Inshore Ireland Vol 13 nr3 Autumn 2017

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

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MDT to help drive Ireland’s ocean economy

Safety will not stand still for Ireland says Michael Kingston

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Autumn 2017 Vol 13 Issue 3

ONLINE EDITION

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

Differences ‘must be parked’ to present a united front on Brexit Gillian Mills & Gery Flynn

T

he linkage between access, quota and trade is a “clear priority” from an Irish and European perspective in the Brexit talks, warns a leading figure in Ireland’s fishing industry.

“And when I talk about trade, I’m not talking about seafood trade - I’m talking about total trade - we cannot break that linkage. If it does happen, the game is over.”

Seán O’Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, was speaking at a Brexit briefing ahead of BIM’s National Seafood Conference at the end of June.

He added that that problems relating to the Common Fisheries Policy must be “parked’ as fighting a battle on two fronts would be “absolutely crazy”.

“No matter which fishing sector you’re in - whether you’re pelagic, demersal, shellfish or mixed species - Brexit is a real disaster if it does wrong.”

In the opening address, Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, pointed to the “very real concerns” and outlined two key objectives: maintaining existing quota shares and existing rights of access.

“Any attempts to restrict our existing rights and entitlements will be strenuously resisted and that is why I will be insisting that fisheries must form part of the wider trade negotiations.”

The minister also outlined his discussions with the EU chief negotiator, Michel

Barnier who he said, “clearly understands the issues and significance of Brexit for Ireland’s fisheries sector”.

He added it was vital that all sectors work together.

“For ministers to be effective, so that the heads of State and government and Mr Barnier’s team understand and prioritise fisheries, it will be essential we have a united fishing industry both nationally and at European level.”

European perspective

Niels Wichmann, CEO of

Beau Weston, stunt performer and pro flyboard from New Zealand, entertains the crowds at Seafest 2017

the Danish Fish Producers Organisation, outlined three Danish demands: to maintain relative stability (the quota sharing arrangement); to retain access to British waters “that go back before the EU” and to see fisheries linked with trade policy.

“If the UK wants access to the European market, that has to be linked with access for our fishermen to British waters.

“British colleagues claim they were cheated in 1973; that Edward Heath sold »» page 6

Photo Gillian Mills

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Is the ‘Voisinage arrangement’ dead in the water?

Gillian Mills

I

n October 2016, the Supreme Court issued a judgment in a case taken by a number of mussel seed fishermen. The judgment (Barlow & ors v Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine & ors) found that fishing by Northern Ireland boats within the 0-6nm zone of Republic of Ireland territorial waters under the ‘Voisinage’ arrangement was not permitted by law.

(Voisinage is a long-standing reciprocal arrangement between RoI and NI allowing fishing boats access to fish with 0-6 nm of each other’s territorial waters.)

The judgment upheld a High Court finding that the arrangement was not invalid but there was insufficient provision for them in domestic law. The judgment also noted that the arrangement was recognition at official level of practice and tradition where fishing boats traditionally fished neighbouring waters.

Government approved the publication of a Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill to address issues raised by the judgment,

in so far as it related to access for NI vessels. The Bill has been debated in the Seanad and is now at Committee Stage. If enacted and commenced, the Bill will give the Voisinage arrangements a proper legal footing.

Inshore Ireland invited the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to questions arising: »» Why are UK/Northern Ireland boats currently fishing inside Ireland’s 6 nm limit, in particular Dundalk Bay, given that activity is deemed illegal following the Supreme Court case? »» The Seanad rejected the Bill on the grounds it was not fit-for-purpose and had no safeguards. Is the Bill now ‘parked’ in light of the fact that Article 50 has been triggered and the UK has declared its intention to leave the London Fisheries Convention? »» Inshore Ireland understands the minister has not responded to stakeholder queries and concerns relating to the Bill. The four producer organisations were called before the joint commission on agriculture and fisheries where they emphatically rejected the Bill.

DAFM responds:

‘The necessity for a legislative amendment to the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 arises in order to take account of the Supreme Court finding in relation to the longstanding reciprocal access arrangements for Northern Irish sea-fishing boats to Ireland’s 0-6 nautical mile zone. It is important to note that the Supreme Court upheld the High Court finding that the Voisinage arrangements are not invalid but that, as it stands, there is insufficient provision in domestic law for them. The Supreme Court in fact noted that the arrangements were a sensible recognition at official level of practice and tradition, where fishing boats traditionally fished neighbouring waters.

‘With regard to the Common Fisheries Policy, Article 5 of Regulation 1380/2013 recognises and permits neighbourhood arrangements (such as these Voisinage arrangements) which existed prior to the coming into force of the CFP. The Voisinage arrangements were in place prior to the London Fisheries Convention 1964 and were continued under the terms

Our greatest national resource is our ocean marine.ie

of the Convention. Ireland is a party to that Convention and is bound by its terms.

‘The Government approved the publication of a SeaFisheries (Amendment) Bill to address the issues raised by the judgment and the Bill was published on 13 February 2017. The Minister has written to a number of fishing industry organisations both directly and through their political representations on the matter of the Bill.

In addition, Department officials have briefed fishing industry representatives on the Bill and the associated measures at meetings. The Bill is currently at Committee stage in the Seanad and to date debates have encompassed a number of amendments which have been tabled.

‘In the overall context of Brexit, at this stage, it is impossible to say with certainty what effect Brexit will have on the Irish fishing industry.

We don’t yet know what changes the UK Government may seek to the current arrangements. While the UK has invoked Article 50 it has not formally withdrawn from the London Convention. The UK Government has said that

it is considering withdrawal (and it is a commitment in the Conservative Manifesto) but has not given any indication as to when this might happen.

If and when the UK does announce its withdrawal that process will take two years.

‘Arising from the Supreme Court judgment and in the absence of an enactment to provide a legal basis for the Voisinage arrangements, fishing by Northern Ireland sea fishing boats is not currently permitted in Ireland’s 0-6nm zone. Any allegations of illegal fishing should be brought to the immediate attention of the SeaFisheries Protection Authority, the independent statutory body for sea-fisheries enforcement.’

Speaking to Inshore Ireland, Francis O’Donnell, chief executive of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, said it was “frustrating at this juncture that [this paper’s ] questions on this issue are ignored and remain unanswered.

“The response is reflective of the disregard shown towards the industry from the outset however it is clear now from the response that that there is no legitimate basis for advancing the Bill further.”

Dear Editor

mark the centenary in 2018.

Among the plans are a public exhibition detailing family histories and stories affected by the sinking; producing a commemorative book; major commemorative events on October 10 in both Dún Lagohaire and Holyhead and unveilings of appropriate memorial stones to all those affected.

The committee is appealing to all families who were affected by the disaster to contact us with a view to receiving invitations to the official centenary events.

We will shortly be inviting all relatives to an informal gathering in Dún Laoghaire where detailed plans for the centenary will be announced.

Families should write ASAP to the committee at the address below.

Yours sincerely, John Moore, Chairman, Mailboat Leinster Centenary Committee. 3 Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

W

e will shortly be marking the centenary of the sinking of the Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead Mailboat Leinster when over 500 people perished and hundreds more barely escaped with their lives.

This was the worst ever disaster on the Irish Sea and the most significant maritime event to affect the whole Irish people. Families from every county in Ireland lost loved ones in the tragedy; there were also people from Wales, Scotland, England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA involved.

A centenary committee was established in 2016 at well publicised and very well attended public meeting in Dún Laoghaire. This committee has been charged with the responsibility of organising suitable events to

costellojewellers@eircom.net

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Comment

Government must implement maritime safety legislation as a matter of urgency

O

ptimism for the future of Ireland’s marine sector is a common thread running through this issue of Inshore Ireland – a clear sign that government is taking the marine seriously — at least from an economic viewpoint.

Our interview with Mark White, head of the new Marine Development Team, is further evidence that government is determined to unleash the potential of the so-called ‘blue economy’.

White confirms that the aim is to increase turnover from Ireland’s blue economy to more than €6.4bn by 2020 and to triple GDP contribution from 0.8% today to 2.4% by 2030. An ambitious but realistic target.

Remembering Eoin Sweeney

E

oin Sweeney was a giant of the marine sector in Ireland. When the definitive history of our first century of statehood is written, Eoin’s name will have a place of honour as one of those, who more than most, saw the transformative power and potential of the sea for Ireland in being an island nation.

He had amazing foresight and was fearless in the pursuit of his vision, railing against procrastination and bureaucracy with good humour and energy.

Born in 1947, Eoin grew up in Enniskillen, the son of two doctors. He was very affected by what he saw during the emerging conflict in the North, and feelings of frustration led him to look for ways in which he could meaningfully contribute to the

More reasons for optimism emerge in our reports on this summer’s annual conferences and events: the Marine Institute’s Digital Ocean; BIM’s National Seafood Conference Winning in a Changing Environment; and SeaFest 2017 - which attracted 100,000 visitors to Galway – all underpinning the future potential of Ireland’s blue economy.

That said, our article by maritime lawyer Michael Kingston — who calls on government to enact international regulation as a matter of urgency to ensure the safety of seafarers and rescuers in Irish jurisdiction — is a timely wake-up call to legislators.

A native of Goleen near Bantry, Kingston is internationally recognised.

His awards include the 20142015 Lloyd’s List Global Maritime Lawyer of the Year for his contribution to safety of life

ongoing process of building a mature and economically successful republic.

He studied economics but had no interest in a conventional career and eventually became a crewman on a fishing boat in Killybegs.

In 1975, while working with the ITGWU, he was asked to contribute to the elaboration of a marine science and technology programme for Ireland, entitled Ireland - Science and the Sea. He developed a strong view that if Ireland was to actively address its underdeveloped marine sector, new institutions would be needed, namely a government department dedicated to marine and a new executive marine agency.

He was relentless in his pursuit of the case for a marine development policy for Ireland and throughout the 1980s he championed his ideas. He eventually found an ally in Charles Haughey who delivered on the establishment of a new institutional and policy development framework when he became Taoiseach in 1987, approving the establishment of the Department of the Marine and later the Marine Institute.

Having heavily influenced the development of marine policy through his work in the NBST (National Board for Science & Technology), in 2002 Eoin joined the Marine Institute where he played a leading role in establishing the Ocean Energy Research Programme.

While recognising that the technology was not in a position to contribute to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy targets in the medium

at sea, and the US Coastguard Challenge Coin for his efforts to promote maritime safety.

Time and again, international maritime disasters indicate that best practice is not always adhered to. The importance of a pro-active government — and being seen to be proactive — cannot be underestimated and is too often cost driven and sidelined. Too often it is not until regulation comes into play following a disaster does industry adhere to best practice to prevent a re-occurrence, he says.

As examples of neglect to implement best legislative practice in the marine industry, Kingston cites the Alexander Kielland platform disaster in Norway in 1980 (123 deaths); the Piper Alpha platform fire in the North Sea in 1988 (167 deaths) and the Betelgeuse disaster in Bantry Bay in 1979 which killed fifty people – including his father.

term, he advocated an approach similar to that which had been pursued by Denmark in wind energy: for Ireland to take a longer term perspective and become a world leading developer of the technologies that would enable the harnessing of ocean energy resources.

In 2008, he went on to head up the Ocean Energy Development Unit in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland until 2012, where he spearheaded the establishment of a quarterscale wave energy test site in Galway Bay and the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site for full-scale devices in Belmullet Co. Mayo.

Among his many contributions at the Marine Institute was the idea for Smartbay — the National Test and Demonstration Facility for Marine ICT in Galway Bay. This is a hugely innovative initiative to bring together multinational companies, SMEs and academics to develop new technologies to catalyse Irish marine technology jobs and enterprise.

Eoin served on the Board of Smartay, which since 2012, has successfully attracted nearly €3.26m in project funding from the EU and has delivered 12 industry and 44 R&D projects at the test site.

