced from human activities Most activities in the aquatic environment create noise and it travels further in water than air and is

unidirectional so it can be difficult to identify the source.

Background, or ambient, noise has increased in the world’s oceans over the last 50 years due to increasing vessel traffic and concern about the effects of implusive sounds such as those associated with oil and gas exploration (seismic), naval active sonars and construction activities (piling, blasting), especially on marine mammals, has also increased in recent decades.

Resource managers and regulators increasingly have to consider the effects of noise in risk assessments, especially on protected species, and this obligation is enshrined in the new EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive which defines ‘noise’ as a pollutant.

Aquatic Life conference

So the recent gathering of international experts in Dublin at the 4th Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life conference was a great opportunity to learn about current developments in this rapidly expanding field.

The first two days were dominated by presentations on soundscapes which is an attempt to describe an area through its sound characteristics, with more intense sounds presented as different colours. This sounds simple but soundscapes can be presented in different frequency bands depending on the bandwidth of interest: What frequencies are the species of interest sensitive to?

Photo: Simon Berrow, IWDG

What intensities may cause an effect?

Is this effect a subtle change in behaviour or could lead to damage?

These are simple questions but are very hard to address as there are so many unknowns and even the challenges of measuring sound pressures are not fully addressed.

Inevitably, there was a heavy reliance on models to simulate animal populations and their exposure to sound sources and to measure effects. Models are only as good as the data used and assumptions made, and testing these models with field measurements is critical.

Making model testing a condition linked to planning permission is a simple measure to ensure this happens so that researchers, engineers and more importantly managers can have confidence in these models and conclusions.

A number of these validation tests were presented and typically the models overestimated the zones of influence and thus impacts.

Ireland has very strict guidelines when mitigating the effects of sound on marine mammals but we need to test and revise them to make sure they are fit for purpose and are achieving the objective which is to minimise effects.

The effects of sound lower down on fish and invertebrates is of increasing concern. Controlled exposure experiments on some fish demonstrate a response but it’s unclear whether there is a chronic effect. Studies on invertebrates including crustaceans were very lacking.

The effects on the ecosystem rather than the individual are an order of magnitude more complicated and uncertain but studies are trying to address this and cumulative effects of multiple sound sources.

Dr. Simon Berrow presents at the 4th Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life conference which was attended by over 250 delegates

Research and management

A large section of the conference was linking this research to management and mitigation. There were many presentations on modelling effects of seismic surveys and vessel traffic.

Under the MSFD, Ireland is obliged to measure current levels of ocean noise and determine trends (is it increasing or decreasing) and to predict effects. Preliminary reviews and surveys have been carried out and with regard to noise, and Ireland has been ahead of schedule.

A lot of very relevant and high-level research is underway in Ireland, and it was a pity this was not better represented at the conference; however this was an international conference with 250 delegates from all over the world including many from North America; China and Australia.

The conference was also a fantastic opportunity for our regulators to understand the complexities of this subject; but the only agencies represented were the NPWS and the Marine Institute.

A lot more needs to be done on measuring and assessing the effects of sound, and ‘sound’ science is required to inform and communicate to regulators the real potential effects and risk and appropriate mitigation.

Simon was the only delegate from Ireland presenting a talk at the conference where he presented on the development of a mitigation zone for beaked whales on the Irish shelf edge under the ObSERVE project (see www.observeacoustic.ie)

Photos: Marta Bolgan

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Report

All photos: Oceandivers / Ronan Fahy

Diving in Dublin Bay Brian Murphy Oceandivers

S

cuba diving takes you into another world. One where you can easily and weightlessly move in three dimensions; one where there are no phones, no cars, PCs, traffic lights, buzzers and beepers. It’s only you, your buddy and your bubbles.

For many divers it is this absolute escapism that they enjoy most. For many, the concept of diving in the Irish Sea might seem a bit mad.

Everyone knows that real divers only dive in warm tropical waters. While diving in the tropics is certainly a wonderful experience, there is some great diving right here on our door step.

Most people who live around the capital city are unaware of the sheer abundance and variety of marine life that thrives in the waters around Dublin.

In fact, as far as European

capital cities go, Dublin has probably got the most diverse and spectacular underwater environments on offer.

Dublin Bay - from Dalkey Island at the south to Lambay Island and Rockabill at the northern end - benefits from a staggering variety of dramatic sites that are of real interest to scuba divers.

Dalkey Island

Dalkey Island - 15 minutes

by RIB, due south of Dun Laoghaire Harbour - is a sanctuary for bird life, complete with Martello tower, fort and church; while below the surface, the resident colony of grey seals glide gracefully between kelp covered boulders.

Seals often approach divers and nibble gently on their fins rather like a playful labrador.

Large Ballan Wrasse like to lounge lazily among the many crevices and gaps in the boulder field. These are relatively big fish, typically around 25cm in length and are very territorial, returning to the same spot once the bubbling diver has passed safely.

Dive a bit deeper and the kelp gives way to other forms of rock clinging life.

Soft corals, yellow and white sponges and vivid plumose anemones crowd the surface of the exposed rocks living off water-born plankton carried in the passing tide.

As a diver you glide over the boulders, monitoring your depth and scanning the area with the sweep of your touch, bringing back the colour that has been filtered out by depth.

Sunstars the size of dinner plates, light up purple as the torch light touches them and ling move shyly in their lairs, watching the diver pass by.

Lobsters scurry for cover with remarkable speed while large edible crabs stay and offer to fight any diver who dares. Blennies, pipe fish and small scorpion fish dart about. Below 20 metres, boulders peter out, giving way to a mixed bottom of sand and shingle with some exposed reefs of bed rock.

Dog fish swim shark-like, smelling the water for food; in this gloomy light a lucky diver

might spot an octopus out and about shopping for lunch or seeking a new abode.

Limited by air and depth, a typical dive here runs to about 50 minutes before the diver returns slowly to the bright lights of the surface.

High energy sites, such as the Muglins, have an even greater density of sponges, soft corals and other filter feeders growing on the rocky bed due to their exposure to very strong tides. It is only possible to dive such sites during slack water when the tide stops flowing at either high or low water. The reward is more that worth the wait.

Kish Bank

Other exposed sites include the many wrecks of the bay. There are numerous wrecks around the Kish Bank including the Bolivar, Vesper, RMS Leinster and Guide Me II. While most wrecks are protected by law (and unfortunately are not loaded with treasure) they do provide wonderful oases in the sandy seabed for marine life. They become miniature marine parks.

Safe from the nets and pots of local fishermen, large

cod and pollock swim freely throughout the wrecks; these mechanical structures provide holdfasts and shelter for anyone seeking a home at sea.

Wrecks also present visual imagery that creates a unique atmosphere as divers swim between worlds, and imagines life aboard the stricken vessel before it was acquired by its current occupants.

Once bitten with the diving bug, divers travel the country enjoying some of the best diving in Europe, and indeed the world, at the pristine dive sites along the western seaboard. Like so many things in Ireland, diving is a well kept secret, but it is there for everyone who has an urge to see the world below the waves.

Modern teaching methods and professional diving instructors have made diving accessible to anyone who can swim and has the will to learn.

Scuba diving is a significant recreational and tourism business that depends on a healthy and diverse marine environment if it’s to thrive.

Dubliners are fortunate to have easy access to umpteen good dive sites so close by.

For details on diving courses visit www. oceandivers.ie

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inshore ireland Summer 2016

Freshwater Focus

Curly-leaved waterweed (Lagarosiphon major) in Lough Corrib

Courtesy of Inland Fisheries Ireland

Funding dries up for Lough Corrib invasive weed control project

F

ears are mounting in Galway that a decision to withdraw funding for the Lagarosiphon control programme on Lough Corrib will see a reversal of the achievements of the past decade, and that the weed will not only regenerate but also

spread further in the lake and to other waterways, including the Shannnon.

In a written response to a query from Inshore Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland said its ‘intervention on Lagarosiphon on Lough Corrib’ had resulted in the reduction of the major stands of weed to more manageable levels

and that control of the weed had moved from being an emergency issue to an ongoing maintenance issue.

‘This IFI weed management project has been instrumental in preserving the aquatic habitat in Lough Corrib and thereby the associated important environmental, economic and social impacts

derived from the varied uses of this wonderful natural resource.

‘Inland Fisheries remains supportive of tackling the invasive species issue, however it has neither the statutory power nor the resources to tackle aquatic invasive species in a structured and cohesive manner.

‘The National Parks and Wildlife Service are the agency with the statutory responsibility for the management of aquatic invasive species and IFI is engaging with them and also two other agencies with a strong interest in Lagarosiphon: Galway County Council and the Office of Public Works.’

Fact file Lagarosiphon major (Curleyleaved Waterweed) is an invasive species in freshwater systems. It originated in South Aftrica but was introduced to Ireland by the horticultural industry to help oxygenate artifical ponds and lakes.

Inland Fisheries Ireland estimates it was probably introduced into Lough Corrib from an artificial pond in the early 1990s.

Lagarosiphon can grow up to six metres deep in water producing dense vegetation on the surface.

Once established, the native plants beneath it die off. With these go the invertebrate

communities that depend on them for food and shelter.

Next to go are the trout that feed on the invertebrates, eventually replaced by coarse fish such as roach, bream and pike, resutling in a complete change in the fish community of the waterway.

Lagarosiphon was was first spotted in Lough Corrib in May 2005 by Martin Butler, an Inspector with the Western Fisheries Board, in Rinneroon Bay, about six kilometers north-west of Oughterard.

By the end of that year it had been recorded at eight locations in upper Lough Corrib. By 2006 the number

of locations had jumped to twenty-four, indicating just how rapidly it can spread when the conditions are right.

Early attempts to eradicate Lagoarosiphon saw divers cutting it at the root. An approved herbicide Casoron G was also used for a short period. A special boat trailing blades attached to six metre lengths of chain was also used to cut the weed as close to the root as possible.

It is doubtful that Lagarosiphon will ever be eradicated from Lough Corrib but a concentrated effort to control its spread will be required if the the New Zealand

experienece is anything to go by. After forty years battling Lagarosiphon, the weed is still there but is being ‘managed’.

The IFI programme had succeded in reducing the weed’s spread in Rinneroon Bay from 92 acres to 19 acres.

Garden centres have been encouraged to use alternative plants as oxygenators.

Legislation will soon be in place throughout the EU to ensure sales will be phased out within two years.

During the mayfly season when up to two thousand boats fish on Lough Corrib, Lagarosiphon is likely to be dispersed ever more widely

with boats in and out of infected areas picking up small pieces of Lagarosiphon on their propellors and spreading it far and wide. Fragments as small as ten centimetres containing a growth node are enough. Once these come in contact with the lake bed they will grow.

If Lagarosiphon is not contained in Upper Lough Corrib it could eventually get into Lough Mask and Lough Carra and then to Lough Conn and eventually into the Shannon system.

While not yet visible in these locations, the weed can be present for up to ten years before it is spotted.

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9

Freshwater Focus

Bere Island crowned 2016 ‘BioBlitz champions!

Maria Walsh, NBDC

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Removal of dense Curley-leaved waterweed (L. major) 2012

A spokeswoman for Galway County Council praised the work of IFI as the lead partner in helping to control the spread of this invasive species.

“Success of this programme is due to the commitment and excellent work of Inland Fisheries Ireland but the decision to cut back on financing it is a central government issue, ” she said.

“The expertise for dealing with this water-based weed lies within Inland Fisheries Ireland. They have built up very good working practices over the past few years. For us in Galway County Council

it seemed logical that they should be the ones to do it but unfortunately the funding is just not there at present.”

She added that vigilance was now required to try to ensure that Lagarosiphon did not spread into Lower Lough Corrib which she said was “much shallower and probably more favourable for the weed to grow. This is an invasive species and it must not be allowed to go any further in Lough Corrib, and it should certainly not be allowed spread beyond the Corrib and into surrounding waterways.

That is a real danger now”.

Before and After: the same area of Lough Corrib where measures to control Lagarosiphon have been effective.

Photo: Helen Moran

ince 2010, BioBlitz has been an annual event in the calendar of the National Biodiversity Data Centre, but this year, and for the first time, five offshore islands participated in an island BioBlitz.

Under blue skies and radiant sunshine, Cape Clear; Bere Island; Inis Mór; Clare Island and Tory Island, raced against time to see which island could record the most species over a 24-hour period over June 11-12.

From early in the year, each island had been busy assembling teams of recorders, national experts, specialists and other interested individuals, to join forces to identify and record the rich biological diversity of their island.

But it was not all about experts! Running alongside Island BioBiltz was another first - Island Wildlife Weekend – which had a programme of events for everyone to join in, to learn more about wildlife and to just experience the special charm and qualities of our off-shore islands.

After a gruelling 24-hours of intensive recording and hard grafting where no stone was left unturned, Bere Island was finally announced Island BioBlitz 2016 Champions with an incredible tally of 1,182 species. Hot on their heels was Inis Mór with 1,096 species; Cape Clear followed with 870 species; Clare Island 836 species and Tory 710 species.

Bere Island not only won the overall award but also snatched the award for the most productive team. Inis Mór won two awards for the most marine species and for the most conservation species recorded.