Eoin was known and loved by people in the marine research community and marine industry throughout the length and breadth of Ireland and also highly regarded internationally. He was a wonderful mentor to many, a constant source of inspiration, encouragement

There can be no excuse for complacency when it comes to proper safety legislation, and adds that the lack of drive by politicians to get the job done can be quite staggering.

Concluding, Kingston wonders if Ireland had ratified the Torremolinos Convention, would Rescue 116 have had to respond to what he says was the minor injury incident on a fishing vessel in international waters off the west coast of Ireland.

He calls for Ireland to carry out a regulatory review of all safety procedures in maritime and energy operations in its jurisdiction.

As for the key issue of political leadership, Kingston believes that a dedicated Minister for the Marine is required to focus on the ‘incredible potential of Ireland’s maritime and energy sector’ and to comprehensively address issues of maritime safety.

and generosity in terms of his time and knowledge.

But Eoin’s impact was not just as an expert and pioneer in marine science. Most of all, Eoin Sweeney was a wonderful human being, as anybody who came to know him quickly understood.

Full of curiosity, utterly generous and with a great lust for life - a true Renaissance Man - on any given day Eoin could be a fisherman; seafarer; scientist; historian; philosopher; wave energy entrepreneur; diplomat; storyteller or poet – in no particular order!

Eoin passed away on the

Remembering Orri Vigússon

T

he sad news was announced from Iceland in early July by the North Atlantic

comment

Gery Flynn

July 7, 2017. He is much loved and missed by his wife Elena, daughters Aoife, Lola and Laoise; granddaughter Lily, brother John, nephews and nieces, extended family, friends and colleagues.

We will never replace the gap in knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and friendship that Eoin leaves but we will think of him often and by continuing to promote the sustainable development of our marine resources, we will keep his wonderful legacy and memory alive.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Yvonne Shields

Salmon Fund (NASF) of the passing of founder and Chairman Orri Vigfússon. It was met with shock in Ireland and along the North Atlantic by the many supporters and colleagues including FISSTA – Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers who were a founding member since 1990.

Mr Vigfússon succumbed to lung cancer at Iceland’s national hospital in Reykjavík on July 1st 2017, only nine days short of his 75th birthday. For 27 years, Orri had tirelessly fought for the survival and restoration of the wild Atlantic salmon through the NASF, earning him the admiration and respect of environmentalists all over the world. He was recognised internationally for his vital »» page 4

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conservation work and was awarded with numerous distinguished award.

Orri is credited with saving millions of wild Atlantic salmon from high seas netting that was such a great threat to the species along with ending mixed stock fisheries. At the same time however he was determined that commercial netsmen should be properly compensated for giving up their licences to fish for salmon.

His stated objective was to ‘restore the abundance of wild salmon that formerly existed on both sides of the North Atlantic’. That was an attitude that endeared him to both sides of the issue, and was the basis for his great success in helping to close down damaging commercial net fisheries throughout the Northern Atlantic.

Once named a ‘European hero’ by Time magazine, Orri Vigfússon’s dedication to saving North Atlantic salmon from extinction earned him accolades from France, Denmark and Iceland, as well as the Goldman Environmental Prize and a conservation award from the Duke of Rothesay. He helped turn around the fortunes of

Ireland’s wild salmon stocks by leading the international part of the Irish campaign to stop drift-net fishermen in Ireland intercepting migrating fish moving east to the coast to their European natal rivers.

Elsewhere, he helped to raise millions of pounds to buy out commercial salmon fishing rights.

As founder and chairman of the NASF, he regularly travelled around Europe, and came on regular visits to Ireland, to speak to anglers and conservationists, lobby government officials and politicians, meet commercial fishermen, and give interviews on behalf of our campaigns here.

Paying tribute, FISSTA chairman Paul Lawton remarked: “He was a dear friend who will be sadly missed by us all in salmon conservation and someone I admired greatly who never failed to stand with us in our many events and marches to raise the international awareness and plight of the wild Atlantic salmon resource.”

Irish anglers paid tribute to his passing by floating a wreath in the Killarney lakes. Picture shows the FISSTA Chairman Paul Lawton and his colleagues on the banks of Loch Leane.

Noel Carr

Do Irish fishing vessels face exclusion from UK waters post Brexit?

Gillian Mills

I

reland’s marine minister Michael Creed has described the UK’s decision to withdraw from the 1964 London Fisheries Convention as “unwelcome and unhelpful”.

Under the Convention, contracting parties (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and the UK) agreed to allow fishing activity between 6-12 nm of each other’s coastline, based on historical track record during 1953-1962.

UK environment secretary Michael Gove said the UK will become an independent political state “and that means we can extend control of our waters up to 200 miles or the median line between Britain and France and Britain and Ireland.”

He described the Common Fisheries Policy as an “environmental disaster” and said it was important to recognise that leaving the European Union would help the environment.

Barrie Deas, chief executive of the UK’s National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations has described the decision as an “important part of establishing the UK as an independent coastal state with sovereignty over its own exclusive economic zone”.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has insisted that sustainable fishing will remain a “key priority”

after the UK leaves the Common Fisheries Policy.

“The idea that our exit initially from the London Convention, and then the CFP, will instantly herald a return to the old days of overfishing is preposterous and, frankly, insulting.”

“The industry has brought itself back from the edge of the precipice through its commitment to sustainable fishing, and most major stocks are now caught at or near maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels. Why on earth would we want to dangle our feet over the edge again?” said Bernie Armstrong, SFF chief executive.

Everyone needs to understand that Brexit will lead to quota redistribution, not an increase, he added.

Row-back position

More recently speaking to the Danish fishing industry however, the UK’s environment secretary Michael Gove indicated that EU boats would have access to UK waters post Brexit as their own fleet did not have the capacity to catch and process all the total allowable catch alone.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, their plan had always been to allow other nations some access to UK territorial waters, the extent of which would now be decided by the UK.

Ireland responds Addressing delegates at

a Brexit briefing ahead of ‘Winning in a Changing Environment’ seafood conference (Galway, 29/6) organised by BIM, Minister Creed said maintaining quota shares and existing rights of access were key objectives.

“Any attempts to restrict our existing rights and entitlements will be strenuously resisted and that is why I will be insisting that fisheries must form part of the wider trade negotiations. Brexit poses very serious challenges to the seafood sector and this announcement will form part of the negotiations,” he said.

Creed also emphasised the importance of a united front at national and European level so that heads of State, government and Barnier’s team “understand and prioritise fisheries”.

Liadh Ní Riada, Sinn Fein MEP and member of the EU Fisheries Committee described the announcement as “rash and reckless” and would only serve to harden attitudes in Europe.

If nothing else it is “wildly premature as quotas and fishing rights will all form part of the Brexit negotiations,” she said.

Sean O’Donoghue, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation said Ireland stands to lose “catastrophically” from an EU without Britain.

Two of Ireland’s main fisheries, mackerel and nephrops (prawns) require 40%-60% access to British fishing grounds.

Fraserburgh Harbour where 6000 boxes of fish are handled daily

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News

Status quo for existing mackerel sharing arrangements Gillian Mills

T

he Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has welcomed the outcome of a ministerial review into mackerel quota sharing arrangements.

‘The Minister has decided to reject the formal request by the Irish South and West Fish Producer’s Organisation (ISWFPO) to have 100% of the additional 2017 mackerel quota allocated to it.

M

inisterial decision regarding a proposal from the IS&WFPO for a revised mackerel distribution between the polyvalent segment and the RSW pelagic segment 1. Following the request received from the IS&WFPO a review of the policy on mackerel allocations between the RSW pelagic segment and the polyvalent segment of the fleet was undertaken. After a full public consultation and careful consideration of the issues raised, my decision regarding the review of the policy is as follows: 1.1 Where Ireland’s mackerel quota in the annual TAC and quota Regulation is 90,000 tonnes or below, for 2017 and future years, the 87%-13% share out in the allocation of mackerel quota between the Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) Pelagic segment and Polyvalent segment of the fleet will remain unchanged. Any adjustments (swops, carryover/ deductions as provided

by EU Regulation) will not be taken into account for establishing this threshold.

The share out will be applied post adjustments in respect of contingency, swops, carry over/ deductions (as provided for

by EU Regulation) and the allocation set aside for Hook and line fishery for vessels under 15m.

1.2. Where Ireland’s mackerel quota in the

‘This means that the 10,859 additional tonnes will now be allocated in accordance with existing sharing arrangements of 87% to the RSW fleet and 13% to the polyvalent segment,’ a statement reads.

The review followed a proposal by the ISWFPO for revised mackerel distribution between the Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) pelagic segment and the polyvalent segment of the Irish fishing fleet.

In a letter from the IS&WFPO to Minister Creed

(10/2016), chief executive Patrick Murphy said its members believed that certain means existed within the remit of the department ‘to alleviate the current imbalance in the whitefish segment’.

The letter referred to EU Regulation No 1380/2013 which ‘requires Member states to put in place measures to adjust the fishing capacity of their fleet to their fishing opportunities over time, taking into account trends and based on best scientific advice with the object of achieving sustainable and enduring

annual TAC and quota Regulation is above 90,000 tonnes, the share out will be adjusted so that the element in excess of 90,000 tonnes is shared out on an 80%-20% basis between the RSW Pelagic segment and the Polyvalent segment.

The quantity in excess of 90,000t will be taken off first and in full and allocated on an 80%/20% basis.

The balance below 90,000t will be shared out on an 87%-13% basis between the RSW Pelagic segment and the polyvalent segment after adjustments in respect of contingency, swops, carry over/deductions (as provided for by EU Regulation) and the allocation set aside for Hook and line fishery for vessels under 15m.

1.3. A minimum of 2% of the mackerel quota in the TAC and quota Regulation or 1,000 tonnes, whichever is the greater, will be deducted annually for demersal swaps before any share out between segments is undertaken in accordance with (a) and (b) above.

2. Reasons for policy changes 2.1 Introduction of a threshold of 90,000 tonnes above which an adjustment would occur in the share out in the allocation of mackerel quota between the Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) Pelagic segment and Polyvalent segment of the fleet.

When the mackerel quota is high, it can be expected, allowing that prices may fluctuate, that the RSW Pelagic fleet does well,

recognising that it has the 87% share of the mackerel quota. Over the past 3 years the mackerel quota has been, in recent historic terms, relatively high. It has fluctuated and the average quota for recent years (2014 -2016) is 90,000 tonnes.

In these particular circumstances of atypically high quota allocation, a basis exists for allocating an increased share to the polyvalent segment to provide that it receives proportionately a larger benefit. Such an amendment supports the proper and effective management and rational exploitation of the mackerel fishery. In these circumstances, the polyvalent segment would get an increased share of 20% in respect of that element in excess of 90,000 tonnes only 2.2 A minimum of 2% of the quota in the TAC and quota Regulation or 1,000 tonnes, whichever is the greater, will be deducted annually for demersal swaps before any share out between segments is undertaken.

Setting aside a minimum quantity of mackerel quota is intended to take account of the level of swops in recent years and deliver a greater level of assurance for such swops. This amount should be capable of being increased on the advice of the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) if required. The initial amount being set aside for swaps to be deducted annually for demersal swaps before any share out between segments is undertaken.

Imbalance

Inshore Ireland is published by IIPL Ltd

Editor

Features Editor

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Gery Flynn

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flynn@inshore-ireland.com

01 235 4804

091 844822

balance between them.’

An example would be the allocation of any increase in a species Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in the oncoming year.

This could be implemented ‘on a pilot basis provided the correct set of circumstances present themselves.’

The ISWFPO proposed that the department would carry out a feasibility study ‘to see how vessels in the polyvalent sector with dual entitlements might be offered an incentive to forgo their whitefish entitlements for a year and in so doing receive an allocation of the increase in mackerel quota…’

Public consultation

Over 350 responses were filed with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine during a public consultation in January/February.