Tory Island was by far the island with the most species recorded by area and therefore won the Species Richness Award. Clare Island finished a close second for the most marine species recorded and Cape Clear was the only island to even remotely challenge

the winners in the Species Richness Award.

It was an astonishing feat of recording over the few days and demonstrated the rich biodiversity of our offshore island. Thanks and congratulations to all 200 plus volunteers who participated across the five islands –it was a huge voluntary effort.

Visit bilblitz.ie for more information on each of the islands and their recorders, final tallies and species lists. The Island BioBlitz was organised by the National Biodiversity Data Centre with support from the Heritage Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Cape Clear

Photo: Trish Punch

Data gathering on Cape Clear

Photo: Trish Punch

Tory Island

Photo: Oisín Duffy

10 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Freshwater Focus

Fishing a rising tide Brendan Connolly

S

ea fishing around our coast is strongly influenced by the stage of the tide. For instance, some estuaries fish well at low tide; certain shores are best around high tide and beaches can be most productive during a rising tide.

One estuary in the north-west is reputed to fish well on a rising tide, and two anglers set out to investigate. Launching the boat well before low tide at 3pm, they made sure they would be in position in the mouth of the estuary as the tide began to rise.

First they motored out to sea to catch some mackerel for bait. They caught some pollack but had to move around on different drifts to find mackerel. Eventually they felt the pull of mackerel on their lines and with four mackerel in the boat, they

headed back into the estuary.

Keeping an eye on the depth sounder they located a deeper spot in the channel and there they put out the anchor. Threading a quarter mackerel on the hooks, they let the lines down to the bottom and settled back in the warm and calm weather.

Time passed while the anglers had their packed lunches and discussed what they might catch. After lunch they reeled in the rods to discover that the hooks were bare and the bait was entirely gone. The crabs must have also had lunch... They rebaited and let the lines out again; this time they lifted the baits after a short while and saw four or five crabs hanging on to the bait.

By now it was about one hour after low tide and the tide was beginning to flow into the estuary. By hanging the lead and bait just above the bottom, they tried to avoid the crabs, but the anglers still needed to lift the lines regularly to shake off

the crabs. Whether it was because the bait was not lying properly on the bottom, or the location at which they were anchored not being the right one, no fish were caught.

Well into the flowing tide they decided to try a different spot. They lifted the anchor and motored upstream towards the sea, and dropped the anchor again where the incoming tide was flowing much stronger - in the hope that the strong current would deter the crabs. This proved to be the case with the result that the baits could rest on the bottom.

The rods were set with the brake on the reels turned on low resistance and the ratchet on so that if a fish took the bait, the ratchet would whirr.

After about ten minutes, one of the reels screeched as the line was pulled out, but then stopped. One angler took the rod and waited.

After a short while he felt a further few knocks but did not strike yet. The mackerel bait was relatively big and

he did not want to pull the bait out of the mouth of the fish. Then the line was again pulled off the reel and he tightened on the fish this time. He felt a heavy pulse at the end of the line and knew he he hooked a fish.

Heaving the strong boat rod, he reeled the fish up to the surface. A long white shape hove into view and as the fish turned he saw a purple-grey back with some small white spots and a spine in front of the two dorsal fins. It was fine spurdog (Squalus acanthias).

The spurdog was lifted carefully into the boat to unhook it. Care was taken not to get stung by either spine as they secrete venom that can cause a nasty swelling. The spurdog was then released back into the waters of the estuary.

Just as the first spurdog was being released, the second rod whirred and the second angler lifted the rod. He let the line run out until it stopped; feeling more tugs he reeled in but the fish let go and just the bait came up.

He quickly let the bait down again, and it was not long before his line ran out once more. This time he waited a bit longer before he reeled in, and after a short struggle he lifted another spurdog into the boat which was again released.

The anglers had a number of further runs some of which produced more spurdog.

Then as the incoming tide slowed, they lifted anchor and return home, happy with the results of their investigation of fishing the rising tide into the estuary.

Could fracking for shale gas return to the Irish agenda?

Gery Flynn

N

orth Yorkshire County Council’s decision in May to approve plans for fracking shale gas ends a four-year moratorium in the UK on the controversial technology, and is certain to renew interest in the process in Ireland.

Despite 4,000 representations from the public against and 30 in favour, the county council’s planning committee voted

7:4 to allow Third Energy to test the commercial viability of fracking shale rock in the district of Rydale.

Speaking on BBC radio, Professor Paul Ekins Director of the Institute for Sustainable Resources at University College London and an authority on fracking described the development as “a political watershed.

“Whether it’s relevant elsewhere is not so certain because this is an application at a currently existing well that has been in place since 2013. Therefore, the

economics are obviously going to be more favourable than drilling a new well.

“Gas prices are currently very low, they’ve fallen 75% in the US since 2008, and it’s not at all clear to me that at this well or anywhere else, the technology will in fact be economically viable at these prices.”

He added that Third Energy “obviously have their own business plans that suggest that it might be profitable some-time in the future, and they may be thinking that gas prices will go up again,

and indeed they may go up modestly though I would very much doubt they’ll get back anywhere near to their 2008 highs.”

Energy security As for the argument that fracking for gas was essential in order to guarantee energy security in the UK, the professor said that globally, shale gas was not needed.

“The world is awash with gas and the UK already has substantial import facilities for us to be able to import

the gas that we need. So in my view, the energy security argument is almost entirely specious. But there are obviously issues to do with jobs, revenues, and potential taxes.

“Like any new industrial development, fracking can bring investment, it can bring jobs, and that seems to me to be the grounds on which the government is favouring the technology,” he said.

As for claims by opponents that fracking has caused localised earthquakes and groundwater contamination, Professor Ekins said it was possible to regulate the industry “so that local environmental impacts are acceptable.

“This government is not a notable advocate of regulation, and in fact it has cut back the Environmental Agency’s staff in capacity.

Provided that rules are followed then I think it’s very likely that the technology can be safely deployed.”

If fracking is to expand on a major scale, Professor Ekins wonders if the Environmental Agency at its current size would be able to enforce the rules.

inshore ireland Summer 2016 11

Freshwater Focus

Water charges: who decides Brussels or Dublin?

Gery Flynn

I

ndependent MEP for the Midlands-NorthWest constituency, Marian Harkin, has weighed into the debate on Irish water charges by asking where will the decision be made as to how Irish people will pay for their water, in Brussels or in Dublin?

“Many in the government are saying that the European Commission has already decided that Irish citizens must pay water charges but I strongly dispute that view. Whether payment is through general taxation; through individual households; through a mixture or through some other mechanism, I just want to be sure the decision is taken in Dublin not Brussels,” Harkin says on her Facebook page.

“In [the Water Framework Directive] there is a section which gives Member States the flexibility to charge for water or not to charge for water. It says that Member States shall not be in breach of the Directive if they decide in accordance with established practice not to apply certain provisions.

“In simple language that means if a Member State has an established practice, and if that established practice is not to have water charges, they can continue in that direction”.

Flexibility

Harkin’s contention is that the Article was written with flexibility.

“Indeed, it was specifically written for Ireland”, she believes.

Proof of this, she says on her website, is to be seen in a communication from the EU Environment Commissioner to Ireland’s Environment Minister: “I have a response from the Environment Commissioner sent to then MEP Alan Kelly in 2010 which states ‘Article 9 (4) provides that the possibility for Member States not to apply the provisions of Article 9 (1) to a given wateruse activity, where this is an established practice at the time of adoption of the directive.’”

According to Harkin, the crucial words here are ‘at the time of adoption of the directive’.

“Given that Ireland adopted this directive in 2003, there is no argument as to what was ‘established practice at that time’- we clearly did not have any water charges”.

“Furthermore this response

is backed up by a statement on the Commission´s website which again states that if Member States decide not to apply pricing for water, they must provide sufficient justification under Article 9 (4) with the number one justification being ‘the existence of an established practice at the time of the entry into force of the Water Framework Directive in 2003’.

There can be no further argument therefore as to when the term ‘established practice’ applies- in Ireland, it’s 2003”.

She adds: “Perhaps the most important reason for saying we will not be in breach of EU legislation is established EU case law where the EU Commission unsuccessfully tried to prosecute Germany for excluding certain water services including ‘personal consumption’ from water charging.

The European Court of Justice is clear in its judgment that ‘the EU legislature intended to allow Member States to determine the measures to be adopted for the purposes of the application of the principle of recovery of costs without extending it to all services associated with water use, as practices in the Member States varied widely.

This clearly gives Member States the discretion not to extend it to ‘all services.’ Further in the judgment it goes on to say that the Directive ‘does not per se impose a generalised pricing obligation in respect of all activities relating to water use”.

Second cycle

According to Harkin, in order for Ireland to activate the derogation contained

in Article 9 (4), it must submit its proposal in its second cycle River Basin Management plans.

“It did not do so in its first proposal but in a Commission Communication from 2012, the Commission accepts that Ireland will be amending certain national measures in its second proposal. It is vital that we include the flexibility under Article 9 (4) in this proposal - it’s a question of ‘use it or lose it.’

It is therefore essential that Ireland applies to activate Article 9 (4) in its second River Basin Management Plans proposal so that the decision on water charges remains a decision for the Irish Government and the Irish people.

In two or three years’ time, I do not want to hear some Irish official or minister give the usual excuse ‘Brussels made us do it’. In this instance we have the choice, in fact the choice was put there to satisfy Irish requirements in the first place - all we now have to do is exercise that choice”.

Finally, as to whether Ireland can avoid paying for water at all, Harkin is definite: “None of this means Ireland can escape its obligations under the Water Framework Directive.

We still must achieve the objectives of the Directive and that will require very significant investment on our part. How we pay for it and who pays for it will however be our decision.

Yes, there may be a number of very eager officials in the EU Commission who believe everybody should pay for water but the Directive as written has given Member States flexibility as to how they fund it and the European Court of Justice has confirmed this”.

Calculate your water footprint

T

he Water Footprint Assessment Tool is a free online web application that provides an insight into how water is appropriated for human uses and the impacts resulting from those uses.

It assists companies, governments, NGOs, investors, consultants, researchers and others to calculate and map their water footprint, assess its sustainability and identify strategic actions to improve the sustainability, efficiency and equitability of water use.

The tool is being developed by the Water Footprint Network, in collaboration with the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

Bringing together the internationally recognized Global Water Footprint Standard and the most comprehensive, global water footprint database – WaterStat – as well as user-provided data, the tool allows you to complete either a geographic or production assessment, and provides results based on sound methods and best available data.

The geographic assessment allows you to: • Explore in detail the water footprint in a river basin • Assess the sustainability of the water footprint in this basin • Identify ways to reduce the water footprint in the basin

The production assessment allows you to:

• Quantify and map the operational and supply-chain water footprint of a facility or the water footprint of a product that can be specified by yourself • Assess the sustainability of your facility’s or product’s water footprint • Identify ways to reduce the water footprint of your facility or product This tool is in continuous development as research is completed and new data are available, to better serve the range of users.

National water footprint explorer

When considering the water footprint of a particular country, production and consumption water footprint can be measured. The water footprint of national consumption is the total amount of fresh water used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation.

To learn about the water footprint of all the products consumed by the people living in a country have a look at the National Water Footprint Explorer.

It includes two components: the part of the footprint that falls inside the country (internal water footprint) and the part of the water footprint that falls in other countries (external water footprint). http://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/interactive-tools/ personal-water-footprint-calculator/ Independent MEP Marian Harkin

12 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Fisheries »» from page 1

the European Economic Area that Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein operate.

“Ireland and the UK are so interlinked so even with the UK exiting, I will be looking to my UK and Scottish colleagues. At an industry level, can we not have some agreement - at least between ourselves – even if at political level we can’t?” he asked.

Noting the UK as a major player in the Regional Advisory structure, Scotland and the UK would be gone, he warned. “It makes nonsense of these Councils.”

While acknowledging nothing would change for some time, O’Donoghue says it would be “foolish” to think change isn’t going to happen.

“We need to plan and we need to work out what we need.”

Post Brexit, O’Donoghue says Ireland will do well, just to stay as it is.

“Once we remain part of the EU, we have obligations and have ‘relative stability’ as a percentage share under the CFP. That won’t change; all that will happen is that the UK will be outside that arrangement. We may have a higher percentage but we will still end up with the same share because the UK share will be gone.”

In turn, he said the UK could well argue that outside the EU, they will seek a larger share, which would have to be deducted from elsewhere.

“Otherwise, stock management would collapse, and that will not be allowed to happen.”

NFFO position

Representing fishermen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Barry Deas contends a “substantial” part of the industry supported the Leave Campaign.

“At the grass roots anyway, and there were reasons for them to believe it would lead to an improvement in their standing.”

He said that could mean moving away from central control of the Common Fisheries Policy “and that certainly has attractions”.

Deas believes it might be

possible to renegotiate quota “from a position of strength” and that access arrangements could also be revisited.

Deas suggested that the UK could possibly set its own autonomous quotas “but the danger of that of course is that everybody takes 105%, and then you’re into problems”.

Another option he said would be to follow the Norwegian model where TACs are set in agreement but the technical rules of where to fish and perhaps also access rules of who can fish where are left for countries themselves to decide.