The Minister ‘carefully considered’ the submissions and issues raised ‘and having undertaken a detailed evaluation’, has published an amended policy on mackerel management on https:// www.agriculture.gov.ie/, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the marine. (see sidebar).

“Sean O’Donoghue, KFO chief executive said he was pleased the Minister had made his decision “solely on the facts, stakeholders’ submissions and analysis and was not swayed by “unfounded and distorted” facts. All we had sought was that the existing percentage sharing arrangements be maintained which have shown to properly deal with year on year fluctuations in the national mackerel quota in a

fair, transparent and balanced way,” KFO chief executive, Seán O’Donoghue remarked.

“We have not gained additional fish, we have retained the existing percentage sharing arrangement which was in place due to the work we have put into building a pelagic industry in the North West. It is the correct decision and we welcome it even if has taken far longer than we anticipated. We had always maintained that this review was unnecessary.”

“I would like to acknowledge the role played and efforts made by our members during the public consultation process in putting forward well founded submissions.”

In a statement responding to Minister Creed’s decision, Patrick Murphy has called on the minister and the department to clarify how they propose to address the current imbalance in the whitefish fleet.

‘With the recent Advice for 2018 from our marine scientists is more severe cuts in the tiny Irish 2017 whitefish in our own waters, numbering a majority 17 of the 27 stocks, our polyvalent fleet are struggling to survive on. We certainly do not agree with the decision and will seek advice on the matter.

‘It’s this simple. The Minister has said in his opinion only 23 boats, the vast majority owned by companies with interests in processing factories are entitled to be gifted by 40% of Ireland’s earnings from fishing and on the other hand, 1400 + boats are to earn their living from 60% from Ireland’s earnings from fishing.’

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Brexit »» from page 1

them down the drain.

That is simply untrue. The decisions on relative stability were made in a compromise in 1983 – ten years after we joined the Common Market.

Those agreements were based on historic fisheries for a five-year period in the ‘70s.

He also challenged another UK claim: ‘We want our waters back’ but said they never had those waters.

“The 200 mile limits for national sovereignty were introduced after the Cod Wars with Iceland.

“What we have done is to get fisheries to the forefront of our politicians’ minds. Our Irish colleagues have been successful [doing likewise] with the Irish government.

He warned however it

was essential that fisheries went to the top of the ‘international’ agenda, because Brexit is negotiated by the Commission.

“At international level, we’re engaged along with our Irish, Belgian, German, Swedish, Spanish colleagues in EUFA – European Fisheries Alliance - where we work together on our joint demands. We may have separate demands but we put them aside for the time being and we work together on our joint demands.

“We have a bureau in Brussels to help us get our messages across to the Commission, to the negotiators and to the European Parliament who will ultimately have to approve any deal.”

More than 180 stocks

are shared between EU countries and the UK. “When we currently negotiate between the EU and Norway we talk about 8-9 stocks, to illustrate the complication!” he stressed.

Distant waters

Emiel Brouckaert, chair of the North Western Waters Advisory Council, explained that because of Belgium’s tiny coastline of little more than sixty kilometres, access to distant fishing grounds was essential.

“Fisheries is an important economic sector in our country. With such a small coastline it was always going to be clear we would have to find other possibilities.

“We did note very soon that our UK colleagues were asking for an Exclusive

Economic Zone. They are looking for a re-distribution or just a reservation for themselves of the TACs and quotas in those waters. Very mixed messages are coming from that [British] side so it’s very difficult even to predict where we go ahead.”

Essential exports

Lorcán Ó Cinneide, Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, believes the challenges that Brexit presents were unforeseen at the time it was being prepared.

“Access to raw materials is obviously critical to the fish processing and exporting sector. That comes in two forms. One is what Irish fishermen catch —there’s a very close relationship between the catching and processing sectors, so in

terms of the key species that are caught in UK waters, maintaining [access] is an immediate challenge.

“Secondly from a processing and exporting point of view, [the outcome] and sequence in which it happens is increasingly important.” Ó Cinneide added that the “degree of commonality” that exists between the European and Irish position was “encouraging”.

“And I would very much share the Minister’s view that we have all sorts of pre-existing gripes – not dissimilar to what Britain is giving out about: historic shares and all that. It’s very important that we put those aside and to concentrate on a common interest and to deal with those issues in future common fishery policies.”

Potential impact on fishing industry remains unclear Daniel Norton and Stephen Hynes, SEMRU, NUI Galway

I

n the run up to the Brexit vote in 2016 SEMRU produced a Whitaker Institute Policy brief outlining the likely implications of a Brexit vote on Ireland’s ocean economy.

That policy brief was one of the first to detail what the withdrawal of the UK from the EU could mean for Irish fishing.

The announcement on July 2, 2017, by Michael Gove, the UK’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that they would be withdrawing from the London Fisheries Convention, in conjunction with his previous comments to ‘take back control’ of UK fisheries seems to signal a ‘hard Brexit’ approach for its future fisheries policy.

In an interview with the Financial Times (3/8) however he signalled that the UK may not have sufficient vessels or processing capacity in certain fishing sectors and that access by EU member states may be allowed in certain circumstances.

This has led to confusion to what the UK fisheries bill will look like and what will be the future fisheries policy in UK waters.

Landing data

What is known are the current fish landings from UK waters by other EU member states, including Ireland, based on the data from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, (STECF) which is the advisory body for the EU Commission on fisheries management.

It covers landings by EU member states (MSs) and is available at the spatial scale of ICES statistical rectangles (0.5° latitude by 1.0° longitude). Prices used here for different species are based on those reported in the Irish Stock Book 2016.

Examining the 2015 STECF data, Ireland is reported to have landed 298,130 tonnes, valued at €356.6m from all waters.

The share of these landings from UK waters was 80,022 tonnes, valued at €80.9m (this includes one shared fishing ground off the Louth coast between the ROI and the UK).

These figures represent a share of 27% of landings by volume and 23% of landings in value.

Landings in UK waters by all EU member states was 1.18 million tonnes in 2015; 53% of which was landed by non-UK member states.

The largest takes after the UK was Netherlands (with 14.3% of landings); Denmark (13.7%) and France (8.5%).

The 1.18 million tonnes landed from UK waters represents 30% of the EU’s catch in the NE Atlantic.

a co-operative basis between the EU and UK and any other relevant third countries will be required as specified under the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement. It may be therefore difficult for the UK authorities to exclude nonUK vessels from fishing for these species in UK waters.

For resident species such as nephrops and scallops however, management should be under the control of the UK within its exclusive economic zone following Brexit.

In his testimony to the House of Lords, Dr Thomas Appleby noted that Brexit raised ‘the spectre of four different UK fisheries policies within the UK itself ’.

This comment related to the possibility of fisheries management being devolved down to the four members of the UK: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

While this article focused on access, as outlined by Seán O’Donoghue, KFO, in the previous edition of Inshore Ireland, there are many issues that will affect the Brexit fisheries negotiations and Irish fishing interests, post-Brexit.

Quota hopping

For example, the EU Freedom of Establishment gives non-UK fishers a means to increase their quota share in UK waters through ‘quota hopping’.

(Quota hopping refers to the practice of fishers from other Member States setting up UK companies to buy UK fishing vessels and thereby quota. It is likely that the UK fisheries would lobby for this practice to be stopped post-Brexit.)

The impact of customs and tariffs on the trade of fish and fish-related products, impacts on the workings of the Hague

Preference arrangement for Ireland within the CFP and how quota will be distributed post-Brexit, are additional questions that remain to be answered.

Approximately 11% of Irish seafood was exported to the UK in 2015 – our second most important export market for seafood. Looking at a worst case scenario for Brexit, a fall back to World Trade Organisation trade rules could result in 25% tariffs on some of these fish products. In 2014, the tariff on frozen mackerel imports for example stood at 20%.

In summary, approximately 640,000 tonnes or approximately 15% of EU landings in the NE Atlantic are up for negotiation within the Brexit negotiations.

What the final outcome will be for fisheries in European waters is still hard to envisage at this stage.

Affected species

Focusing on Ireland, the top six species most affected by loss of access to UK waters would be mackerel (46,464 tonnes); nephrops (4,916 tonnes); herring (11,297 tonnes); horse mackerel (7,789 tonnes); whiting (2,461 tonnes) and great Atlantic scallop (791 tonnes).

These six species represent approximately 90% of Irish landings from UK waters in both tonnes and value.

For migratory species such as mackerel, horse mackerel and herring, management on

Irish Landings from UK EEZ

Spatial breakdown of Irish landings (value) from the ICES rectangles in UK waters

inshore ireland Autumn 2017

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Brexit

Environmental impact on the island of Ireland

C

rucial crossborder cooperation to protect the environment across the island of Ireland must not be ‘diluted’

by Brexit, warned MEPs, NGOs and legal experts at a conference (16/6) to examine potential impacts on Ireland’s environment, post Brexit. Potential weakening of legislative protection is seen as the single greatest environmental risk.

The importance of ensuring equal status in environmental standards north and south has been recognised at European level. EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier,

has highlighted the risk of environmental ‘dumping’ if a divergence of standards between the UK and Member States emerges.

Over 650 pieces of EU legislation currently in force (habitats; air quality; waste, food safety) are the principal drivers for most environmental protection both sides of the border. It is unclear how environmental standards will be upheld however with the British Government yet to declare how it will achieve its stated aims on the environment post-Brexit.

Opening the conference, Mairead McGuinness - VicePresident of the European Parliament and MidlandsNorthwest MEP - said environmental standards

“must not be diluted” by the UK’s exit from Europe: “Brexit poses many challenges but the threat to environmental progress, which the EU has championed, is one of the most significant.

For Ireland, it is important to have the same high standards north and south of the border; divergence of standards would be bad for citizens and for business.”

Environmental Pillar Coordinator, Michael Ewing, added it was of paramount importance to avoid a hard ‹environmental border› that would undermine decades of progress addressing environmental issues. He also called for the island of Ireland to be recognised as a single bio-geographic unit:

Minister Michael Creed; Niels Wichmann, DFPO; Emiel Brouckaert NWWAC; Lorcán Ó Cinneide, IFPEA; Patrick Murphy, ISWFPO; Hugo Boyle, ISEFPO, Seán O’Donoghue, KFO

“Effective compliance mechanisms will be critical to resolve and manage cross-border environmental issues,” he said.

Northern Ireland Environment Link Chair, Patrick Casement, gave examples of how both networks were working to protect and enhance the environment, such as the All-Island Pollinator Plan.

He added they were “dedicated to working in tandem” to ensure that environmental standards cross-border were maintained.

“Our small island forms a single and unique unit in terms of our natural environment. Plant and animal species do not recognise the existence of a border. Many species are currently at risk of extinction on the island of Ireland, and any dilution of protection will place them in further danger,” he argued.

Casement also pointed to the “strong economic incentive” to ensure environmental protection. Europe›s network of protected nature sites are estimated to provide economic benefits of €200-€300 billion per year. Invasive species are estimated to have cost the economies of Ireland

and Northern Ireland over €260,000 in 2013.

“All-island cooperation on invasive alien species has been and will be crucial,” he stressed.

Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan pointed to the potential consequences for food regulation and outlined how Brexit may be “devastating” for Irish farmers who pride themselves on the quality of the food they produce.

“Farmers could face a flood of cheap food entering the market, and in order to compete would force them to reduce their own standards or leave the business altogether,” she added.

“It is in the island of Ireland’s interests that any deal struck with Britain and the EU protects our food and environmental standards.”

Post Brexit could offer new opportunities for the environmental sector to work more closely, in line with a joint commitment to maintain and strengthen environmental standards, delegates noted.

The conference was organised by the European Parliament in partnership with the Environmental Pillar and the Northern Ireland Environment Link.

BIM Training Schedule September – October 2017

Commercial Fishing QQI Award (Major) Level 5

GMDSS Short Range Radio Proficiency Module 1 & 21

– Commences September 2017, NFC Greencastle

– 19-21 September, Gweedore, Co. Donegal CTU1 – 14-16 November, NFC Greencastle – 24-26 October, Belmullet, Co. Mayo CTU1 – 21-23 November, Belmullet, Co. Mayo CTU1

Certificate of Competency Engineer Officer (Fishing Vessel)1 – Commences September 2017, NFC Greencastle Navigation Control Course (Fishing)1 – 25 September-06 October, NFC Greencastle GMDSS General Operators Certificate – 18-29 September, NFC Castletownbere – 16-27 October, NFC Castletownbere

1

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Certificate of Competency

www.bim.ie

Three Day Basic Safety Training – – – – – – – –

19-21 September, NFC Greencastle 26-28 September, NFC Castletownbere 10-12 October, NFC Castletownbere 10-12 October, NFC Greencastle 10-12 October, Belmullet, Co. Mayo CTU1 17-19 October, Belmullet, Co. Mayo CTU1 7-9 November, NFC Greencastle 7-9 November, Lettermore, Co. Galway CTU1 – 14-16 November, Lettermore, Co. Galway CTU1 – 27-29 November, NFC Greencastle Ireland’s EU Structural and Investment Funds Programmes 2014 - 2020 Co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union

Enhanced Safety Training – 12 September, Gweedore, Co. Donegal CTU1 – 20 September, NFC Castletownbere – 4 October, Belmullet, Co. Mayo CTU1 – 9 October, NFC Greencastle – 18 October, NFC Castletownbere – 6 November, NFC Greencastle – 10 November, Lettermore, Co. Galway CTU1 Fire Prevention & Fire Fighting (3-day) – 2-4 October, NFC Castletownbere – 16-18 October, NFC Greencastle Advanced Fire Fighting (5-day) – 4-8 December, NFC Greencastle Please contact the CTU instructor for final confirmation of the course schedule.

Agriculture, Food and the Marine Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara

EUROPEAN UNION This measure is part-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

•

8

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 •

Freshwater Focus

• •

continued, but with larger areas and stricter regulations on fallowing and the use of ocean “firelines” to reduce the risk of the spread of infection.

Fish farms that are not made escape-proof by 2024 will be required to label all salmon for tracking and easier harvesting.

Independent regional sea lice counting teams are to be set up from 2018 From 2022, a fee linked the number of sea lice in the farms is to be introduced.

Additional sanctions, such as the requirement for sea lice-free facilities, is to be introduced from 2027.

Knowledge of environmental indicators

• The export levy must be abolished.

• An export strategy for Norwegian aquaculture technologies must be established.

Strengthening research, development and innovation • A national forum for research and innovation in aquaculture technologies and sustainable farming must be established.

• The aquaculture programme, Demo Havbruk, is to be established at the Research Council of Norway and focus on alleviating risk in testing and piloting new aquaculture technologies.

• Research on fish health is to be intensified.

Minister must now review the review •

Noel Carr, FISSTA

I

n January 2016, I stated in this column that one of FISSTA’s clear objectives was ‘to convince the Minister to sever what we regard as the apparent conflict of interest link between the Marine Institute and the Fisheries Division of the DAFM. I wrote: ‘Only then will a new era in unfettered scientific research emerge – one that may end the squandering of state resources.’

FISSTA adopted this stance after Ireland’s first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development was approved

by Government and published in December 2015.

That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and sustainably grow annual production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes.

One of the actions* committed the Minister to ‘a review and revision of the aquaculture licence process,

including the applicable legal framework.’

For seafood and salmon farming in particular, Food Wise 2025 committed the Minister, yet again, to ‘an independent review of the existing aquaculture licensing system involving all key stakeholders, to identify the current shortcomings and bottlenecks (legislative, resource and logistical), to report by early 2016 and to implement necessary changes to the aquaculture licensing system as a matter of priority’.

Regrettably, it took another year before Minister Michael Creed last winter ordered that review.

Aquaculture Licensing Review

By the end of May he had received the report of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group which was to have examined the process of licensing for aquaculture and its associated legal framework in keeping with actions identified and terms of reference that included research into international best practice.

The Review Group received 385 submissions in response to its public consultation process and also met with stakeholders in order to understand

the issues surrounding the licensing process.

The consultations and submissions reflected a diverse range of views but the 71 pages did not address the conflict of interest FISSTA had highlighted, nor did it include any references to the new roadmap from Norway, the world’s leading aquaculture country.

As I reported in the summer issue of Inshore Ireland, the Norwegian industry conference (May 5) in Hardangerfjord which FISSTA attended as part of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund International delegation - advocated a licensing system based on sea lice-free applications for farmed salmon.

Our delegation was led

by NASF chairman, Orri Vigfusson, who sadly died on July 1 after a short illness.

Orri had opened up and continued the long and difficult dialogue with industry until this announcement confirmed his achievement.

This radical new roadmap acknowledges that production costs have increased by 90% over the past few years due to expensive treatments that often fail to work.

2018

Independent counting teams

2016

60 billion

2022

2027

Sea lice fee

2022

ASC–certification

2050

Sea lice-free installations

2024

Escape-proof installations

Objectives

Two of the main objectives of the Norske Industry Group of which Marine Harvest holds membership, are: »» By 2030, salmon must be farmed using technologies that eliminate the problems of sea lice, prevent escapes and capitalize the value of particulate matter. »» By 2030, the industry will export salmon worth more than €20 billion per annum and represent one of Norway’s most important export industries.

Meanwhile back in Ireland, the normally excellent Our Ocean Wealth Summit in Galway at the end of June made no mention of the Norwegian objectives, nor was an NGO like FISSTA given the opportunity to report this new thinking.

The recommendations include the words: ‘having regard to best practice in

5x

2030

200 billion

other jurisdictions’ - but does not. There is plenty of outdated information on Norway included but nothing that would direct or inspire a Minister to act or be influenced by the industry leader in Norway.

The Minister should now order a review of the Review, otherwise nothing will change.

Norske Industri: https:// www.norskindustri.no/ siteassets/dokumenter/ rapporter-og-brosjyrer/ veikart-for-havbruksnaringen--kortversjon_eng.pdf * 8.16 Legislative Reform, Recommendation: 8.16 (1): The Group recommends that work commence immediately on the preparation of new Aquaculture legislation, having regard to best practice in other jurisdictions and in other relevant consenting systems here in Ireland.

Pacific salmon confirmed in Irish rivers Brendan Connolly

T

Pink salmon are usually no bigger than 2 to 3 lbs

Photo: Shane Gallagher, Drowes Fishery

he Drowes River flows tranquilly along its five mile course from Lough Melvin down to the sea at Tullaghan between counties Donegal and Leitrim, wending its way past hedges and meadows with cattle calmly watching it glide by.

But this peaceful river scene belies the dramas taking place beneath its shimmering surface.

Atlantic salmon migrate up the Drowes twelve months of the year, and anglers have been casting their lines there for generations in pursuit of these magnificent fish.

One angler was flicking his line across the river when to his delight, he hooked a salmon. He played his quarry and soon slid the silver fish into the landing net. Looking down to admire his catch, he was startled by what he saw: the fish in his net was around 5lbs, but looked very strange. It had quite a large mouth, very small closelyset scales and had unusual oval spots on its tail fin.

The angler had fished in many rivers in Ireland but had never seen a salmon similar to that in his net. He took the fish to the fishery office and to his astonishment it was confirmed to be a salmon alright — not an Atlantic salmon but a Pacific salmon — a female Pink or Humpback salmon!

How was this possible?

During the following days, another four female Pinks were caught. The first fish, at 5lbs, was the biggest but the other four were between two and three pounds.

Something they all had in common however was the bird-bite marks on their bodies. Are injured Pinks more likely to take a bait?

Pacific salmon

Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) are the smallest and most abundant of the five Pacific salmon species; the others being Sockeye, Chinook or King Salmon, Coho, and Chum.

Pinks reproduce every two years, with some rivers having a run only every second year.

They are caught commercially in hundreds of thousands of tonnes on

both sides of the North Pacific, in Alaska and Russia.

The vast majority are wild fish, as relatively few are reared in fish farms, with some enhancement schemes releasing fry for restocking.

The Pink’s reproductive cycle also differs from that of the Atlantic salmon. The adults generally don’t travel far upriver to spawn, which takes place during the summer from June to October. Female fish die within a few days of spawning. The fry hatch from December to February and soon thereafter migrate down river weighing about 0.5g to feed in estuaries and along the sea shore, moving further offshore as they grow.

The name Humpback derives from the pronounced hump (especially on males) that appears when they are in spawning condition. They also develop a distinctive green and pink colouration.

Pinks were harvested in fish traps during the 19th and early 20th centuries for salting and canning. These large fisheries resulted in a drastic reduction in Pink salmon populations.

In 1959 however, Alaska banned fish traps with the result that the population

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inshore ireland Autumn 2017

9

Freshwater Focus

‘Cleaner fish’ to control sea lice infestations on farmed salmon Majbritt BoltonWarberg, Carna Research Station

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umpsucker is not a particularly awe-inspiring name for a fish that’s being used to try to solve one of the most significant challenges in the salmon industry: sea lice infestation.

Globally, sea lice infestations result in lost production, hightreatment costs and potential negative interactions with wild stocks and associated bad publicity. The need for sustainable solutions to these issues has never been greater.

Among the innovative developments currently being trialled is the use of so-called cleaner fish (lumpsucker

and wrasse) which actively remove lice from farmed salmon hosts. This approach has been adopted in many countries including Ireland, Scotland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Canada.

Lumpsucker (Cyclopteridae) and five species of wrasse (Labridae) are native to Irish waters, and while lumpsucker have been used as cleaner fish in the last few years only, the biological control of sea lice using wrasse was already being researched in Ireland in the early 1990s.

Despite showing promise, the use of wrasse had to be terminated when bacteria were isolated at a single farm site, threatening to undermine Ireland’s status as an exporter of salmonid eggs.

Effective alternative to medication

New oral therapeutants that became available proved highly effective in reducing lice numbers. Now, decades later, and with environmental

concerns over the use of medicines, increased sea lice resistance, threats to wild fish stocks and exorbitant treatment costs, cleaner fish are again being considered as an effective option.

They have proven highly successful in the countries where they are used — in some cases being the only treatment used against salmon lice.

Strict regulations

Commercial hatcheries for wrasse and lumpsucker have been developed in Norway and Scotland to ensure that fish are available in a predictable and controlled manner throughout the season; nevertheless, there is still a high dependency on wild-caught wrasse.

One of the current strategies adopted by Marine Harvest Ireland is to use wrasse and lumpsucker in combination, with wrasse available during the Summer months when lumpsucker juveniles are not generally available.

While fishing quotas are not in place in Ireland for either wrasse or lumpsucker, there are strict regulations - overseen by the Marine Institute regarding the movement of wild fish. Certain measures are taken also to prevent the over-exploitation of wrasse by adhering to strict size limits; fishing only when spawning has ended; not fishing any area for more than two seasons and a fishing ban after September.

While there is currently no commercial production of wrasse in Ireland, work has been underway for the past decade at Carna Research Station (NUI Galway’s marine research facility) on the production, growth and reproductive biology of Ballan wrasse. Thus, it is possible to develop a future wrasse hatchery with the knowledge gained from these studies.

CRS is also the primary facility actively producing and researching lumpsucker with some extremely promising results at nearcommercial scale.

New initiative

Wild male lumpsucker during spawning season.

The fish uses its suctorial disc to attach to various surfaces.

increased again by the 1970s to reach peak numbers in the 1980s. Since then Pinks have been caught commercially using purse seine, gillnets, and driftnets.