Deas also pointed to regional management where counties agree a long-term management plan involving TACs; agreed harvest control and technical rules “so there’s a broad even playing field”.

Deas also believes a relationship with Ireland must continue: “Fisheries management is too important to leave to governments. We need to find a way in which ministers can receive advice from the industry – and that’s done in collaboration.”

He said past experience of the Advisory Councils has been “very positive when you get beyond the grandstanding to develop common solutions. Whatever happens, there will have to be some kind of re-alignment.

“For the UK to leave the Advisory Council is one thing, but losing half your waters as well just means there will have to be a re-think.”

Department view

Turning to Cecil Beamish, O’Leary asked what should be Ireland’s response; what preparations can be made and if there would be time to consult with the industry to feed into a response.

He said strength of the industry has been its ability to adapt to change.

“Every element of the fishing industry is always experiencing change so it’s not an industry that’s used to majority stability. It can cope with change. That said, this could be a significant change but it’s a change that we have

some time to prepare for.”

“What we want to do is to stimulate thinking in the industry and then inform as best we can on the issues.

The fishing industry isn’t one homogenous block of activity it’s many different activities. So, issues that will interest people in Clogherhead or Kilmore Quay, or particular exporters, or the pelagic industry will differ, and ranking of the importance of these issues will also be different.

He suggested a “deep reflection” would be required to identify the main issues.

“We will be setting up structures whereby stakeholders will feed in their views so that we get a very well informed national position.”

He added that feedback to the industry would also be crucial.

“When we are then faced with negotiations and we know what’s being sought, we will have a better understanding of where other member States are coming from. Ireland will then have the ability to fight its corner and to pursue its interests in the negotiations as best we can.”

IFPEA

Locán Ó Cinnéide’ of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association believes it will be very hard to predict what the impact will be due to a long period of uncertainty.

Speaking to Inshore Ireland, he said that from the processors point of new, prices achievable in the UK on the back of a fluctuating Sterling means it would be more attractive for fishermen to sell fish to Irish companies.

“But in the UK market, particularly for small prawns, Ireland would be a lot less competitive because prices will be in Euro terms much lower.”

From an overall trade and exports point of view, he believes uncertainty will be very destabilising.

Acknowledging a widely felt view: ‘To hell with Brexit; let’s sort our own problems and let’s support Brexit’, Ó Cinnéide however says Brexit will do nothing to

Brexist briefing and Our Ocean Wealth conference moderator, broadcaster and journalist, Olivia O’Leary.

Photo: Gillian Mills

solve Irish problems, “or even theirs” in fishing terms.

Reform at an EU level involving everybody is essential, he contends.

“We fish in their waters; we do a lot of fishing particularly for pelagic species in what are now UK waters. And some of our main prawn grounds are on the southeast coast (the Smalls) where we have a lot of activity.”

Asked if Brexit would mean Irish and Spanish boats would be frozen out of British waters and that they could set their own limits, Ó Cinnéide’ believes that’s what Britain thinks it means.

“But that’s not what it actually means”. They’re forgetting, for example, Spanish interests own a lot of the UK white fish industry; they’re also forgetting that the UK fleet fishes in other waters other than their own. I think people were sold a pup.”

IFPO

Also speaking to Inshore Ireland, Francis O’Donnell of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, agreed access will be the major problem – and secondly, that people have invested in new vessels.

“A lot of contracts will be signed, probably based on a reasonably secure future in terms of fish stocks, which is a difficulty in itself. Brexit has thrown a completely new parameter into play that nobody really expected.

“I also think that larger States within the EU will apply political pressure to get a better deal. To some

degree it’s like rechecking the stopwatch to see who can get out of the traps quick enough to get the best deal.

O’Donnell also noted close cooperation with the UK over ‘swaps’ in the Irish Sea for prawns, whiting, haddock and cod, especially in the run up the December Council.

“We all have to share the pain of those problems, and we won’t have the UK helping us so we’re going to be a Member State with a very big fishery but with a very small voice.

Asked if he thought the landing obligation can survive, O’Donnell says it will be extremely difficult post Brexit.

“A lot of what happens over the next three to four years will come out of the Northwestern Waters Regional Advisory Council and the Pelagic Regional Advisory Council where the UK is a massive player in that process.

“Ireland and the UK should be saying to themselves there’ll be no slippage, we want business as usual, and to make it very, very clear to the Commission that if there’s any change to our fishing opportunities and joint access arrangements, there’s a good risk that the UK will pull out altogether.

“I think the UK could actually become the leader, instead of everybody following the European Commission in terms of fisheries management.

Because the UK is such a big player, they might have to actually follow them now.”

Assessment of the effects of Brexit on Irish and EU fisheries in the NE Atlantic

T

he authors of a ‘Research Note’ on the effects of Brexit on Irish and EU fisheries in the NE Atlantic, believe the impact will ultimately depend on the arrangements agreed between the EU and Britain in terms of fishing rights in EU waters.

But in a worse-case scenario, where the UK exclude all non-UK vessels from their EEZ, Ireland would lose out on €87m worth of landings (93,320 tonnes) based on 2014 catch data,’ say Daniel Norton and Stephen Hynes of the Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU).

Even if the UK were in turn excluded from the rest of the EU waters, their quota may be redistributed across the remaining EU Fleet. In 2013 Ireland had a 5% share in total landings the EU fleet (European Commission, 2016); if that proportion was maintained in terms of redistribution of the 114,997 tonnes of fish landed by the British fleet outside its own waters post-exclusion, it would mean an approximate 5,750 tonnes increase for Ireland which is only a fraction of the loss to the fleet from exclusion from UK waters.

The Research Note also looks at research by Teagasc where they estimate the impact on the food sector.

Even in the smallest impact scenario they estimate an annual 1.4% loss in Irish food exports. This would have an adverse impact on prices right across Irish fisheries, aquaculture an seafood processing.

The authors also note the likely higher degree of risk associated with Brexit for Irish food businesses with a substantial dependence on the UK market where the UK is Ireland’s second largest export destination after France.

Should the UK ultimately choose to leave the EU there will be a much greater need for a detailed sectoral analysis of the implications for the Irish fishing industry based on more accurate post-Brexit trade and fisheries policy arrangements.

inshore ireland Summer 2016 13

Fisheries

Nigeria holds rank as top importer of Irish seafood exports

O

ver 49,000 tonnes of fish were exported from Ireland to Third (non-EU) countries in 2015 according the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). Nigeria remains the highest importer, accounting for 46% of these exports, followed by China, Cameroon, Ghana and Benin.

The data are taken from health certificates issued by the SFPA who are responsible for enforcing the State’s seafisheries and seafood safety laws. All consignments of fish and fish products manufactured, processed or packaged in Ireland for export to Third Countries generally must be accompanied by an SFPA health cert and contain details regarding their origin and traceability. This information is critical for providing confidence in product safety and protecting consumer health.

Exports to Third Countries decreased during 2015 compared with 2014 (56,068 tonnes), mainly due to the closure of the Russian market. Other markets remained buoyant however, with many including Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Benin, increasing their volume of imports.

Susan Steele, chair of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority said that export markets in the EU and Third Countries were vital to realising the Government’s vision for Ireland’s seafood industry, as set out in Foodwise 2025.

“Robust confidence in the quality and safety of Irish seafood is of critical importance to the maintenance of existing markets and to the expansion of the growing collection of third country markets. The SFPA is committed to playing its role through verifying compliance with all seafood safety and packaging legislation while also helping to resolve any technical barriers to facilitate trade with new markets.”

Mackerel; horse mackerel; blue whiting; herring; whelk and crab remain the preferred products with herring, whelk and crab all recording a year-on-year increase. South Korea was the top non-EU market for Irish whelk while brown crab was the most popular export to China.

Nigeria was the largest export market for mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting and herring. Oysters and lobsters were the most popular species imported by Hong Kong, and Canada was the largest market for Irish salmon.

Frozen products make up 95% of total exports to Third Countries. The remaining five per cent comprises a large number of low volume, high value consignments of live fish.

The SFPA provides an ‘out-of hours’ service to meet the ‘just-in-time’ logistics requirements of these products. In addition to providing health certificates, the SPFA provides catch certifications that verify the legitimacy of the Irish vessel that caught the fish being exported. The SFPA also carries out all approval inspections, audits and inspections of food businesses (including vessels) in the seafood sector under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. These inspections and audits are undertaken on a risk assessed basis in order to assess compliance with national and European food safety legislation.

European Court of Justice rejects Commission’s appeal on safety tonnage

T

he Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice has ruled (June 14) to reject an appeal by the Commission to annul the General Court’s decision of 2014. The General Court had annulled the Commission’s decision of 2010 rejecting some applications for Irish safety tonnage by members of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation. This is the third time that the safety tonnage applicants have been successful in the EU Court of Justice; the first time in 2006, followed by 2014.

This is a long-running saga which commenced almost fifteen years ago. The Court’s decision was to reject the Commission’s appeal and order the Commission to pay

costs. The Court ruling also notes that the applicants had the right to bring an action for damages against the European Union relying on the illegality of the Commission’s initial decision. Safety tonnage, which relates to the volume of the vessel not to tonnes of fish, covers enhanced safety measures on aboard a fishing vessel such as shelter decks, raised wheelhouses, increasing the freeboard and improvements to crew accommodation.

Hearing the ruling, chief executive of the KFO, Sean O’Donoghue, said he was “delighted” but not surprised in light of the Advocate General’s opinion given in January 2016 that the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice has ruled to reject the Commission appeal to General Court’s decision of 2014.

“I wish to congratulate the

owners on the outcome and for the courage to appeal the Commission’s flawed decisions in the first instance, and to continue this long and very arduous battle relating to their safety tonnage applications.

“I also wish to thank the excellent legal team of Eileen Barrington SC and Noel Travers SC and DP Barry & Company Solicitors for a job well done,” remarked Sean O’Donoghue, chief executive of the KFO. “This has gone on far too long - almost fifteen years with the Commission continually trying to find ways to thwart and delay the very necessary and legitimate safety tonnage applications. I am now calling on the Commission in light of this third ruling by the Grand Chamber against them to immediately rectify the situation to satisfaction of the applicants.”

14 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Seafood Business

Seafood Innovation Academy to stimulate new ideas

E

ight of Ireland’s leading seafood companies put their innovative ideas to the test in the first of three mentoring sessions in BIM’s Seafood Innovation Academy programme. The Academy aims to strengthen the skill sets and capability in the processing sector, focussing on new product development; technology transfer and business model innovation, to bring product ideas from concept to market launch.

“BIM has assisted over 58 seafood companies through our Seafood Development Centre to develop more than 88 innovative, addedvalue seafood products and processes. Our focus now is to help seafood companies to build the right company structures and capability to drive their own innovation

agenda,” remarked Donal Buckley, BIM Director of Business Development and Innovation.

The agency is now looking to attract fresh talent and skills particularly in new product development, business development and marketing.

This deficit will be addressed through Graduate and Masters in Seafood Innovation programmes with University College Cork, Waterford Institute of Technology, and Letterkenny Institute of Technology, he added.

Addressing the session, Dr Mairead Brady, Assistant Marketing Professor from Trinity College Dublin’s Business School, advised on using the latest available technology to gather market intelligence about products and the consumer.

Zuilmah Wallis from Bord Bia’s Insights Team, gave

valuable insights into the seafood category, while Brian English, Managing Director, Qupact, discussed routes to market and new innovations in technology.

Head of R&D at Carbery Ingredients, Áine Hallihan, described a company’s transition from producing commodity to value-added products, and the culture of innovatio in a large company.

John Kenny, Sales Director for Atlantis Seafoods, explained how the academy would benefit their business on the back of a strong focus on innovation and new product development.

“The Seafood Innovation Academy is an opportunity for us to get constructive feedback on our plans and to tap into the best expertise available in the field. I found the session in BIM’s SDC very good.”

Wild Atlantic Way seafood trail

A

dedicated seafood trail from Donegal town to Erris in Co Mayo involving five seafood producers and 14 seafood restaurants has joined the ‘Bay coast’ route from Erris to Galway Bay, involving six producers and 28 restaurants.

Taste the Atlantic - a Seafood Journey aims to educate visitors and Irish consumers how seafood is caught and farmed: “The Wild Atlantic Way is the ideal platform to promote and celebrate the best of Irish seafood. BIM are particularly excited about

this new route as it focuses on our less wel- known but exceptional fish and shellfish farmers who expertly cultivate premium oysters, abalone, mussels and Irish organic salmon,” remarked Tara McCarthy, BIM chief executive, at the launch in Lissadell House, Sligo.

She added that BIM’s objective was to utilise the trail to build a “greater appreciation and understanding” of the diversity and provenance of Irish seafood.

“The trail is all about meeting the producer, understanding where

Pictured at the launch of Taste the Atlantic - a Seafood Journey in Drumcliff Bay, Sligo are some of the participating producers and restaurants

the seafood is caught or farmed, and recognising the contribution these producers deliver to our economy.”

In 2015, over 250 shellfish and fish farming businesses were valued in excess of €150m, representing a 27% increase on the previous year.

Co launching the trail, John Mulcahy, Head of Food Tourism at Fáilte Ireland, outlined the importance of these initiatives: “Taste the Atlantic provides a great opportunity to deepen visitor engagement and encourage those who travel along the route to slow down, dwell longer and immerse themselves in the local seafood traditions and practices of the west coast.”

Visitor experiences include traditional methods to smoke Irish organic salmon in Ballina, Co Mayo; sustainable farming of abalone in Galway and cultivating premium oysters in Lissadell, Co Sligo.

BIM and Fáilte Ireland training for participating chefs and front-of-house staff includes on-site trips to mussel and oyster farms to build and improve their knowledge, and advice on planning a seafood menu within a budget.

L to R: Pat O’Leary, International Business Development Manager, SDC, Clonakilty, Co Cork; Dr. Mairead Brady, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Trinity Business School; Aileen Deasy, Seafood Technologist, SDC; Clonakilty, Co Cork; John Fagan, Senior Technologist, SDC, Clonakilty, Co Cork and Michael Cannon, SDC, Clonakilty, Co Cork.

L to R: Dr. Mairead Brady, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Trinity Business School; Yohann Pierard, Sofrimar; Donal Buckley, Business Development & Innovation Director, BIM and John Kenny, Atlantis Seafoods Ltd, Wexford.

Irish/Norwegian partnership to drive seafood innovation agenda

S

eafood development agencies of Ireland and Norway have created a partnership to drive innovation in the Irish seafood sector.

In the first step towards developing a Memorandum of Understanding, BIM welcomed a presentation from Nofima – the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fishery and Aquaculture – to Ireland.

The applied research agency delivered valuation insights and expertise on innovation, technology transfer and sustainability which will feed into Food Wise 2025 targets to reduce the level of seafood sold in commodity from 70% to below 50%.

The delegates visited the Teagasc Food Research Centre in Moorepark, Co. Cork to discuss a Seafood Research and Development programme, and to BIM’s Seafood Development Centre in West Cork which assists seafood companies to go from concept development, to scale, to final commercialisation - all underpinned by market insight, NPD and technology transfer services.

THE SEAFOOD EVENT OF THE YEAR WHEN

WHERE

17TH NOVEMBER 2016

CLAYTON HOTEL, BALLSBRIDGE, DUBLIN 4

We are delighted to announce the call for entries to the inaugural BIM Awards 2016 – celebrating the best in the Irish Seafood Sector.

The aim of the Awards is to celebrate and highlight excellence in Ireland’s seafood industry.

The award categories are structured around BIM’s four strategic pillars of Skills, Sustainability, Innovation and Competitiveness. We are seeking entries to identify the businesses and individuals who excel in these fields across the fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing and retail sectors.

Closing date for entries is Friday 16th September 2016.

Award categories SKILLS Student of the Year Award* BIM Young Fishmonger 2017* *no call for applications, please see www.bim.ie

SUSTAINABILITY Responsible Fisherman of the Year

INNOVATION Best New Fishing Practice Award

COMPETITIVENESS Fishing Enterprise of the Year

Aquaculture Environmental & Social Responsibility Award

Innovation in Aquaculture Award

Aquaculture Enterprise of the Year

Green Processor Award

Innovation in Seafood Processing Award

Seafood Enterprise/ Entrepreneur of the Year

More information can be found on www.bim.ie or by contacting your local BIM Development Officer.

The winners will be announced at a Gala evening on November 17th 2016 in the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

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Seafest 2016

Tara McCarthy, Chief Executive of BIM with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed

Ireland can become global seafood leader – conference told Gery Flynn

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ith Ireland’s seafood sector now contributing over €1 billion in GDP to the economy and employing over 11,000 people directly and indirectly - mainly in peripheral coastal communities - Minister for the Marine, Michael Creed, said the success of BIM’s National Seafood Conference was “a great testament” to the growing level of interest among the Irish public in all aspects of the marine.

“BIM’s conference is all about exploring new opportunities and the seafood sector in Ireland is one of the areas which has the greatest potential for export oriented, high valueadded expansion. As Marine Minister, I am determined to encourage the ongoing

sustainable development of this vital sector of our food industry.”

Global food and agrifood thought leader, Mary Shelman, who has been working with BIM to develop a new vision for Irish Seafood, told delegates that despite being able to supply “an excellent product” the true value of the seafood produced in Ireland was still not appreciated.

“I see BIM as the catalyst of change with a greater focus on transforming the agenda from short-term to long-term thinking; production driven to market driven and from scale to value creation.

“Ireland is too small to compete on scale; we need to box clever and this includes working together effectively to increase individual profitability and market share,” Ms Shelman said.

Highlighting the impact of

rising incomes, increased urbanisation and a world population that was expected to top 9 billion by 2025, she said we faced “a serious situation” in the challenge world-wide to increase food production.

“Land to support such a demand in protein production is limited, and freshwater is an even a bigger constraint with seventy per cent of the world’s freshwater today used in agricultural production alone. You don’t have to have a degree in maths to realise you can’t increase food production by 60% when you’re already using 70%. So because of this, fish and seafood is going to play a much bigger role in the global food system,” she said.

In Asia where the big increases in population and wealth are going to happen, seafood is seen as the

solution.

“It’s the sustainability of aquaculture production that makes it the most efficient system of animal protein in the world today. With a feed conversion ratio of 1.2 kilograms of feed per kilogram of protein produced compared to 2.4 kilograms in poultry; 3.5 kilograms in pork and around 7 kilograms or more in beef, aquaculture is clearly a very important sector to be in.”

Ms Shelman said the result would be a worldwide increase in consumer demand for safe, traceable, sustainable and responsibly produced food. Seafood in particular, would be to the forefront of this demand.

She said Ireland was in prime position to capitalise on its ability to fulfil the task, but would be constrained in the short term by volume.

“Ireland’s seafood industry today really is not structured

very well to capitalise on these trends.

“The seafood industry here today is fragmented with lots of small firms spread around the coast and a diversity of species that means volumes can be seasonal.

“And increasingly, the drive for this production creates a misalignment between what happens at sea and what happens on shore in the processing sector with bigger vessels landing perhaps fewer times for that catch but yet that processing facility, if it’s sized for the landing, is now inefficient for the rest of the time”.

She added that Ireland, with few firms of scale, a handful of co-operatives and four producer organisations, did not have the necessary unified voice to take this forward.

“My assessment is that overall, Ireland’s seafood sector is not really operating

inshore ireland Summer 2016 17

seafest 2016

to its full potential and the question is how can Ireland best leverage what it has today while preparing for that future – laying that foundation – for future growth, and how can we optimise it?

“Ireland’s seafood industry is respected all over the world in terms of the quality of its product but yet, on the other hand, Ireland’s a tiny producer in the seafood sector. World global wild catch last year was about 90,000,000 tonnes; Ireland’s was 236,000 tonnes. And, as I understand it, the production of farmed salmon in Ireland can be done in three days in Norway. Three days”.

She said Ireland might be producing the best product in the world “but you don’t maximise the value of it. You will have to learn to align as an industry in order to improve those results”.

BIM’s chief executive, Tara McCarthy told the conference that increased consumer demand for healthy, convenient and sustainably produced food were precisely the drivers on which the seafood industry could deliver.

“That’s why seafood is now on trend globally,” she said.

“And though Ireland is a small player on the international stage, our industry vision for Ireland is to be the international leader in high-value differentiated seafood products. When you consider that fish landings and seafood farming contribute nearly €500 million alone before any value is added through processing and innovation, we have an exciting opportunity for considerable growth.

“We need to move away from focusing on the negative to rewarding,

recognising and celebrating an industry that is the lifeblood of our coastal communities representing 70% of our overall ‘blue economy’, valued at €1.4 billion.”

She said that Ireland was already well positioned to deliver the vision, thanks to the €140 million from the European Maritime Fund, dedicated to BIM to deliver its programmes.

“We’re actually in a unique position because we also have the policy framework in Foodwise 2025. We could be this high-value differentiated seafood industry satisfying the demand for healthy, safe, responsibly- and sustainably-produced food.

“We know the seafood industry in Ireland can be that. We also know we can’t achieve it without changing, and we know we can’t achieve it on our own”.

Key performance figures from the Business of Seafood report include: »» 344 million worth of fish are landed into our fishing ports »» 148 million worth of fish and shellfish are farmed around our coast »» 8,858 people are directly employed in the Irish Seafood Sector (this rises to 11,000 to include indirect jobs) »» Irish Seafood Exports are up 7% to €564 million »» Irish Seafood domestic consumption is up 6% to €350 million »» EU €388 million »» Nigeria and North Africa: €98 million »» Asia: €47 million »» Our most valuable species in volume is Atlantic mackerel at 88,709 tonnes worth €49 million »» Our most valuable species by value are Dublin Bay prawns at 8,282 tonnes worth €49 million

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Aquaculture News

Two new voices to speak for Irish aquaculture Gery Flynn

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ichael Mulloy, owner of Blackshell Farm, one of the country’s most successful rope mussel producers operating from Clew Bay since 1983, is chairman of the Irish Shellfish Association, and Damien O’Keeffe, production manager with the longestablished Goatsbridge Rainbow trout farm group in Kilkenny and Wicklow is chairman of Irish Salmon Growers Association.

Both men are expected to be highly passionate advocates for and formidable negotiators on behalf of their members.

Inshore Ireland spoke to Michael Mulloy and Damien O’Keeffe about their new roles.

Michael Mulloy What is top of your agenda as chairman of the ISA? My main aim will be to promote the positive side of aquaculture and to neutralise any negative perceptions. One of the first items on my wish list is to see a functioning licensing system that would enable full State support and allow the aquaculture industry to take advantage of the resources and grow.

Has the shellfish farming sector reached its full potential in Ireland?

No, it certainly has not.

The lack of a functioning licensing system has discriminated against the advance of the industry in

that people haven’t been able to plan expansion or to plan their capital spending. That has slowed down the whole growth of the entire industry.

So, if we can see our way through that and clarify our goals with the Department, I think we could make a big improvement.

The coastal area is becoming increasingly crowded with more and more demand for space and access. Can aquaculture and marine leisure co-exist in harmony?

There’s no reason why we can’t have an active marine tourist sector and shellfish production operating harmoniously in the same areas. Anyone who has been to northern France will have seen these two sectors working well together. Public opinion of aquaculture is mostly based on anecdotes and hearsay that mostly has no scientific basis whatsoever. I’ll be devoting a lot of energy to assuring the public that in relation to the environment nothing needs to be sacrificed for shellfish aquaculture to happen.

Should your association be using the media more effectively to give a more accurate image of aquaculture to the general public?

Yes, definitely. When we appear in the media it’s usually a negative story about a recall of toxic shellfish or something like that. There’s an urgent need to promote the positive side of what we do. That’s an area I want to concentrate on.

As an association we have plans to provide the public

with more information about aquaculture. We’re currently working on new initiatives in that area and we will announce these soon.

The public would seem to be unaware of how well Irish shellfish is monitored from a health point of view?

Ireland’s shellfish monitoring system as operated by the Marine Institute is first class, and a lot of money has been invested in it over the years.

It also operates with the full co-operation of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. Unfortunately, there have been cases where our industry has been found wanting too, and that’s something that won’t ever be tolerated.

Has the shellfish farming sector the potential to grow even more?

The shellfish resource is potentially a massive one, and so far the citizens of this state are not benefitting fully from it. People from other European countries are already eyeing it up because they see its potential.

We cannot discriminate against them, but surely there’s a message there.

Ireland should be able to double rope mussel and oyster production. There is definitely foreign interest in both mussel and oyster farming in Ireland.

Damien O’Keeffe, Irish Salmon Growers Association What is your day job?

I manage the farming side of the business for Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Kilkenny and in Wicklow. The company built a processing plant a couple of years ago and it has more capacity than the farm was doing.

That’s why we are now expanding the farm side of it.

Is there a good market for farmed freshwater rainbow trout?

The market is not the problem at all. We are trying to position ourselves to become the largest landbased trout producer in the country, and I don’t see many obstacles in our way now in terms of production.

Michael Mulloy

As ISGA chairman what’s on your agenda?

At our annual conference in Galway earlier this year it was quite obvious that the main challenge now

Damien O’Keeffe is around the licensing situation. A functioning licensing system needs to be sorted, and soon. For the finfish sector this is critical if it is to expand after years of stagnating in terms of production.

What will you be saying to the new minister?

Minister Creed needs to see that he has an awful lot of good people within the department and the State agencies. I think he must bring focus to creating a reasonable system that we can all work within.

Procedures must be reviewed and red tape reduced to allow development to take place.

That would be a major step in bringing the sector forward, and I wouldn’t think that’s that too difficult to achieve.

Have there been any positive moves of late to move the industry forward?

I thought that the FoodWise 2025 document published last year was very good. It set out all the time frames. It was also very good in terms of how aquaculture licensing should be set out: the time between putting in your application, getting your environmental survey done and so on. If we had a framework to work within it would be a very good start.

It would take all the personal issues out of it, and just set the goals and we could all

work towards them together.

The public perception of fish farming is not good. What do you do to change that?

There’s a massive battle to be won on the PR side.