In the 1960s, Pink salmon were introduced to rivers in Northern Russia and have since spread westwards into Northern Norway. They were also introduced into Newfoundland on the other side of the Atlantic where they are now established in rivers in Nova Scotia and Quebec.

Approximately two dozen of these Pacific visitors have been recorded so far this year in these waters; ten in the River Moy, and others in Northern Ireland rivers.

Many more Pinks have been recorded in Scotland and Northern England

Wild male lumpsucker guarding egg mass in Carna. Male fish turn red during the breeding season. Indentations in the egg mass were made by the male fish to facilitate fanning of water through eggs during incubation.

Photos: Majbritt Bolton-Warberg

with 800 reported from 120 rivers, including the Tweed.

Snorkelers recently reported seeing more than a thousand Pinks in one river alone.

While genetic analysis of the Irish-caught Pinks could offer a more exact indication of their origin, it is presumed at this stage they are ‘Norwegian fish’ that have spread south.

The spread of some individuals beyond their normal range is an ecological mechanism by which species colonise new habitats. Essentially, this is a process of trial and error, and few of these wanderers start new populations.

Pink salmon are a northern, cold water species; Irish rivers and seas might be too warm for them to reproduce and thrive.

After two male Pinks were recently recorded from the Crana River in Co Donegal, it is estimated that between fifty and seventy-five Pink salmon are in the Drowes — some of which could easily be males. Whether this is enough to establish a permanent population, remains to be seen.

A female Pink produces between one and two thousand eggs; it is not known whether a significant number of these would survive in Irish rivers.

Pacific salmon may have arrived in Ireland, driven by highly unusual climatic or oceanic conditions or by a phenomenon unlikely to happen again.

Only time will tell what could be happening in those deceptively calm waters of the Drowes.

In 2014, Carna researchers collected juvenile lumpsucker from seaweed longlines off the south-west coast.

These were ongrown to a size sufficient for use in the first trials on lumpsucker delousing efficacy in Ireland.

They were further ongrown for use as broodstock.

These trials proved that lumpsucker actively remove sea lice from salmon. By 2015, CRS had set up Ireland’s first lumpsucker hatchery to produce juveniles for use as cleaner fish and

to provide research and development support for the salmon farming industry.

The Cleaner Fish Programme — the first initiative of its kind in Ireland — was funded by BIM in 2015 and 2016 with joint support from Marine Harvest Ireland Ltd. During this time, more than 350,000 lumpsucker were hatched and on-reared. To-date, more than 250,000 juveniles have been transferred to salmon cages.

An aim of this project was to evaluate lumpsucker growth under Irish hatchery conditions and to optimise production by improving feeding and other husbandry methods.

Following strict disease screening and transfer protocols, lumpsucker eggs were imported from Norway and the UK, and Irish eggs were sourced from the wild (natural spawning of mature adults, egg masses found on the shore) or from the juvenile lumpsucker collected in 2014 and ongrown in Carna.

Earlier this year, NUI Galway secured BIM funding for a lumpfish broodstock and breeding programme under the EMFF Operational Programme 2014-2020. This project aims to develop a native broodstock that will enable the sustainable production of lumpsucker for the Irish salmon industry.

By providing this type of applied research, NUI Galway hopes to enable development of cleaner fish technology to support growth and development of Ireland’s salmon farming industry.

First published in Aquaculture & Seafood Ireland 2017

Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed that anglers on the Foxford Fishery, Co Mayo; the Coolcronan Fishery on the River Moy; the Galway Fishery on the River Corrib; the Cong River on the River Corrib and the Drowes River in Donegal have reported seeing Pink salmon in July.

The agency is concerned that the appearance of this species may impact Ireland’s own Atlantic salmon species and is appealing to the public to be vigilant and to report catches of Pink salmon with a view to helping to establish the abundance and extent of distribution of the species in Irish waters.

IFI has highlighted the following unique characteristics which are different to Atlantic salmon. »» very small scales - much smaller than a similarly-sized Atlantic salmon »» adult fish fresh from the sea are blue-green to steel blue on the back, with silver sides and a white underbelly »» typical length range: 40-55 cm (maximum 76 cm) »» typical weight range: 1.0-2.5 kg (maximum 6.8 kg) »» males develop a pronounced humpback in freshwater »» large black oval spots on tail »» upper jaw typically extends beyond eye »» anal fin rays: 11-19; Atlantic salmon have 7-11 rays »» no dark spots on gill cover 24 hour confidential hotline number 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24

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Freshwater Focus

Water scarcity and drought threaten EU economy The Water Footprint Network has published the findings of a study on the impacts that increasing water scarcity and drought could have on the EU’s economy. The study, Dependencies of Europe’s Economy on Other Parts of the World in terms of Water Resources which was undertaken as part of the IMPREX Project, (Improving Predictions and management of hydrological Extremes) finds that around 38% of the EU’s water demand lies outside its borders because many of the goods consumed by its citizens or used by its businesses are produced abroad. The following is taken directly from the study’s non-technical executive summary:

Europe’s global water demand:

The EU uses approximately 668 km3 of water for all of the goods it produces, consumes and exports, annually. Around 38% of this water comes from outside its borders, which means that the EU economy is highly dependent on the availability of water in other parts of the world. Two thirds of the foreign water that the EU depends upon comes from nine countries: Brazil (20%); Argentina (11%); Indonesia (8%); Ivory Coast (8%); Ghana (4%); the United States of America (USA) (4%); Ukraine (3%); Malaysia (3%) and India (3%).

Most of this external water demand, in terms of the water embodied in imported products, is for agricultural commodities (98%), followed by industrial products (2%). This means that the EU is particularly vulnerable to lack of water availability affecting supplies of agricultural commodities from these nine countries.

Europe’s global water pressure: pollution

Although the EU’s global water demand is mainly related to the import of agricultural commodities to make food and related products for domestic consumption or for export, the largest impact the EU has on global water resources is pollution. On average, the production of goods imported to the EU pollutes 77 km3 of water2 per year.

This is mainly caused by

industrial production and occurs in the Ukraine (46%), Russia (18%), China (10%), Kazakhstan (4%), USA (4%), Vietnam (2%) and India (2%). As drought and water scarcity intensify, water pollution levels will increase in certain areas because there will be less water available to assimilate pollution in any particular water body.

Global water scarcity is likely to disrupt supplies of key crops to Europe

In the near future, supplies of certain crops to Europe could be disrupted due to water scarcity in other parts of the world; a large portion of the water used in producing soybeans, rice, sugar cane, cotton, almonds, pistachios and grapes for import to the EU comes from areas with significant or severe levels of water scarcity. Ninetyone percent of almond imports are categorised as ‘highly vulnerable’.

Of other key products, 87% of pistachio imports, 74% of grape imports, 70% of rice and cotton imports, 57% of soybean and 56% of sugar cane imports are all considered vulnerable.

Almost all the crop products imported to the EU from India and Pakistan are sourced from locations with high levels of water scarcity.

Ninety-six percent of sugar cane from India and 90% from Pakistan is produced in locations that are very highly vulnerable to water scarcity. Ninety-three percent of rice from India and 91%

from Pakistan is produced in locations that are very highly vulnerable to water scarcity.

Europe’s economy is vulnerable to changes in global rainfall

Although the immediate risks to the EU economy are due to current water scarcity levels, any disruption to rainfall patterns that occurs in the future due to the effects of climate change in the countries of origin of key crops could have a far greater impact on the EU. Lack of rainfall can lead to drought.

Prolonged drought can increase demand for additional water for irrigation. This, in turn, exacerbates water scarcity and reduces the amount of water available which leads to increased competition for the resources that remain.

Currently, the majority of agricultural commodities imported to the EU originate from areas with “low” or “moderate” drought risk.

This includes locations where

Map2: Vulnerability of cotton, rice and sugar cane imports to the EU due to water scarcity

soybeans, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, sunflower, maize and olives are produced for import to the EU. The highest vulnerability is observed in olives, where 32% of the EU’s supply

comes from areas under “moderate” drought risk, mainly located in Tunisia. http://waterfootprint.org/ en/about-us/news/news/ vulnerabilities-europeseconomy-global-water-scarc/

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Water Footprint Network files for bankruptcy The Water Footprint Network Foundation has filed for bankruptcy and expects to go into receivership in early September when its affairs will be settled in Court. A statement from the WFN dated August 25th says the decision “is the result of overwhelming financial problems”.

The statement adds that the WFN “is grateful for all the help, support and interest shown to it over the last nine years”.

And while the Water Footprint Network Foundation will no longer exist as a legal entity, “its mission – to promote the transition towards sustainable, fair and efficient use of freshwater resources worldwide – remains as important and relevant as ever”.

Questions should be addressed to Dr. Christopher Briggs, Executive Director, at: info@waterfootprint.org.

The Water Footprint

Research Alliance which has been hosted by WFN Foundation during the past few years has announced its determination to intensify its efforts in research, education, capacity building and outreach in the field of water footprint assessment.

Water Footprint Research Alliance’s statement: http://waterfootprint.us3. list-manage.com/track/ click?u=d6da6137f6c22 57dcfab4f7ce&id=2078a d5fc7&e=8363106859.

Tribes people gather to discuss the future of Galway’s waterways Philip James, Galway Waterways Association

A

much bigger crowd than expected turned out for the first community workshop (May), held to plan the future of Galway’s waterways.

Guest speakers included Catherine Seale from the Local Area Water and Communities Office (LAWCO) and Mark Horton from the River Trust organisation in Northern Ireland.

Mark also facilitated the different groups to express their memories about life

along the canal network; to identify the threats and opportunities relating to the rivers and canals, and to outline their ideas for what should become of Galway’s waterways.

The evening was deemed a success, with follow-up work flagged by the organisers, The Galway Waterways Association.

Rubbish and responsibility The target was to achieve participation of fifty people representing a cross-section of the non-governmental stakeholders in the rivers and canals. Clubs, residents,

businesses, and institutions that use the waterways or are located along their banks were invited, along with national and local politicians. On the night, close to one hundred participants took part. The level of interest and passion for the waterways surprised everyone.

Two main problems emerged, and not surprisingly are inter-related.

The first is the amount of debris (plastic bottles; traffic bollards; crockery; shopping trolleys) and other kinds of rubbish that have accumulated in the rivers and canals. The second is the lack of a single responsible organisation for

the waterways.

To clarify, responsibility for the rivers and canals in Galway is divided between the City Council; the Lough Corrib NavigationTrustees; the OPW and the University. As a consequence there is no single vision for how the system should be developed, or who is responsible for remedial action when it is required.

Several ideas were put forward: consolidating ownership and responsibility; clean-up, clearing and planting where needed and where appropriate; creating more walkways; signage and heritage markers; clearing invasive vegetation;

encouraging wildlife and reestablishing the Eglinton Canal as a navigation channel.

The Galway Waterways Association with the assistance of the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office (LAWCO) is planning a number of smaller workshops in the Autumn to elaborate and refine the vision. The GWA is also preparing a submission to the Capital of Culture 2020 committee to include the restoration of Galway’s waterways as a major programme within the overall 2020 programme framework.

The GWA would welcome any comments to this article sent to phil@proactivate.ie.

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 11

Aquaculture news

Growth in Irish aquaculture production Gery Flynn

I

rish aquaculture production topped 44,000 tonnes in 2016 – a 9% increase in volume over the previous year which translates to a first point-of-sale value of €167m and accounts for 1,900 jobs, up 6%, according to the 2017 BIM Annual Aquaculture Survey.

In 2016, the survey notes that Gigas oyster production at 10,000 tonnes accounted for 25% of Ireland’s overall aquaculture production – up 11% on 2015. Even more significant however was the increase in value of this species over the previous year – up from €35m to €41m. In value terms, Gigas oysters now account for 74% of Ireland’s shellfish aquaculture.