I’ve always tried to keep the farms I have worked on as open as possible to whoever arrives at the farm gate - be they anglers or any members of the public. It’s important that the general public sees the excellent conditions our fish are grown in. It’s a totally different story when they see what we actually do as fish farmers as opposed to the image they are so often given by some media.

So, we will be increasingly busy working on the socalled battle for hearts and minds. When you can show people around your fish farm it’s lovely to do it, and you get an awful lot back out of it too.

Why is the public image of fish farming not better?

Type the word aquaculture into Google and the first three or four responses are negative, which is ridiculous.

The anti-fish farming voices are also very strong on social media such as Facebook and Twitter while we, the producers, are very weak.

That will have to change.

You find the anti-fish farming side far quicker. But we are all busy working producing fish.

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Aquaculture News

Undaria: the latest invasive seaweed species to reach Ireland Dr Stefan Kraan, Ocean Harvest Technology

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ith seaweed being heralded as the superfood of the 21st century, many Irish people will be familiar with Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), the edible brown seaweed or sea vegetable – with a subtly sweet, nutty flavour, popular in Asian cusine, as an ingredient in healthy snack foods and a tasty additive for soups and salads.

A member of the kelp family of seaweeds, Wakame is a native of the Pacific where it has been wild harvested for generations and more recently has been cultivated in large quantities for human consumption.

In Japan, Korea and China, thousands of hectares of coastline are devoted to farming Wakame, and tens of thousands of people are engaged in some form of seaweed aquaculture.

According to the FAO, well over two million tonnes of Wakame - worth more than one billion dollars – are harvested annually.

In northwest Europe, our kelp Alaria esculenta - for which I have coined the name ‘Atlantic Wakame’, is similar to its Asian cousin in taste and nutritional value. Market demand for Atlantic Wakame is however much smaller.

Nevertheless, with the uses and applications of seaweed on the increase in Europe, cultivation will be the key to control quality and quantity.

The European market for seaweeds is destined to grow considerably as its benefits as a nutritious and healthy becomes more widely known and appreciated.

How did Asian Wakame get to Europe?

In 1971, Wakame was accidentally introduced with oyster spat from Japan to the Étang de Thau - the largest of a string of lagoons (étangs) stretching along the French coast from the Rhône River to the foothills of the Pyrenees and the border to Spain in the Languedoc-Roussillon.

Wakame was subsequently introduced to the French Atlantic coast in 1983 when an attempt was made to cultivate it commercially for the export market.

At the time it was assumed that Wakame could not reproduce under the conditions of the French Atlantic coast. Shortly after its introduction however, the seaweed ‘escaped’ from the farm and began colonising areas of bays and harbours in Brittany where it soon became a local nuisance, clogging marinas, navigation channels and blocking the intake pipes to power stations.

By 1990, Asian Wakame was growing in Spain; by 1994 it had been recorded in the UK; by 1999 in Belgium and The Netherlands, and by 2008 it was found in Portugal. In 2012 it was spotted for the first time in Belfast Lough, currently the most northerly population of it to be seen in Europe.

Arrival in the Republic of Ireland

Between 2000 and 2003, large-scale surveys along Ireland’s southeast coast and spot checks at Clogherhead ; Howth Marina and Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, failed to find any Asian Wakame.

As these ports handle large volumes of traffic between Ireland, England and France, they became prime candidates for early colonisation of Wakame.

We did however find another invasive brown seaweed species for the first time in Ireland - the wire weed, or Sargassum muticum - in 2001. In June of this year, Wakame was found growing on the pontoons at the marina in Kilmore Quay.

The fact that this colony consisted of several fertile plants was a clear indication that a steady population has been present in this area for several years at least.

adverse ecological impact on native seaweeds in these countries, even when different species occurred together in some areas. Nevertheless, as with other native seaweed species, Wakame will probably continue to be a major fouling algae in harbour areas.

Asian Wakame contains the bioactive substance, fucoidan - a class of naturallyoccurring carbohydrates classified as sulphated polysaccharides. Several peer-reviewed studies have already reported the benefits of fucoidans in the treatment of cancers, ranging from anti tumoral, anti-proliferation, to immune stimulation and other health benefits.

Besides its nutritional value as a sea vegetable therefore, Wakame is becoming the focus of interest from the functional food perspective.

Now that Wakame has been resident in Ireland for several years, the question must be asked

Stefan Kraan with Undaria should we start cultivating it commercially and exploit its high value as a food and its potential bioactives for health applications?

In view of the fact that Wakame in Europe has

Ecological impact/ implication

In France and Spain in the mid ‘90s, several farms were developed and succeeded to produce up to 100 tonnes dry weight of product. It was concluded that farming Wakame did not have any

Undaria growing at Kilmore Quay

not impacted negatively on species biodiversity or on the environment in general and with a highly developed market for it in Asia and a growing market in Europe, the answer is obvious.

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Aquaculture News

Conference focusses on sustainable development of aquaculture in the EU Gery Flynn Tapping into Blue Growth: the way forward for European aquaculture was the theme of a recent conference in Brussels to highlight progress made and the actions needed to develop sustainable aquaculture in the EU. The EU Commission has pledged to boost the aquaculture sector through Common Fisheries Policy reform and the Strategic Guidelines for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture (2013), by presenting common priorities and general objectives at EU level.

Following stakeholder consultations, the Commission has identified four priority areas: • reducing administrative burdens • improving access to space and water • increasing competitiveness • exploiting competitive advantages due to high quality, health and environmental standards.

Underlining the increasing importance of aquaculture, the Commission notes that 50% of the fish eaten on the planet today is farmed.

The farming of finfish, shellfish and aquatic plants is now one of the world’s fastest growing food sectors with European aquaculture accounting for 20% of fish production while employing 85,000 people – in a sector mainly composed of SMEs or micro-entreprises in coastal and rural areas.

Nevertheless, despite having a reputation for high quality, sustainability and consumer protection

standards, European aquaculture output has been more or less constant in volume since 2000 while global production for the same period has seen growth of nearly 7% per annum.

In an effort to combat production stagnation, the Commission and EU countries have begun collaborating to increase the aquaculture sector’s production and competitiveness.

To achieve their goals each country will devise its own multiannual plan to promote aquaculture, while the Commission is helping to identify bottlenecks while also facilitating cooperation, coordination and exchange of best practices.

The recent Brussels conference focussed on progress made on these issues over the last years and the actions needed to develop a sustainable aquaculture sector in the EU. Speaking at the conference, Commissioner Vella emphasised that the focus on quality and a refusal to lower standards were essential if European aquaculture was to have a competitive advantage.

“The good news is that this is possible. ‘Farmed in the EU’ should continue to stand for high-quality, sustainably farmed fish.

Over the next 10 years, we can increase the value of the EU aquaculture sector by 30% - without compromising on our environmental standards.

We can reduce our dependence on imports – currently 65% of the fish we eat ― and we can revive European regions, and create well-paid European jobs,” he said.

Report on sustainable development of Irish aquaculture call for a ‘coherent policy’ Gery Flynn

A

report on the sustainable development of Irish aquaculture has been welcomed by the Irish Farmers Association who say it supports their longterm call for a more focused and coherent policy towards marine and freshwater farming.

Richie Flynn, Executive of the Aquaculture section of the IFA said the report, Sustainable Development in Irish Aquaculture, published by the National Economic & Social Council recognises the key role that aquaculture plays in terms of

employment and economic activity in rural areas as well as maintaining and enhancing the environment.

“There is an urgent requirement now to build resilience in the aquaculture sector through an overhaul of the licensing system and this report should spur Minister Creed and the Department into action to finally tackle this issue,” he said.

Global market dynamics

The NESC report is based on more than thirty interviews with departments and agencies; fish farmers; representatives of seafood processing companies, marine scientists; representatives of

Irish environmental NGOs and local campaign groups.

It shows how the local is shaped by global market dynamics and by EU and national regulatory frameworks and policies, and it argues that future Irish aquaculture development that balances economic, environmental and social goals can be achieved.

The full report has already been circulated to Government departments and was noted by the Cabinet at its meeting on May 21.

Research for the report,

by Dr Patrick Bresnihan, examines how the dynamics of environmental sustainability have been experienced and managed within Irish aquaculture.

Three key themes emerged from Professor Bresnihan’s research: ‘1. Diverse economies for development are required There is potential for aquaculture to provide safe, nutritious food and other materials, to sustain livelihoods in coastal areas, and to ensure and even enhance the quality of the marine environment. Opportunities for the future can be grasped in relation to the quality of Ireland’s marine environment, both in terms of its protection and preservation, but also as a unique selling point for the industry.

2. Environmental risk requires building resilience The business of aquaculture depends in a fundamental way on an ability to manage environmental risks. In aquaculture these can have a particularly detrimental impact on production and the viability of a business. Local actors can play a critical role in identifying and avoiding risk through early identification. For these producers, sustainable livelihoods, quality of life and environmental integrity are inseparable.

3. Conflict resolution, engagement and decision-making can be improved Aquaculture is a highly contested sector and conflicts have arisen over its development and the way decisions are made about the allocation and use of the foreshore. There is a need for a focused approach to finding, testing and adapting suitable forms of public participation for natural resources management. Different, often competing, perspectives and values need to be articulated and negotiated. There is still a gap in our understanding of the kind of structures, processes and agencies that can best progress constructive engagement, and this is evident across many different areas of policy.’

Sustainable Development in Irish Aquaculture (NESC, No 143) can be downloaded here: http://files.nesc.ie/nesc_reports/en/143_EnvSus_and_LocDev_Aquaculture.pdf

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Aquaculture News

Aquaculture in Ireland has ‘bright future’ Gery Flynn

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arine Minister Michael Creed has been urged to ensure “swift and measurable action” to review procedures, reduce red tape and encourage development of the shellfish sector.

At the AGM of the Irish Shellfish Association, outgoing chairman Jerry Gallagher said “specific actions” were required to back up the broad aspirations of the seafood sector contained in the Programme for Government.

Coastal communities have waited too long for “affirmative action by the State” to encourage investment in aquaculture and create long-lasting jobs, he added.

“The message from this year’s conference is that we can only maintain and increase our competitive advantage by reducing costs of red tape; improving infrastructure in coastal regions; using EU funds

wisely to protect against algal blooms, and by improving our presence and networking in new markets like Asia through agencies such as Bord Bia and BIM.” Recovery signs Figures from BIM’s Annual Aquaculture Survey released to the conference indicate a strong recovery in fish and shellfish farming production through 2015, with the industry increasing in value by €34m to a first point-ofsale value of almost €150m.

Shellfish farming is now valued at €51m; oysters €38m and mussels €13m.

1,600 of total jobs in aquaculture are in shellfish production.

The survey also confirms that development in the last ten years has taken place largely without State aid and in the face of what it says are the ‘tremendous challenges and unnecessary obstacles in dealing with licence applications for renewals and new production sites.’

BIM’s CEO, Tara McCarthy welcomed the upturn saying the agency looked forward

to maximising opportunities for the industry “through product differentiation, cooperation and consolidation.

“While 2015 was a challenging year for some operators in the shellfish industry, overall, it has been a positive year for Irish aquaculture. The 27% increase in production volumes is a welcome step towards the targets set out in the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture, which sets a growth target of 45,000 tonnes across all aquaculture production by 2020.

“The European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) along with funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is providing almost €30m to further assist the sector to develop and achieve these ambitious targets,” she said.

Ms McCarthy said BIM would assist aquaculture producers to attract new talent to the sector, and to build on its already strong sustainability credentials, and support its drive to add value.

Richie Flynn, IFA aquaculture and Tara McCarthy, BIM chief executive at the ISA conference IFA President, Joe Healy, aligned himself with the aquaculture industry by confirming that his organisation’s remit extends to all Irish food producers: “Aquaculture is not the ‘new kid on the block’ anymore.

We have a lot in common as food producers. It is often challenging to be a farmer and whether it is incomes,

stock losses or environmental issues, all food production goes through cycles and IFA is there for you when that happens.

“Most importantly, we want to make regulation easier for you. That’s why our main job is to overcome the barriers of bureaucracy and red tape in the Department and its agencies.”

Creed commits to independent review of aquaculture licensing

I

FA Aquaculture officers from the fish and shellfish farming sectors have met with the new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, to discuss issues affecting their sectors.

Chairman of the Irish Shellfish Association, Michael Mulloy, and chairman of the Irish Salmon Growers’ Association, Damien O’Keefe, pressed the minister on the urgent need for a licencing system that was ‘fit-forpurpose’ to meet highest environmental standards, and customer requirements for greater supply of top quality Irish seafood.

The national policy document, Foodwise 2025, commits to expanding the industry and to reviewing licencing. The industry is currently worth €149m at primary production level and supports 2.3 jobs in the

wider community for every on-farm employee. The industry currently employs 1,841 around the coast and in freshwater facilities inland.

In response, Minister Creed gave an “unequivocal commitment” to an independent review that would commence “in the next few months”. IFA assured the Minister of the industry’s co-operation and full input into the process but pointed out that the original deadline set down in the Government policy document had been missed, and that time was of the essence.

The industry is looking for closer attention to the business aspects of farming, without losing sight of the necessary regulatory controls, but says the current licencing system is too rigid to allow farmers to adapt to changing markets and physical environments and does not take into account the major

technological progress across all sectors in the last 20 years.