On the finfish side, BIM’s data declares that 2016 was a successful year for salmon farmers who recorded a total harvest of 16,300 tonnes valued at €105m – an increase

of 24% and 16% respectively.

Of the total 1,900 jobs in Ireland’s aquaculture industry, the survey notes that the oyster sector (Gigas and native species combined) is by far the largest employer offering 1,330 jobs, or 70%.

Challenging year for mussels

The survey reveals that 2016 was another challenging year for the seabed cultured and rope mussel sectors which had a combined 16,000 tonnes harvest valued at €12m – down slightly on 2015 due to a competitive market for both sectors and a shortage of seed mussels for the seabed growers in particular.

BIM is optimistic however, noting that increased mussel seed settlement observed in recent years is likely to be reflected in the 2017 harvest.

As for Ireland’s shellfish sector as a whole, the survey presents the harvest figure and value for each of the main groups: Mussels (rope): 9,760t - € 6.5m

Oysters (gigas): 9,681t - €41.5m Mussels (seabed): 6,361t - € 5.8m These figures are dwarfed somewhat however when compared to the salmon sector’s 16,300t annual harvest valued at €108.6m.

Nevertheless, when viewed in terms of employment, the shellfish sector is the clear winner overall with 1,178 job, and salmon farming a long way behind with 211 jobs.

As for the fifteen counties listed by BIM as having some form of aquaculture activity, only three are noncoastal: Kilkenny (freshwater trout); Roscommon and Tipperary (both perch).

As for the numbers working in aquaculture, Donegal is

the clear winner with 481 jobs. The survey breaks these down as 246 Gigas oysters; 125 native oysters; 82 salmon; 14 rope mussels; 10 seabed mussels and 4 scallops.

In 2016, the aquaculture industry delivered just over €28m to the county.

Further reading:

http://www.bim.ie/media/bim/content/publications/ aquaculture/BIM-Annual-Aquaculture-Survey-2017.pdf

Picture: mussel farming (courtesy SFPA)

Total overhaul required of Ireland’s aquaculture licensing system Gillian Mills

R

oot and branch reform of the aquaculture licence application process is necessary, according to a report (Review of the Aquaculture Licensing Process) published by the Independent Aquaculture Licence Review Committee.

The reform needs to be

‘comprehensive in scope’ and to focus on ‘immediate actions which can produce results in the short term as well as initiatives which will bear fruit in the longer term’.

It concludes that an implementation strategy ‘will assign responsibility for recommendations, accountability and set milestones for delivery and identify the necessary resources to support the

implementation process’.

For the past ten years, salmon and shellfish farmers have been campaigning “non-stop for a fairer and faster licensing system”, remarked Joe Healy, IFA President.

Urgent reform would bring Ireland’s licensing process “into line with modern, professional and responsive permitting services at work throughout the industry

Killary Fjord, Co Galway. Action plan prosposes 24 recommendations to increase Ireland’s aquaculture output by 45,000 tonnes Photo G Mills

worldwide and in many similarly complex areas at national level”, he added.

“Minister Creed and his department must implement all of the recommendations as soon as possible,” he said.

The report is a “significant and serious blueprint for the survival and development of a key food sector in the rural economy. It particularly addresses many of the deficiencies and delays that have cost the industry millions of euro and hundreds of jobs,” Joe Healy stressed.

Welcoming the report, Michael Mulloy, Irish Shellfish Association, said achievement of a 20-year licence term was “hugely significant” for the sector, and would allow for “proper business management” and succession planning in the industry.

“As well as the preassessment procedure, we welcome more transparency in public consultation and the emphasis on seeking managerial and financial assistance in advance of new licences being granted, as well as proof of activity on all existing licensed sites to allow for streamlined

commercial use.”

Damien O’Keeffe, Irish Salmon Growers’ Association chairman, said the report contained many welcome proposals for simplification, increased transparency and customer service for both land-based and marine finfish farming.

“The ability to implement best technology and environmental practice without expensive reviews is crucial to encourage investment and a high quality industry. The 20year licence proposal is a huge step and a majoar achievement for industry stability and planning.”

The IALRC was established in December 2016 as part of FoodWise 2025 and the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development which proposes 24 actions to grow production by 45,000 tonnes.

Aquaculture production increased by 9% (volume) to reach 44,000 tonnes in 2016 and first point-of-sale values increased by roughly 13% to €167m. The primary driver was ongoing development of the gigas oyster and salmon industry. 2017 BIM Annual Aquaculture Survey

12 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Fisheries

Robust monitoring programme ensures Ireland’s reputation as a premium shellfish producer Brian Nolan, SFPA

S

hellfish are a unique food: they are low in fat — especially low in saturated fat — contain omega-3 fatty acids, are excellent protein sources and are especially good sources of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin B-12.

Shellfish such as mussels, clams, oysters and cockles are lightly cooked, and in the case of oysters, are often consumed raw. Evident from shell middens dating from early history throughout the world, shellfish have been consumed by humans for centuries.

Nowadays, very detailed specific food safety legislation is in place to protect public health and maintain Ireland’s excellent reputation as a shellfish producer.

Classified production areas

Ireland produces some 26,000 tonnes from classified shellfish production areas around the coast, and a further 7,725 tonnes that do not require to be fished from classified production areas, such as scallop in offshore sites, whelk and periwinkles.

After France, Ireland is the second largest producer of oysters in Europe, mainly Pacific Oysters Crassostrea gigas.

Statistics

Extracted figures from the 2015 BIM Aquaculture Survey indicate that approximately 1,612 personnel are employed at primary production in the shellfish Industry.

The first point sale value of shellfish harvested from classified shellfish production areas is approximately €60m.

MSSC members »» FSAI – Coordinates enforcement of food legislation »» SFPA – Competent Authority for enforcement of seafood safety legislation »» Marine Institute – National Reference Laboratory for micro, viral, phytoplankton and marine biotoxins monitoring in shellfish. A key component of the Irish shellfish monitoring programme is the MI’s shellfish safety data which gives easy access to up-to-date monitoring results »» The Irish Shellfish Association - Represents shellfish producers.

Shellfish producers have primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of the food they produce and as such their active support and co-operation is key to the success of the monitoring programme. Producers actively support the programme through their work as phytoplankton and shellfish samplers »» BIM - Provides technical advice and information on the sustainable development of the industry »» The Loughs Agency - A cross-border agency responsible for the development and management of the shellfish resources in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough »» The Health Service Executive - Environmental health officers carry out food safety inspections and implement food sampling programmes at retail, wholesale and catering levels.

Mussel harvesting Killary Harbour

Microbiological monitoring

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, (SFPA) as the Competent Authority (CA) for the enforcement of seafood safety legislation in Ireland, acts as an official agency of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), operating under a service contract to implement, manage and monitor the National Microbiological Sampling Programme of shellfish production areas.

The SFPA is the CA for shellfish hygiene controls in Ireland and the Marine Institute (MI) is the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for both microbiological and biotoxin monitoring of shellfish. The SFPA and MI work jointly to deliver the programme for monitoring shellfish, for producer, customer and consumer alike.

The SFPA classifies shellfish growing areas for the commercial harvesting of bivalve shellfish annually, based on data obtained from an official sampling programme.

Ireland classifies shellfish production areas per species.

Over 1,600 classification monitoring samples are submitted by SFPA officers per year from approximately 147 sample locations for submission to contracted laboratories for E.coli analysis.

Legislative background

Bivalve molluscan shellfish can accumulate microorganisms when grown in sewage contaminated water.

When such shellfish are eaten raw or lightly cooked, they can present a public health risk for consumers.

Regulatory controls exist to limit these risks, and an extensive microbiological monitoring programme

exists in Ireland to support these controls.

Statutory Instrument 432 of 2009 transposes EU regulations on shellfish safety into Irish law.

Under these regulations, the quality of shellfish harvest areas are required to be determined, and all commercial bivalve shellfisheries are monitored for levels of Escherichia coli expressed as MPN/100g of flesh and intervalvular fluid.

Classification

The SFPA’S Code of Practice on Ireland’s microbiological monitoring of classified live bivalve mollusc production areas is available at www.sfpa. ie. It reflects best practice in Europe and guarantees confidence in Irish shellfish in order to maintain a reputation and public safety.

Ireland has approximately 137 classified shellfish production sites and 147 sample locations.

The annual classification process employed by Ireland entails the review of micro results from a three-year dataset.

On the basis of this monitoring, each area is classified into one of three categories which determine the level of treatment that is required before consumption. These categories and associated acceptable treatment are set out in table 1.

Changes and trends

Since 2008, Ireland has used a three-year dataset for the annual review of classifications of shellfish production areas. This produces a more precise reflection of the likely bacterial contamination of a production area.

Since the introduction of the three-year dataset, there has been a significant reduction in the detection of elevated or out-of-range results year-on-year, which provides a more accurate classification process and enhances both public safety and Ireland’s reputation.

New EU regulations introduced in Jan 2017 introduced a margin of tolerance for A classified production areas, whereby production areas for which the limit of 230 MPN E.coli per 100g but no greater than 700 MPN in 20% of classification monitoring samples shall continue to be classified as A. (Ireland had previously allowed a 10% tolerance

in classification monitoring samples to a maximum of 1000 MPN E.coli per 100g)

Out-of-range results

Occasionally, elevated or out-of-range results are detected during the classification monitoring programme. Analysis by the SFPA of these out-of-range results was conducted at the 2017 annual review and revealed the following trend: ‘The total number of out of range results detected during 2016 was 35, the lowest number on record.

This number is a 25% reduction over the last 3 years 2015, 2014 and 2013, all of which were a significant decrease (approx.

40%) over 2012 and 2011.

‘The highest amounts of out of range results detected were in 2009 and 2008 which were 81 and 80 respectively.

The overall downward trend in detected out of range results coupled with consistent 90% + compliance with targeted programmes is a positive reflection and validation of Ireland’s Classification system.’

Toxic blooms

Phytoplankton upon which the shellfish feed is occasionally blighted by blooms of species that produce toxins. These naturally-occurring toxins do not harm the shellfish when the phytoplankton is consumed by the filter-feeding molluscs but can cause human illness where intoxicated or contaminated shellfish are subsequently eaten.

The Marine Institute is responsible for monitoring the presence of naturallyoccurring phytoplankton toxins in Irish shellfish, and the analysis of seawater for the presence of toxin producing phytoplankton.

The programme is designed to detect toxicity in shellfish growing areas before harvesting, thereby providing the necessary information to restrict the placement of toxic shellfish onto the market.

Regulatory controls exist to limit these risks, and an extensive shellfish monitoring programme exists in Ireland to support these controls.

Regulation EC No 853/2004 (Annex III Section VII Chapt V) governs the total amount of marine biotoxins that may be present in shellfish for the

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 13

Fisheries protection of consumers.

Statutory Instrument 432 of 2009 transposes EU Regulations on shellfish safety into Irish law.

Three groups of toxins are established in the (EU) No 853/2004 and the monitoring of shellfish is necessary to comply with the regulation before they can be placed on the market: »» Ammesic Shellfish Poisoning (the ASP toxins, Domoic acids) »» Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (the PSP toxin; Saxitoxin group) »» Lipophilic Marine Toxins including: a) Diarrheic shellfish poisoning (the DSP toxin okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins) b) Azaspiracids (the AZA toxins) c) Pectonotoxins (the PTX toxins) d) Yessotoxins (the YTX toxins) The Marine Institute has developed methods that use the most modern chemical analytical tests as approved by the official EU method.

Toxicity can occur at any time during the year and the periods of closure can vary considerably from year-to-year.

In order to provide early warnings of potential harmful algae blooms, Ireland operates a weekly phytoplankton monitoring programme whereby shellfish harvesters submit weekly 25ml samples of water preserved by a few drops of iodine to the Marine Institute Phytoplankton laboratories located in Oranmore and Bantry Harvesters are required to submit samples on a weekly basis.