The IFA team stressed that nothing should impede the current process of dealing

with long outstanding licence applications around the country, saying that applicants who have waited for up to eight years in

some cases must have their renewals processed urgently in order to make investments, access grant aid and have some security of tenure.

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Marine R&D

Accurate ocean mapping essential to predict ocean behaviour Gery Flynn

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overnment support for the blue economy and its commitment to implement the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth strategy was underpinned by the new Minister for the Marine, Michael Creed at the annual conference.

“Government backing for Ireland’s blue economy is strong as ever,” he said Addressing five hundred international and national industry leaders, policy makers, researchers and maritime entrepreneurs at the third annual Our Ocean Wealth conference he said that government was “pledged to implementing the HOOW strategy” which is to double the value of the

blue economy and deliver 29,000 new jobs across the maritime sector and wider economy by 2030.

Emphasising that Ireland’s ambitious marine plan required a “dynamic and efficient infrastructure” Minister Creed officially launched the SmartBay Subsea Observatory which will stream high-speed data via the internet from its seabed site in Galway Bay,

Conference moderator, broadcaster and journalist, Olivia O’Leary

to businesses, researchers, scientists and policy makers across the internet.

He said the SmartBay Subsea Observatory would be a “critical component of the rapidly developing worldclass maritime infrastructure that Ireland was developing.

“It will play a key role in developing and testing the technologies necessary to unlock the economic potential of our Atlantic coast. This unique site will be the only one of its kind in Europe, and will transfer and transmit images of the underwater observatory site across the internet.”

An initiative of the Marine Institute in partnership with the SEAI, the SmartBay Ireland facility is designed to provide developers of ocean energy devices, novel marine sensors and data products, a platform where their devices can be tested in live conditions.

Minister Creed also announced details of a dedicated Marine Development Team that will feed into the crossdepartmental Marine Coordination Group.

“I look forward to this talented team bringing a further collaborative, cohesive and cutting -edge approach to growing Ireland’s ‘blue economy’ and augmenting the positive inter-agency work of recent years.”

Maritime Spatial Planning

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney outlining the objectives of Maritime Spatial Planning

Simon Coveney, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, outlined the objectives of MSP saying it would bring together multiple users of the marine space to make “informed and coordinated decisions” about how to use marine resources in a sustainable way through a comprehensive plan.

“The Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth Strategy recognises that managing our ocean wealth requires an overarching national maritime spatial plan, underpinned by an efficient and robust planning and licensing framework.

Such an approach will provide a governance structure and blueprint for national, regional and local planning of our ocean resources,” he said.

He added that implementing MSP would provide “competitive advantage in our marine

sectors” and help to realise the full benefit of our ocean wealth, and assist with managing our resources effectively and sustainably.

“Ultimately, that’s what this is about. We have been trying to do that through zoning and planning on land for many years and it’s extraordinary we haven’t done it with our ocean resources, until now,” he said

MSP Directive

Minister Coveney explained that in parallel with ongoing work at a national level, an EU Directive establishing a framework for MSP had been adopted in 2014, obliging all coastal Member States to transpose the Directive by September 2016 and to establish marine spatial plans by 2021.

“I have now signed regulations to transpose the Directive into national law. And the regulations establish the necessary legal authority and broad framework to implement the MSP in Ireland.

“Transposition is being effected by regulations to satisfy the Directive’s deadline.

It is anticipated however that further underpinning of MSP in primary legislation will be required at a later stage, and we will priortise that in the next year or so, he said.

Next steps

In addition to preparing regulations to transpose the Directive, Minister Coveney’s Department has begun preparing for MSP implementation.

“I’m ensuring that the required financial and staffing resources are being put in place for this new and permanent body of work. A detailed service level agreement will be concluded between my Department and the Marine Institute to establish the parameters for scientific and technical support services.”

The MSP Directive obliges Member States to secure public participation at an early stage in the process.

“Accordingly, my Department will carry out a wide public engagement process as a preparatory first step. We plan to hold a series of consultations at regional coastal locations this Autumn.

“In advance, My department will prepare documents and online tools to ensure we get everybody’s views.”

inshore ireland Summer 2016 23

Marine R&D

Left: Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine Michael Creed confirmed that Government backing for the ‘blue economy’ was as strong as ever.

Below: Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute on the need to dramatically increase our knowledge of how our oceans function.

Ocean mapping: ‘we have to decommission the mindset that thinks it’s too expensive’

W

hy map, observe and try to predict the planet’s oceans?” asked Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute CEO. “Let me try to answer that first, from an economic perspective, and second, from an environmental perspective, or, in other words, what is the right thing to do?

From an economic perspective, the latest OECD report on the state of the global ocean economy points to a 1.5 trillion dollar sector, with a 2.5% GVA employing 2 million people. By 2020 that’s predicted to grow to 3 trillion dollars with major growth in aquaculture, offshore wind, processing, ship building and repair, 40 million jobs with major increases in employment in offshore wind, aquaculture, ports and innovation.

When you think of the growth engine we have got to think of the global scenario.

Population growth is very real, and we need to be able to respond, not just to the desire of any person in a sector, we need to be able to - for humanity’s sake - grow that food - do it wisely, and there are great economic and social benefits for the wise utilisation of the oceans

What lies beneath?

The real map of this planet is actually land you cannot

see because it’s beneath the water and it’s 70% of the actual planet surface.

We are experiencing an era of global climate change with unpredictable changes, and what is forecast is much greater severity and much greater frequency of storms in Ireland.

With every breath we take, one half of the oxygen in it has been produced - not by trees or grass or the rain forests - but by microscopic plants that are out of sight in the ocean.

So, for a very selfish human needs perspective, the risks of acidification and climate change to that engine without which the heart pump of this planet will not work, we need that oxygen.

We’re very happy to spend billions looking for water on other planets, but 97% of it on this planet - I’m talking about the water in the oceans of this planet. We need to dramatically increase our knowledge of how this planet’s water reservoir, our oceans, actually functions.

Ireland’s mapping experience

“Together with the Geological Survey we have been privileged to be involved in the seabed mapping project. what was at the beginning, the largest civilian seabed mapping exercise on this planet. It is the exemplar, it is the shining light. Not only that, but the open data policy is advocated

now as the globally exemplar of what should be and can be done”.

Why does it matter?

We need to decommission a mind-set that thinks it’s too expensive - because we need it.

We need it to accurately predict and generate knowledge of what’s coming at us from the ocean in terms of climate change; and fish distribution - the very base of the food chain as well as the market.

We need to understand it for the risks of acidification to the oxygen and the water without which nothing will grow or survive on this planet.

Ireland has created a map that will shorten the lift and lessen the burden for the global community to get an accurate map of the sea floor that is fit for purpose.

We are ready and willing and able to be partners with the nations across the Atlantic in the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, to create the map of the North Atlantic as an inspiration for a map of the entire planet.

Ireland now has credibility in putting the first cabled observatory into the Atlantic Ocean - achieved during periods of the greatest austerity this country has experienced.

Let’s create the ability of that knowledge through Open Access Mechanisms to be turned into a predictive capability that is fit for purpose, and which will support life on earth.

Out and about at Seafest 2016

24 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Marine R&D

Doyens of Ireland’s marine industry are celebrated and honoured Gillian Mills

T

he great and the good of Ireland’s marine industry were recognised at an annual event that showcases excellence and innovation across the sector.

“Our industry is one of the most vibrant and diverse sectors in the Irish economy,” remarked Conor Mowlds and Steve Walsh - head and assistant-head of the National Maritime College of Ireland, respectively, and patrons of the awards organised

by Event Strategies Ltd. “Our professionals have chosen careers - both seagoing and shore-based – that not only make a huge contribution to the commercial and cultural success, and sustainability of this island nation, but help to ensure our safety and security.

Now in its second year, the marine industry awards recognise “hard work, innovation successes and sacrifices of those people and organisations that have secured Ireland’s place as a recognised world leader in the maritime area.”

Companies and individuals were shortlisted across nineteen sectors including

research; development; services; energy; education; training; shipping; safety and seafood. The judges, drawn from all areas of the marine industry, also recognise and honour an individual for outstanding achievement and contribution in their given discipline. In 2016, this honour went to Dr Dave Jackson of the Marine Industry.

Speaking to Inshore Ireland, Dr Jackson said he was honoured to receive this very important recognition: “For myself and equally importantly, for those I have worked with and collaborated with over many years, especially the team at the Marine Institute and my colleagues in the Department, and of course colleagues in BIM and Údaras na Gaeltachta.

“I am really glad to see the awards system because I found the whole evening to be a great gathering of the wider maritime sector.

It was lovely just to see all the different representatives – from shipping to marine technologies to Third Level bodies and the aquaculture industry – in one room.

It gave me a real sense of the size and the diversity of the marine sector.

“The way forward for our maritime sectors is for more international and inter-agency cooperation.”

Overall Marine Excellence Award OpenHydro Brendan Tuohy, Chairman, National Maritime College Industry Advisory Board presents the Overall Marine Excellence Award to the OpenHydro team.

Marine Industry Leader 2016 Dr Dave Jackson Conor Mowlds, Head of the National Maritime College Ireland presents the Marine Industry Leader 2016 award to Dr. Dave Jackson.

Ports & Harbours Operator of the Year Port of Cork Declan Meally, CEO, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland presents the Ports & Harbours Operator of the Year award to Paul O’Regan, Port of Cork.

Shipyard of the Year Mooney Boats Lorcan O’Cinnéide, National Secretary, Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association presents the Shipyard of the Year award to Lee Mooney, Mooney Boats.

Ship Operator of the Year BG Freight Line Darren O’Sullivan, Managing Director SEFtec Group presents the Ship Operator of the Year award to John Hie, BG Freight Line.

Offshore Ireland Award OpenHydro Darren O’Sullivan, Managing Director SEFtec Group presents the Offshore Ireland Award to Andrew Good, OpenHydro.

Marine Tourism & Leisure Operator of the Year Dublin Bay Cruises Pierce Purcell, Board Member, Irish Sailing Association presents the Marine Tourism & Leisure Operator of the Year award to Eugene Garrihy, Dublin Bay Cruises.

Commercial Dive & Marine Contractors of the Year Irish Sea Contractors Lorcan O’Cinnéide, National Secretary, Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association presents the Commercial Dive & Marine Contractors of the Year award to David Kinsella, Irish Sea Contractors.

Seafood Sustainability Award Marine Harvest Ireland Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Michael Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Iascaigh Creed T.D., Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine presents Mhara and Michael Creed T.D., Minister for Agriculture Food and the the Seafood Sustainability Marine presents the Seafood Business Award to Catherine McManus, Marine Harvest Ireland.

Innovation Award to Richard Mac

Excellence in Marine Renewable Energy Award OpenHydro Jim Gannon, CEO, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland presents the Excellence in Marine Renewable Energy Award to Sue Barr, OpenHydro.

Excellence in Marine Safety Award Live to Tell the Tale - BIM Hilary Park, Secretary and Education Officer, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers presents the Excellence in Marine Safety Award to Hazel Dobbyn, Live to Tell the Tale - BIM

Future Achiever Award Gradam Mara Ghorm Sean Harrington - Atlantic Towage Promara Susan Steele, Chair, Sea Fisheries & Marine Gareth Parry, Chairman, Protection Authority presents Environmental Subcommittee, Gradam Mara Ghorm award Irish Offshore Operators to Noel O’Regan, Promara.

Association presents the Future Achiever Award to Sean Harrington - Atlantic Towage & Marine.

Excellence in Marine Technology Award Seagull Buoys - JFC Manufacturing Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute and Michael Creed, T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine presents the Excellence in Marine Technology Award to Colin Concannon, Seagull Buoys - JFC Manufacturing.

Excellence in Marine Education & Training Award Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training (SMART)

Seafood Business Innovation Award Donegal Catch Creations Range Green Isle Seafood

Sweeney, Donegal Catch Creations Range - Green Isle Seafood.

Excellence in Marine Research Award Coastal/Ocean Observing System - NUI Galway

Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute and Michael Creed, T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine presents the Excellence in Marine Research Award to Michael Hartnett, Coastal/Ocean Observing System, National University of Ireland Galway.

Excellence in the Provision of Professional Services to the Marine Industry GAC Training & Service Solutions

Marine Industry Supplier of the Year Mooney Boats Noel Killeen, Sunday Business Post presents the Marine Industry Liam Lacey, Director, Irish Maritime Development Office and Michael Creed, Supplier of the Year award to T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and Lee Mooney, Mooney Boats. the Marine presents the Excellence in the Provision of Professional Services to the Marine Industry award to Jim O’Byrne, GAC Training and Service Solutions.

Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute and Michael Creed, T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine presents the Excellence in Marine Education & Training Award to Dr. Pauhla McGrane, Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training.

Ports & Harbours Operator of the Year Shipyard of the Year Ship Operator of the Year Offshore Ireland Award Marine Tourism & Leisure Operator Seafood Business Innovation Award Seafood Sustainability Award Excellence in Marine Renewable Energy Award Excellence in Marine Safety Award Gradam Mara Ghorm Future Achiever Award Excellence in Marine Technology Award Excellence in Marine Education & Training Award Excellence in Marine Research Excellence in the Provision of Professional Services to the Marine Industry

inshore ireland Summer 2016 25

Marine R&D

INFOMAR at Seafest 2016

O

nce again Galway proved to be a superb maritime venue - this time at Seafest

2016. INFOMAR was well represented by the Marine Institute vessel’s Celtic Voyager and Celtic Explorer which contribute so much to the offshore surveying of the Irish seabed. A marquee alongside the Celtic Explorer showcasing the different elements of the project proved to be immensely popular – clocking 60,000 over the weekend.

Ahead of the packed twoday programme, RV Keary transited south-about from Greystones to contribute to the public awareness of the INFOMAR programme.

Berthed in the marina in a

restricted access area, RV Keary was open to visitors who showed genuine interest in the vessel’s capabilities.

She was named after the late Dr Ray Keary who played a large part in securing the means to carry out a marine survey of all Irish waters.

Everyone was delighted to welcome his widow Barbara and son Eoghan onboard Keary for the first time since they christened the vessel in 2009. They were joined by members of the extended family who also looked over the inshore capabilities of RV Keary, belonging to the Geological Survey of Ireland in Dublin.

Public awareness of the opportunities afforded by the ocean and seabed around Ireland is at the core of INFOMAR. After Seafest, the crew of RV Keary returned to Greystones north-about and was welcomed at various ports of call along the route to the east coast.

Our Ocean Wealth Conference

A panellist at the Our Ocean Wealth Conference, Koen Verbruggen, Director of the Geological Society of Ireland, said more is known about the surface of the moon than the deep ocean:

“And that’s very easy because we can see the moon; you can’t readily see the ocean. We try to envisage removing the water, and we do it now using acoustics using the same systems the dolphins are using, as bats are using - it’s just a little bit more complicated.”

He added it was a “real frontier and also hard work”, but in terms of payback there was real economic benefit.

“We’ve had an economic review of the project – it feeds back four to six times its cost across a range of different sectors as well as including the research and the frontier side.”

26 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Marine R&D

Major public interest in SeaFest 2016

M

ore than 60,000 visitors flocked to SeaFest - Ireland’s national maritime festival - to enjoy a two-day, actionpacked programme last month, centred in Galway Harbour.

“SeaFest is all about

increasing participation and engagement with the sea, showcasing Ireland’s abundant maritime resources and celebrating our proud maritime heritage,” remarked Dr Peter Heffernan.

An initiative of the interdepartmental Marine Coordination Group, SeaFest supports the goals

of Harnessing Our Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland, in relation to engaging with the sea.

“That plan is ambitious and complex in its reach, but as the weekend proved, everyone can identify with the core messages of appreciating, enjoying and protecting this wonderful natural resource,” he added.

“As the crowds showed, the sea is a fantastic source of fun and entertainment and we were thrilled to see so many people – locals and visitors – join in the spirited marine-themed fun.

He added that SeaFest was

Craig McLean, NOAA and Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute highlight the importance of Ocean Literacy at the 3rd Annual Our Ocean Wealth conference at NUIG during SeaFest 2016.

Credit: Andrew Downes, Xposure

a “hugely ambitious venture” and that Galway rose to the challenge of providing a fabulous weekend that both informed and entertained.

“I’d like to thank all the agencies involved in supporting this venture, including BIM; Bord Bia; Commissioners of Irish Lights; the Port of Galway; National University of Ireland Galway; Department of Defence; Irish Coastguard; RNLI; Galway City Council and my colleagues at the Marine Institute.

A special thank-you goes to the volunteers who brought their enthusiasm, expertise and passion for the sea to the project.”

Dr John Killeen, chair of The Marine Institute, said they were “extremely proud” to be playing their part in the wider Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth initiative, providing opportunities for people of every age and interest to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of the ocean and to build on how everyone can act to protect the abundant maritime resources.

“Among the benefits that flow from the sea are those which impact positively on our tourism industry. I am happy to say that SeaFest delivered handsomely in this respect.

“Our city’s vibrant hospitality sector greatly benefited from the influx of people attracted by the high profile event, and the harbour provided the perfect focal point for family fun on and off the water. I hope that many of those who

came to visit us because of the excitement of SeaFest will return at a later stage to explore at their leisure.”

‘On the water’ attractions included a race for the Galway Plate’ involving traditional Galway Hookers; the arrival of the tall ship, Phoenix and Frank Bölter sailing his quirky large-scale origami paper boat into the harbour in partnership with TULCA for Galway 2020!

On dry land, an array of seafaring attractions kept young and old amused and intrigued; these included the BIM/Bord Bia seafood extravaganza of cookery demonstrations and seafood stalls; tours of ocean-going vessels and the Marine Institute’s Our Wild Atlantic – What Lies Beneath interactive exhibit on marine life and creatures of the deep.

Significantly, SeaFest also brought to the city a major focus on research and the marine economy with marinerelated business and research events taking place in the leadup to the public festivities.

The third annual Our Ocean Wealth Conference allowed speakers and delegates of national and international status to delve more deeply into the theme of Innovating for our Marine Future, exploring and strengthening Ireland’s maritime heritage, economy and identity.

For more information on Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine plan for Ireland visit www. ouroceanwealth.ie.

German artist Frank Bolter arrives into Galway in his paper boat, accompanied by a flotilla of Galway Hookers during SeaFest 2016.

Credit: Andrew Downes, Exposure

Viewing species under the microscope, SeaFest Volunteer Áine-lisa Shannon explains the science of the sea at the Marine Institute’s Beneath Our Wild Atlantic exhibition.

Credit: Andrew Downes, Exposure

Action from SeaFest 2016 at Galway Docks which saw over 60,000 visitors explore ancient, modern and military ships along with the Marine Institute’s research vessels the RV Celtic Explorer and the RV Celtic Voyager with activities and Seafood in abundance.

Credit: Andrew Downes, Exposure

inshore ireland Summer 2016 27

Marine R&D

SmartBay subsea observatory goes live in Galway Bay

C

reating an infrastructure to support the blue economy is critical to the success of Ireland’s integrated marine plan, Harnessing our Ocean Wealth. The SmartBay Subsea Observatory, launched at the Our Ocean Wealth conference in July, provides data from the seabed to businesses, researchers, scientists and policy makers.

The SmartBay Subsea Observatory, supported by the Marine Institute, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, will be used to collect valuable data from the ocean and will be a critical component of a world-class maritime infrastructure in Ireland.

The SmartBay observatory represents the Internet of Things for the marine.

Thanks to the extensive underwater equipment we have installed, real-time data from sensors can be accessed through the web and analysed by researchers and companies trying to commercialise novel marine technologies,” remarked John Breslin, general manager, SmartBay. “It is a hugely significant addition to Ireland’s Digital Ocean IoT infrastructure.”

Ocean observatory

In 2015, the RV Celtic Explorer was used to lay a 4km cable and a frame was installed on the seabed to which sensors and monitoring equipment were attached

as part of the development of the ocean observatory.

Now for the first time, the cable will supply power to the site and allow for unlimited data transfer from the site for researchers testing new and innovative marine technologies.

“The SmartBay subsea observatory will greatly enhance our understanding of the sea, the impact of weather and climate change, and how the sea reacts in various conditions and how our man-made products will react underwater. The subsea observatory will essentially feed data from the sea floor up to the surface and this information will be vital to accelerate marine research, blue economy businesses and startups,” remarked Dr Peter Heffernan MI chief executive.

Speaking at the Digital Ocean event in Galway, Dr Elena Martines, Science Foundation Ireland, remarked that as an island nation, Ireland’s potential to use the seas and their energy was enormous.

“Science Foundation Ireland are delighted to have provided support for this key infrastructure to enable both industry and academic researchers to discover and utilise this natural resource. The sensors and devices that can be run on this test facility will be able to conduct live-real-time analysis of ocean energy devices; environmental monitoring; aquaculture and fisheries and shipping.

The test facility means we

can provide what is called ‘decision support’ to industry on a whole range of practical devices. This is the internet of things meeting the sea.”

The Digital Ocean: A Pathway for Developing Ireland’s Blue Economy is organised by the Marine Institute; Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; IDA; Enterprise Ireland; Science Foundation Ireland; Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; the Irish Marine Development Office and SmartBay Ireland.

The aim of the event was to promote Ireland’s digital ocean opportunity highlighting how technology companies can drive new forms of innovation in the blue economy using Ireland as a test-bed with its significant marine resource, world-class expertise and infrastructure.

It featured insights from a number of companies from the technology sector including IBM; Ericsson; Cathx Ocean; Intel; Teledyne Oil and Gas; SAP; IMERC; MARS Innovation Centre NOC UK; SFI MaREI Centre; Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Wood Group Kenny; OpenHydro; JFC Marine; Technology from Ideas; SeaPower; CadFem; Commissioner of Irish Lights; SFI Research Centre CONNECT; SFI Research Centre Insight; Deloitte; demos from SonarSim; Techworks Marine and others.

Marine data hub The Digital Ocean

John Breslin, general manager, SmartBay, highlights the Marine Internet of Things ahead of the launch of the SmartBay Subsea Observatory at the Our Ocean Wealth conference during SeaFest 2016. Credit: Andrew Downes, Exposure represents Ireland’s opportunity to drive innovation in the collection, communication, management and analysis of marine data for commercialisation, research, economic growth and societal well-being.

Ireland has existing expertise across many of the key enabling technologies required to develop products and services that will support growth in emerging areas of the global blue economy while creating efficiencies and supporting sustainability across more established markets.

Expertise in areas such as sensors; platforms; communications; robotics; informatics; computer vision and advanced materials, can be harnessed in new ways to drive innovation in

global marine markets with high growth potential.

This will also support the sustainable development of our significant marine resource that is uniquely situated on the European Atlantic seaboard and a potential hotspot for developments in areas such as renewable energy; fisheries; shipping; marine security and surveillance and marine biotechnology.

The international linkages and supporting mechanisms are being put in place so that technology companies, entrepreneurs and researchers will use Ireland as a test-bed to develop, test and validate these technologies through leveraging its unique geographical location, world-class expertise and infrastructure.

Sea Change research provides vital marine knowledge

I

reland’s blue economy has performed strongly in recent years with excellent growth in the marine sector. While driving innovation and technology advances in the maritime industry, the government has also invested in the Sea Change Research Strategy to build capacity, support innovation and ensure the quality of our marine environment.

A number of Sea Change research projects supported by the framework strategy A Marine Knowledge: Research and Innovation Strategy 20072013 presented at the Marine Institute highlighted important achievements

made by this investment.

Speaking from the Sea Change Researchers Workshop, Ciarán Kelly, Manager of the Office of Research & Development at the Marine Institute remarked: “Funded research across all areas - from fisheries and aquaculture to marine environment and seafood health - demonstrates the government’s commitment to developing Ireland’s blue economy while also valuing the quality of our marine environment. This Sea Change Research provides vital keys to unlocking our blue economy potential, while ensuring the quality and sustainability of the marine environment.”

Over the last six years, more

than €60 m has been invested in Sea Change research, which has funded hundreds of projects, study programmes and research scholarships for the marine sector.

The ecosystem approach to managing fishery resources and the detection and testing of detecting and texting shellfish for toxic Azasparicids were among the research projects presented.

Research on ocean acidification and the genetics of wild salmon populations represent important research funded though the Sea Change programme. A visual display of Sea Change projects showcased the variety and scale of projects funded, some of which were recognised by the Marine Industry Awards.

“The Sea Change Research Strategy also outlined the importance of developing skills and research capacity in the marine sector. To this end, a number of research doctorates, scholarships and education programmes were also funded,” added Dr Kelly.

This investment has significantly improved marine research capacity in Ireland. The Sea Change programme of research has strengthened Ireland’s competitiveness in marine research and innovation and has supported sustainability of the marine sector by developing greater alignment between the needs of industry and the research capacity of the public sector and the Third level.

This multi-disciplinary research capacity can be applied to marinerelated activities, leading to the acquisition of new technical skills; improved flow of expert personnel between the research community and industry and the creation of new commercial opportunities.

A new National Marine Research and Innovation Strategy is being developed to map the current state of research and innovation underpinning Ireland’s blue growth potential.

This new strategy, which will publish later in 2016, will identify the maturity and capacity of research areas and will be an aid to help focus future investment.

28 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Book Review

R

eviewing these two titles was both a pleasure and a challenge; a pleasure to absorb the words that describe the wellbeing and comradery I enjoy as sea swimmer, and the challenge to complete the reviews and avoid endless temptation to dash to my local 40ft! Gillian Mills

At Swim ‘Sea swimming is the great leveller, we’re all the same in a pair of togs. No one minds who you are or what you’ve done, the question is, “are you getting in?”’

And so began Brenan MacEvilly and Michael O’Reilly’s journey around Ireland, experiencing the places and people who daily, weekly or occasionally dip in their favourite spots – some well-known; others hidden gems – but all unique to the swimmers.

‘For some people it’s a daily rite. More moderate followers might go once a week. Others again only on special occasions – perhaps on Christmas Day after being forced by a more militant family member,” says Brendan, who loves to lounge in the sea for ten minutes, then “burn the ear off his fellow swimmers for the next hour.” On the other hand, Michael’s favourite way of entering the water is ‘fast and furious’.