Before harvesting can commence in a shellfish production area, two shellfish samples must be submitted for testing to the Marine Institute Biotoxin Laboratory for analysis for the presence of marine biotoxins.

The samples must be taken at least 48 hours apart and no more than one week apart. Thereafter, as long as harvesting operations continue, shellfish are submitted on a weekly basis.

Results from such shellfish samples are posted on the Marine Institutes Shellfish Safety website: http:// www.marine.ie/Home/ site-area/data-services/ interactive-maps/latestshellfish-safety-data

Stakeholders

Ireland’s Molluscan Shellfish Safety Committee (MSSC) was created following ministerial direction to provide a partnership forum within which all stakeholders involved in the production, processing, development, analysis and regulation of shellfish, can frankly express their views in the interests of collective learning.

It facilitates the discussion of the product safety and management of the industry from risk management and consumer protection perspectives.

The stakeholders below are members of the MSSC, which is chaired by the FSAI. FSAI; SFPA; Marine Institute; BIM; Irish Water; HSE; Loughs Agency; Irish Shellfish Association(ISA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The MSSC meets on a quarterly basis to achieve the following terms of reference: »» protection of consumer health »» ensuring that Ireland complies with relevant food safety legislation regarding the placing of molluscan shellfish on the market »» ensuring consumer confidence in the safety of molluscan shellfish, and »» supporting the long-term sustainable development of the shellfish industry and to maximize its export potential »» ensuring that any changes in legislation are introduced into the monitoring programme in a cooperative and open manner Shellfish are a unique food, and with its nutrient-rich waters, numerous sheltered inlets and temperate climate, Ireland offers an optimum environment in which to produce this food source.

Ireland’s seafood sector continues to grow apace with new business opportunities emerging at home and aboard. Consumer confidence in the quality and safety of seafood produce is integral to this continued expansion.

The MSSC enables effective communication between producers and State agencies in order to maintain rapid responses to food safety instances, thereby ensuring that consumers can enjoy Irish seafood of the highest quality safely, through systematic management of these risks.

Shellfish production from classified production areas Common Name

Scientific Name

2015 Output ( Tonnes )

Blue Mussel

Mytilus edulis

15000

Pacific Oyster

Crassostrea gigas

9110

Native Oyster

Ostrea edulis

310

Clams

Spisula solidissima

315

Cockles

Cerastoderma edule

410

Razor Clams

Ensis siliqua

1013

King Scallops

Pecten maximus

60

Total Production

26218

*Shellfish production from non-classified production areas Common Name

Scientific Name

2015 Output ( Tonnes )

King Scallops

Pecten maximus

2375

Queen Scallop

Aequipecten opercularis

75

Whelk

Buccinum undatum

3500

Perwinkle

Littorina Littorea

1775

Total Production

7725

Workshops and training seminars

These are coordinated by the FSAI on a regular basis and are open to Producers, Processors, Customers , Enforcement agencies where the latest information on labelling, traceability, legislation monitoring programmes, food safety management systems etc are discussed.

They are free to attend, and the next scheduled workshops are scheduled as follows: Meeting

Date

Day

Registration Time

Location

Killarney

17th Oct

Tues

9am

Brehon Hotel

Clonakilty

18th Oct

Wed

9am

SFPA

Waterford

19th Oct

Thurs

9am

WIT

Donegal Town

24th Oct

Tues

9am

Mill Park Hotel

Galway

25th Oct

Wed

9am

Clayton Hotel

Dublin

2nd Nov

Thurs

9am

Red Cow

Mussel and oyster classifications:

Mussels: 48 x classified sites »» 32 x B classified areas »» 11 x A classified areas »» 5 x Seasonal A/B areas

Oysters: 65 x Classified Sites

»» 31 x B classified areas »» 24 x A classified areas »» 10 x Seasonal A/B areas

Razor and clam classifications

Razor sites: 8 x classified Areas »» 7 x A classified areas »» 1 x seasonal A area

Clam areas: 9 x classified areas

»» 5 x A classified areas »» 4 x B classified areas

Markets and value

Over 90% of Ireland’s shellfish production is exported live to the following markets: »» Mussels: €11m (main markets in France, Spain, Holland, Germany and Belgium) »» oysters: €35m (main markets, France, UK, Holland, Sweden Spain with high value markets developing in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia) »» razor clams: €7m (fished by roughly 30 boats primarily on the east coast) (main markets China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Spain and France) »» whelk*: €5m (fished by roughly 30 boats on the east and northeast coasts) 3,500 tonnes exported frozen to Korea »» periwinkles*: €5m (picked by hand) 1,775 tonnes live export to France, Spain and Holland

Table 1 Shellfish Classification based on E. coli monitoring

Oyster depuration system

Category

Microbiological Standard ( MPN 100g -1 shellfish flesh )

Class A

<230 E.coli

Class B

<4,600 E.coli (90% compliance)

Class C

<46,000 E.coli

Treatment required May go direct for human consumption Must be depurated, heat treated or relayed to meet class A requirements Must be relayed for 2 months to meet class A or B requirements or may also be heat treated

14 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Fisheries

Coastal communities to benefit from fisheries fund

S

even coastal regions and 153 projects are to benefit from €3.6m investment in 2017 under

the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) strategy.

Announcing the package, Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and

FLAG southwest - Denis Teahan, Brian Carey, Jack’s Coastguard Restaurant; Fionan Murphy, FM Marine Services Valentia; Caitriona Ni Churráin - Comharchumann Forbartha an Leith Triúigh; Michael Moriarty, Fenit Coastal Rowing Club; Kevin Flannery, Chairman, FLAG Southwest; Deputy John Brassil; Vera O’Donovan, BIM and foreground: Minister Brendan Griffin

FLAG North - Greencastle Maritime Summer Camp facilitators Trish Murphy, Adrian Harkin and Susan McAleer with back from left:Owen Doyle, Regional North FLAG Coordinator BIM; Minister Joe McHugh; Jerry Gallagher, Chairman North FLAG and Ian Lawler, Inshore Fisheries Development Manager BIM. Photo Clive Wasson FLAG

Projects Investment Grant Aid Requested

North

31

€468,047.23

€307,001.30

Northwest

22

€544,988.03

€315,403.64

West

33

€819,884.62

€410,667.91

Southwest

10

€277,539.00

€162,082.00

South

17

€503,617.18

€250,243.31

Southeast

29

€645,334.35

€423,846.77

Northeast

11

€417,790.98

€209,073.48

Full details of the projects for each FLAG region

North: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/eu-investmentfund-to-deliver-projects-across-donegal.html Northwest: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/ marine-projects-along-the-northwest-coast-receivegrant-aid-to-support-investment.html West: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/funding-to-supportprojects-in-coastal-communities-on-ireland-s-west-coast.html Southwest: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/investmentpackage-for-south-west-coastal-communities.html South: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/coastalcommunities-to-benefit-from-fisheries-fund.html Southeast: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/fundingto-support-projects-in-south-east-coast-communities.html Northeast: http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/funding-tosupport-communities-along-ireland-s-northeast-coast.html

the Marine, said that more than 200 applications had been received, representing a “testament to the hard work and dedication” of the volunteer FLAG Board members.

The final selection was chosen for their “contribution to community rejuvenation, enterprise, innovation, job creation and skills enhancement across the fishing, aquaculture and maritime industries,” he explained.

“Seafood and its wider role in the community is at the core of this innovative programme, and it is the diverse nature of the projects funded under the scheme that illustrates the true value of the seafood industry to our coastal communities and also the potential for further growth in the years ahead.”

The FLAG Scheme is co-funded by the Exchequer and the EU under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme 2014-20.Over the duration of the EMFF programme, the FLAG Scheme will deliver €12m in funding to Ireland’s coastal communities.

FLAG is a coastal community development strategy, focussed on rejuvenation and is centred on the renewal of practices and skills in the fishing, aquaculture and maritime-related sectors with the primary aim of bringing added-value to the seven FLAG Regions.

Restoration of such related practices while inspiring innovation, business and enterprise yielding local job creation through the fishing, seafood, tourism and marine industries along with social inclusion, form the integral component of the FLAG coastal community strategy.

The seven FLAGs are: South FLAG (Cork); FLAG Southwest (Kerry, Limerick); FLAG South East (Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow); FLAG West (Mayo, Clare); FLAG Northwest (Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim); FLAG North, (Donegal) and FLAG North East (Dublin, Louth, Meath).

BIM assists FLAGs to deliver this programme through administering supports via grant-aid, training and on-theground facilitation, with dedicated regional FLAG coordinators in each region.

FLAG Northwest - Co-ordinator Declan Nee; BIM chief executive Jim O’ Toole; Minister Michael Ring and FLAG Northwest chairman, Ger Hassett. Photo: Michael Mc Laughlin

FLAG West - Mikey O Flaharta; BIM CEO Jim O’Toole with Minister Seán Kyne; Sean O Domhnaill & Maritin Breathnach, Scúba Carraroe, Inis Oírr Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure

FLAG South - Finian O’Sullivan, Chairman, FLAG South; Jim Kennedy, Atlantic Sea Kayaks; Minister David Stanton; Minister Michael Creed; Jim O’Toole, BIM chief executive; Monica Buckley and Peter Shanahan, ‘The Fresh Fish Deli’ Rosscarbery, Co Cork and Stephen Belton, Bayview Hotel, Ballycotton.

Photo Don McMacMonagle

FLAG Southeast - Minister Andrew Doyle; Jim O’Toole – CEO BIM; Richard Roche - St Kearns Rowing Club Wexford and George O’Brien - Vartry Rowing Club

FLAG Northeast - Richard McCormick, President, Maritime Institute of Ireland; Minister Andrew Doyle; Jim O’Toole, BIM chief executive and Garrett O’Brien, Chair FLAG North East at the National Maritime Museum, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 15

Fisheries

Protection of traditional fishing practices takes first step towards legislation

T

he Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 has taken a first step to allow island fishermen to continue traditional fishing practices within the six mile territorial limit, subject to restrictions.

In a Dáil debate, Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein, explained that island communities survived by means of fishing and farming and that much of their fishery included drift netting for salmon, potting for crayfish and lobster some trawling, gill netting, fishing for Pollock, spurdog and bass.

“Island communities have become detached from the Common Fisheries Policy quotas and now receive little, if any, quota apart from some in the whitefish sector. There is a European ban on spurdog, despite that many fishermen… say there is an abundance. They are no longer allowed to fish bass, even though fishing trawlers and boats from other EU countries are allowed to. The biggest hit of all was the banning of the drift net for salmon.”

Sinn Fein deputy Martin Kenny added that the Bill was about ensuring people who live on the islands had a future and about facilitating their right to maintain a way of life they have had for centuries.

“Working [with] the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, IIMRO, we developed the heritage licence scenario.

The Bill is designed for people who live on the islands…and will be confined to people who are habitually resident on one of Ireland’s offshore islands, and are engaged in small-scale coastal fishing to earn a livelihood.

“Small-scale coastal fishing is defined as fishing from a vessel of less than 12 metres in length and not using towed fishing gear. We are putting in restrictions to ensure it cannot be expanded to anyone else and the licences cannot be traded or sold off, as has happened in the past. They will be nontransferable and will be in force only when the holder of the licence is on board the vessel. In other words, one person cannot have several boats.”

Jerry Early, IIMRO, said the Bill was “an important step forward in regaining the traditional fishing rights of island communities around the coast of Ireland.

We are looking forward to all parties and independent TDs giving the Bill their support. Overall, the heritage licence bill is a very positive step and we look forward to seeing its enactment in the coming year.”