The book explores swimming spots in eleven of the island of Ireland’s seventeen coastal counties, where Brendan and Michael visit beaches, coves, tidal pools, baths,

sea loughs and islands.

‘Each is different yet the same, and reflects the love and care of the people who inhabit it. Every swimming spot has its history and stories. Some are truthful, some are, as an oral historian once said: “In the parish of truth.

‘As a swimmer at the Guillamene [Co Waterford] once said when asked if he was scared of drowning at sea, “sure you’d only be swapping one paradise for another,’” writes Ronan Foley, Maynooth University Department of Geography, in the foreword.

Part travelogue, part guidebook and part analysis with our relationship with the sea, At Swim explores the thrills, fears and joys of sea swimming. It gives an impression of Ireland’s sea-swimming cuture ‘at a moment in time and give voice to the stories attached to the places where we enter the sea.’

Skerries Co Dublin

‘Anne Carroll is very knowledgeable about the sea. She says that September is a good month to swim as the sea is iodine rich. Iodine is released by the seaweed and absorbed through our skin, and is an essential mineral required by every cell in our bodies. It was Anne’s third swim of the day, despite having spotted five Lion’s Mane jellyfish at the Captains earlier that morning.’

Glassilaun, Co Galway

‘We walk the beach to get the measure of it. Glassilaun is a severely horseshoed bay, with rocky outcrops on either side to explore, ideal for snorkelers and divers. Dead jellyfish are thick on the shoreline, being collected by the rising tide, but the eastern end of the beach appears to be clear so we enter the water here. The fish are sleeping, though crabs scuttle by on the sand below.

Ballymastocker Bay, Co Donegal

Glassilaun, Co Galway

Photo: Gillian Mills

‘Michael and I are continually asked what our favourite places to swim are. The answer is invariably “the last place we swam at’, having heightened recollections of the previous day’s swim. But a more considered answer would depend on whether you’re looking for a quick plunge or a distance swim, a high dive or a sea lounge; whether you’ve brought a picnic and a good book, or if you’re just looking to get cold, wet and refreshed on your commute to work.’

Portally Cove, Co Waterford

ISBN: 978-1-84889-282-8

‘I swim straight out towards the sea and get that wonderful, fearful sensation Ballymastocker, Co Donegal Photo: At Swim of being suspended over something dangerous, well out of my depth in an unknown and darkening body of water. After a couple of hundred metres I lie still on my back to see if there is any current or pull, to see which way I will drift. With no current, I press on towards the mouth of the sea, past gannets drying their wings in the sun, and say hello to oystercatchers prying between the rocks.

€19.99/£17.99

Forty Foot, Co Dublin

Published by The Collins Press 2016

Now, if you’ll excuse me…

I’m off for a dip!

COMPETITION The publishers have generously offered two copies of At Swim for our readers’ competition.

Q: How many swims has Gary Coyle had at the Forty Foot?

‘I’m on my way to meet artist and Aosdána member Gary Coyle. “This is my 4.523rd swim at the Forty Foot.” Some sixteen years ago in the spirit of the performance artist, he set himself the task of swimming at the Forty Foot every day for a year. Although he missed a few days that first year, he continues to swim at the Forty Foot and is, without doubt, a regular among regulars.’

What he once thought was an obsession has advanced a little further. “After a couple of years, you start to realise this is a cult. If I went without a swim for three of four days I’d start to get withdrawal symptoms.”

‘Gary knows the intricacies of the water’s flow: “If you’ve a high tide here, the flow is southward, and if you’ve a really strong tide, like when there’s a full moon and a full tide, you will shoot down towards Killiney. When the tide is low, the water is coming up the other way”.’ Portally Cove, Co Waterford Photo: At Swim

Answers on a post card to 3 Hillview Cottages, Pottery Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin or by email to mills@inshoreireland.com Deadline: September 16, 2016 Forty Foot, Co Dublin

Photo: G Mills

inshore ireland Summer 2016 29

Book Review

Wild Swimming in Ireland

M

aureen McCoy and Paul McCambridge are no strangers to the marine environment having a live-long affinity with the waters that wash their birthplace of Co Down.

A swimming and diving coach from Hillsborough, Maureen has been swimming in the sea, loughs and rock pools ‘since I was very young and my childhood ambition was to swim the English Channel’ which she achieved in 2009.

Maureen always keeps a swimsuit in her car.

Paul, from Banbridge, has been a photographer from over twenty-five years.

‘There is something in this guide to suit swimmers of every ability.

We wanted to make it safe and invigorating for everyone so we included practical information and expert tips on how to get the most out of your open water swimming.’

This full-colour guide book includes maps, grid references and importantly, directions to the many secret spots and unspoilt coves found at the end of meandering boreens throughout the island of Ireland.

‘Take a dip under the Carricka-Rede Rope Bridge off the rugged coast of Ulster; circumnavigate Devinish Island in the freshwater Lough Erne; explore the rock pool at Hook Head Lighthouse; drop from high diving boards into Galway Bay or slip along the Wild Atlantic Way’s hidden beaches and isolated coves.’

The book also includes

a chapter on ‘safe swimming’, warning the reader to remember that outdoor activities – rain, wind, tides, and ambient temperatures – change all the time. It is a great year round sport but is not in a controlled environment of the swimming pool.

But they say, if you can swim, you can swim outdoors. ‘Wild swimming is only dangerous if swimmers take unnecessary risks. Common sense and a little preparation can make it safe and fun.’

Published by The Collins Press 2016 ISBN: 978-1-84889-280-4

COMPETITION The publishers have generously offered two copies for our readers’ competition.

Q: In what year did Maureen swim the English Channel?

Answers on a postcard to 3 Hillview Cottages, Pottery Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, or to mills@inshoreireland.com Deadline: September 16, 2016

Safe swimming »» »»

»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

All photos: Wild Swimming

Know your limits Food and drink (2hrs after, NEVER after alcohol) Never swim alone Watch the weather Seek advice (local knowledge) Keep warm Never dive into unfamiliar water Tell others Be visible River swimming (upsteam first) Be aware of the cold

30 inshore ireland Summer 2016

Coastline News

Ireland’s aids to navigation vessel, Granuaile, welcomes visitors in Galway

O

ver seven thousand people visited the Irish Light’s vessel, Granuaile, during Seafest 2016 in Galway docks earlier this month. The 16-strong crew offered guided tours of the ship to explain operational procedures and daily routine.

On board, Irish Lights also launched an historical exhibition: Safety at Sea Through War and Upheaval IRISH LIGHTS 1911-1923, which tells the story of how Irish Lights continued its

mission to ensure safety at sea throughout the unfolding events of the WW1 and the Irish revolution.

The exhibition has been developed in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy and uses unique sources and pays homage to this island’s rich maritime legacy.

“This exhibition reveals Ireland through the First World War and the revolutionary years as no one has ever seen before,” remarked Michael Kennedy, RIA. Irish Lights chief executive

Yvonne Shields said they were “delighted to be associated with Seafest 2016.

“To have the opportunity to give the pubic an insight into the history of our organisation and into the essential safety and navigation services we provide around the coast every day of the year.”

As part of the Irish Lights’ aids to navigation management and maintenance programme, the 79-metre vessel maintains lighthouses, buoys and beacons around the Irish coast.

Capt Dermot Gray; Una Crawford O’Brien, Yvonne Shields and Bryan Murray on board Granuaile

The Great Lighthouses of Ireland initiative also showcased its twelve lighthouses around the coast that are open to the public. Visitor experience includes an insight into the unique history of each lighthouse and understanding of the technology and workings of a lighthouse.

Historical exhibition extract

Fastnet Lighthouse, 20 June 1921

P

erhaps the most spectacular IRA mission against Irish Lights’ stores of explosives was a daring midnight raid on Fastnet Lighthouse on 20 June 1921. Seán O’Driscoll later offered a thrilling description of the event.

Our next major operation took place about mid June when we raided the Fastnet Lighthouse and removed about a ton of gun cotton. This explosive was badly needed at the time for the manufacture of mines. It was difficult to obtain as the British were storing their supplies in lighthouses along the coast as a precaution against seizure…with the cooperation of the Schull and Cape Clear fishermen, we planned an invasion of the lighthouse…

As the June sun tipped the rim of the horizon, O’Regan took the Máire Cáit…..swung her north west, then westwards, steering into a flaring sunset. Up from the south came the destroyer, her grey bulkheads plunging through a golden sea, a plume of white foam in her wake.

The destroyer passed, heading for Crookhaven and soon disappearing into the half-light that followed the sinking of the sun…After midnight our boat approached the Fastnet. Moonlight flooded the sea. An oily swell lazily heaved itself up and down, sucking at small cavities in the rocks, plopping with a dull thud on the bulwarks of the lighthouse. Our boat came nearer, rising and falling with the heaving of the sea. Poised on the bow was John O’Regan, a rope tied to his waist, a revolver in his pocket. It was his job to jump on to the landing platform.

He had to time his leap to a nicety. As a lazy wave erupted its strength from the fathoms deep foundations of the rock, our boat rose high over the landing place. O’Regan jumped, the rope trailing behind him, and landed on the concrete space before the huge door of the lighthouse. In a split second he was pulling at the rope, bringing the boat into the rock….the steel door of the lighthouse was open….

Sean O’Driscoll, O/C Schull Battalion, Cork 3rd Brigade, IRA (Bureau of Military History, Witness Statement 1518)

Fastnet Rock, photographed in the early 20th Century

inshore ireland Summer 2016 31

Outside Ireland

Small-scale fisheries: the exception should not be the rule Brian O’Riordan Life Platform

I

n a recent meeting with LIFE, Commissioner Vella emphasised that the “tradition of exemptions for the small-scale fleet is not helpful”, and that a “one size fits all approach does not work”. This implies that small-scale fisheries need to fall more into line with the regulatory, data gathering, monitoring and control requirements of the CFP, and that this requires that special measures are designed for them.

The latest data from DG Mare shows the smallscale fleet comprises an exceptionally large segment of the fleet, but that its earnings are exceptionally, or disproportionally low.

Eighty-two per cent of fishing vessels that are active are small in scale – i.e. up to 12 metres in length using non-towed gears; but the value of their landed catches is only 14% of the total. So too, the average number of

employees per vessel and crew remuneration tends to be much lower than in the larger vessel fleet.

The issue of exceptions has at least two sides to it.

On one side, the CFP has been designed to regulate the activities of larger scale fleets using mobile gears, which have a higher impact.

On the other, it has been assumed that national authorities would take care of managing national smallscale fleets within their 12 mile zones. Both approaches have resulted in negative consequences for the smallscale fleet.

As a result of this blindness to small-scale fisheries, systems designed to allocate access to fish stocks; to organise fishers, fishing operations and the marketing of fish; to gather data, and to monitor and control fishing activities have not taken into account the specific requirements of the small-scale fleet.

All these exceptions mean that small-scale fisheries tend to be overlooked in management and decision taking processes, and with

their contributions to social, economic and environmental sustainability overlooked or underestimated, making them the ‘forgotten fleet’.

Rightly, DG Mare highlight that the number of stocks being fished at levels in line with Maximum Sustainable Yield is increasing. For 2016, the number of stocks in the North Atlantic (including the North Sea and Baltic Sea) managed in line with MSY is 36 compared to five in 2009.

Likewise, profitability of the European fishing fleet is showing an increasing trend, as shown by the latest data from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).

The exception to the good news is Europe’s small-scale fleet, which is showing declining trends.

The Mediterranean Sea is also an exception to the rule of stock recovery with almost all stocks chronically overexploited, with low biomass and where it is estimated that average effort reductions of between 50% and 60% are necessary to

reach levels of fishing in line with MSY. One of the crucial factors in the decline of small-scale fisheries is access to fishery resources. Most of the smallscale fleet are not members of the Producer Organisations to which the lion’s share of national quota allocations is made. This has a big impact on the earnings potential of the small-scale fleet, as increasingly it has to rely on access to non-quota stocks.

In other cases, some key resources on which smallscale fishers depend - for example the bass stocks in the North East Atlantic and the Western Baltic cod stocks - are in a critical state.

For 2017, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has recommended a 93% cut in the TAC for the Western Baltic Cod stocks. Their calculation is based on the observation that recreational fishing catches will account for 75% of available stocks, leaving 25% as the TAC for commercial fishing.

In the case of the bass stocks north of the 48th parallel, ICES advises that

when the precautionary approach is applied, ‘there should be zero catch (commercial and recreational) in 2017’.

Both pieces of advice from ICES, if followed to the letter, will sound the death knell for the small-scale fishery enterprises that depend on these resources.

The new CFP, reformed in 2013, is full of unfulfilled promises for small-scale fisheries. It has many of the elements needed to bring small-scale fisheries from the periphery to the centre of fisheries management. It seems however that Member States lack the interest, political will or the capacity to apply them.

Article 17 could revolutionise the way access to fish stocks is allocated in ways that reward fishers who fish in the most sustainable way. Likewise, money is earmarked to support small-scale fishers to get organised, and to create space for them to participate in the Advisory Councils.

It’s high time to stop talking the talk, and to start walking the walk.

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