Photos from around Arranmore Island

Credit: IIMRO

16 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Interview

Mark White, Manager MDT, adressing the Digital Ocean Conference Galway, June 2017

The Irish Pavilion at Nor Shipping 2017 involved Enterprise Ireland; the Irish Maritime Development Office; IDA Ireland; and the Marine Development Team

Marine Development Team to help drive Ireland’s ocean economy Gery Flynn

Since the launch in 2012 of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (HOOW), Ireland has had an Integrated Marine Plan to enable the potential of the marine sector to be fully realised. Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth is a government initiative and is inter-departmental – involving all relevant departments as

well as State agencies with an interest in the marine. A key recommendation was the establishment of a Marine Development Team (MDT) to support State agencies in a co-ordinated drive towards achieving the targets set out in HOOW. Dr Mark White, who has spent the last 17 years in the weather forecasting company Nowcasting / MeteoGroup, is at the helm of this team and recently spoke to Inshore Ireland about his new role.

What is the origin of the MDT? The economic figures for marine Ireland were measured by the SocioEconomic Research Unit (SEMRU) in NUI Galway.

These showed that while a country and economy like Ireland should generate around 2.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from its ‘blue’ economy, the actual figure was only about 0.8%.

For the first time, there was clear evidence of the underdevelopment of our marine resources, leading the government to taking an all-inclusive approach to marine policy development.

The initiative was led by the Marine Co-ordination Group (MCG) – a senior grouping of relevant Government departments. They over-saw development of the marine policy for Ireland, HOOW, and went on to establishing a taskforce that would look at how to implement that policy and how to deliver on the targeted jobs

and GDP potential. The requirement of the MDT was to be business focused, and I was delighted to be appointed to the role which I took up in January 2017.

Was the HOOW policy not therefore progressing as quickly as had been hoped?

The policy has been progressing very well, and establishment of the MDT is a significant demonstration of that progress. The fact that the MCG succeeded in securing support for the MDT - and that funding was made available shows the seriousness with which the HOOW policy is being treated.

Progress has already been made: figures announced by SEMRU in the latest Ocean Economy Report* released in June, show significant progress. In 2016, Ireland’s ocean economy had a turnover of €5.7 billion and provided employment for an estimated 30,176 full-time equivalent individuals.

Eight months on, is the MDT being welcomed by the marine sector?

There has been a very positive response from both Government agencies and industry. We are working to support the actions of the agencies and to identify the areas where support is needed.

Our role is to bring additional marine expertise and to focus where it is requested. This is already beginning to bear results, evidenced by initiatives with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Udarás na Gaeltachta.

There is a tremendous appetite to explore new opportunities and to address the nascent opportunities that people have been looking to develop. The companies in the sector are engaging enthusiastically; an example of this is our support of seven Irish companies at the first Marine Ireland pavilion at Nor-Shipping in Oslo in June.

This was the first time Irish companies were represented collectively at

what is Northern Europe’s largest shipping trade show.

The pavilion was a team effort involving Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Maritime Development Office, IDA Ireland, and the Marine Development Team.

Your task is to move the GDP needle for marine Ireland across the whole spectrum.

What do you mean?

GDP is the key measure of economic activity and marine in Ireland is working from a very low base. The target is to increase turnover from Ireland’s ocean economy to more than €6.4bn by 2020, and to increase GDP contribution to 2.4% by 2030.

The role of the MDT is to add marine-specific expertise and know-how to existing skills and expertise in highly successful agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, BIM, Marine Institute / IMDO and others.

The MDT will assist the agencies by filling any gaps in their knowledge to support their efforts in bringing

more focus to developing marine-related business.

Growth of these agencies and job creation will see marine GDP increasing, and this will be evident in the reports that are published annually.

Very importantly, because the resource is on our coast, the majority of these jobs will be regionally dispersed and will support rural communities to reach their economic potential.

Will the MDT work under a recognisable banner?

Yes, ‘Marine Ireland – Your Blue Edge’ is the brand that will support the work of the MDT in communicating Ireland’s marine value proposition to audiences nationally and internationally.

The name, Marine Ireland, is supported by ‘your blue edge’ to make a statement of ambition for marine business and the opportunity for investment in Ireland’s marine economy. Blue is obviously for the ocean, and edge is the edge that we have

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 17

Interview

A turbine under construction by naval energies company OpenHydro

here: we have an edge in natural resources; an edge in talent; we have an edge in innovation; we’re at the leading edge in so many things and we also have a leading-edge in the marine.

How many people and what skillset will make up the MDT? It is envisaged the team will be 7-8 of mixed skills.

The team has been tasked with promoting ‘Marine Ireland’ nationally and internationally, and will require communications and marketing support.

The other skillset will be business development. We will be looking for people who have an ability to work with emerging businesses, and to assist entrepreneurs to find ways to grow their companies, to scale-up and to get State support for their ideas. The team will also support overseas marine companies who see Ireland as a base for their marine activities in Europe.

Will the MDT give equal weight to all marine sectors or favour technology?

The remit for the MDT is across all sectors of the marine – from seaweed to ship management and from marine renewable energy to aquaculture. We’re currently going through a process that’s looking at where we can have the biggest impact.

Prioritisation is very important, however, the quality of the projects that are submitted will be paramount and we will support excellent projects that surface in any marine sector.

Can young people look forward to the prospect of finding exciting careers in Ireland’s ocean economy?

Implementation of HOOW, the cross governmental support it enjoys, and involvement of all State agencies is very encouraging from the point of view of supporting careers in the marine.

It is the intention expressed in HOOW — and a key deliverable for the MDT —

Thunder Child designed for Naval, law enforcement and offshore patrol applications and built in Youghal, Co Cork by Safehaven Marine

that Ireland should have a thriving and dynamic marine economy that is very attractive to our brightest people and which offers exciting and dynamic careers. Many marine companies are already doing great things; companies like Cathx Ocean are key examples of success with marine products from Ireland.

We have one of the youngest and best educated workforces in the world and a significant diaspora of marine experts currently working overseas.

Many opportunities exist for graduates with skills in engineering, commerce, law, ICT and across a range of scientific disciplines.

I would hope that as more opportunities are created, we will not only attract new people in the marine sector but also attract home marine experts who can bring back with them their wider experience How united is Ireland’s marine community?

Companies in the various sub-sectors of the marine

community know each other well; but we must do more to bring these together to develop links and networks that encourage more business between them and more innovation with the research institutions.

A key priority has been to work very closely with Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Maritime Development Office to build an Irish Marine Industry Network (IMIN).

We want to see the marine community pulling together, to develop new network connections and to have people in Wexford discover new suppliers in Donegal to replace imported supplies, or companies in Kerry to develop new relationships in Louth. By networking and developing new relationships, new business opportunities will emerge.

In June we saw another tremendously successful series of events for SeaFest 2017 in Galway. This is a very important opportunity to bring the marine sector

together and to build that community and network.

The importance of the sea was emphasised by the 100,000-plus visits to the public events. From a MDT point of view however, it was the success of the dedicated business events attended by more than 500 delegates each day that best demonstrates the level of engagement by Ireland’s marine business community. (https://www. ouroceanwealth.ie/) How will the MDT be judged ultimately?

The goals of the MDT have been clearly laid out by the Development Task Force of the HOOW policy. The targets are very clear: there needs to be a measurable change in the marine contribution to GDP and a resultant increase in employment – that is set in stone!

*Ireland’s Ocean Economy 2016

http://www.nuigalway. ie/semru/documents/ semru__irelands_ocean_ economy_2017_online.pdf

18 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Seafood

Innovation, sustainability, skills and competitiveness underpin Ireland’s position as a global seafood producer Gillian Mills & Gery Flynn

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reland’s seafood sector grew by 7.4% and contributed over one billion Euro in GDP to the Irish economy in 2016. Continued investment and support, combined with buy-in

from the industry, has created a firm foundation on which to build and develop.

Irish seafood has become an industry with the resilience to withstand potential challenges and the drive and passion to reach its full potential.

Growth was primarily driven by another strong year of domestic seafood sales of

Business of Seafood 2016

€380m and an increase in private investment by seafood enterprises.

These findings and more on Ireland’s seafood sector outlined in BIM’s The Business of Seafood 2016 report (see sidebar) were unveiled before 200 delegates from the fishing, aquaculture, processing and retail sectors attending the agency’s

INNOVATION

Key performance figures

»» €376 million of fish was landed in our ports (domestic and foreign landings) »» €167 million of fish and shellfish were farmed (13% increase on 2015) »» €543 million – the value of fish landed and farmed before any value is added »» Ireland exported €559 million of Irish seafood »» Ireland imported €276 million worth of seafood (UK was the main import country worth €186 million) »» Ireland’s main markets in 2016 were EU (including the UK) €429 million; Asia €46 million and Nigeria/N. Africa €46 The Business of Seafood 20 million 16 »» Domestic sales were valued at €380 million in 2016 (Salmon was the top selling species valued at €94.5 million) »» 9,257 people are directly employed in the sector – an increase of 4.5% on 2015. 11,000 people and employed directly and indirectly predominantly in coastal communities A Snapshot of

Ireland’s Seafoo

d Sector

in coastal communities.

“The task facing the sector now is to build on this growth, add value and diversify to withstand current challenges including Brexit,” he said.

The conference focussed on BIM’s four pillars of innovation, sustainability, skills and competitiveness which were the basis of presentations by experts in these fields.

Oyvind Fylling-Jensen, Chief Executive, Nofima, Norway

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strong year for Ireland’s seafood industry which grew by 7.4% has put the sector in a ‘solid position’ to take advantage of the world’s growing demand for seafood. Average annual consumption per person stands at 20kg and is expected to increase by 50% by 2030 with most demand coming from Asia.

Ireland is positioning itself as an ‘international leader’ in the global seafood industry by building on its natural advantages of access to some of the most productive fishing grounds in the EU; a commitment to sustainable fishing and development of a high-quality aquaculture sector, and an industry that is committed to meeting the ambitious targets set out in the FoodWise 2025 strategy.

The potential to achieve these targets is underpinned by financial support through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of €240m over the period 2014-2010. (See pg 14). Combined with private sector investment in modernising vessels, increased processing capacity and a focus on new product development and innovation, the seafood industry is demonstrating a growing confidence in the sector.

Domestic retail sales have shown a strong rise on 2015 at €239m with YoY growth of hake 33%; mussels 21%; and salmon (11%).

Employment figures have grown to 9,200 in the fishing, aquaculture and processing sectors, rising to 11,000 when ancillary employment is included.

The task facing the seafood industry is to build on this momentum and to position Ireland as a key player in the supply of quality, sustainably-sourced seafood to a global market. BIM is supporting the industry’s efforts to achieve this goal through a range of initiatives build around skills, sustainability, competitiveness and innovation.

While Irish seafood has a global perspective, it remains an industry rooted deeply in coastal communities. The value of landings in Irish ports shows potential for growth and opportunities can be realised to add value. Aquaculture is also helping to expand the raw material base.

2017 seafood conference in Galway : ‘Winning in a Changing Environment’.

Addressing delegates, BIM chief executive Jim O’Toole said that Irish seafood was a “valuable and sought-after raw material” contributing €376m in fish landings; €167m in farmed fish and shellfish and employing 11,000 people

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ofima is one of the largest institutes for applied research within the fields of fisheries, aquaculture and food research in Europe.

We have a broad understanding of the entire value chain in food production - be that the agriculture, fisheries or aquaculture sector. These three value chains fuse together and more or less become sectorindependent as you go down the processing line.

In Nofima we recognise

that to have sustainable and profitable seafood production in a world that will need more food and more jobs, we must firstly take the long-term view.

Secondly, we will not succeed unless we work and collaborate with government, research institutes and with industry.

Thirdly, unless we are accountable to society about what we do, we will not succeed. Accountability is becoming more and more of an issue worldwide.

Fourthly, change goes on exponentially and the old way of linear thinking in a so-called ‘digital world’ is no longer possible. Therefore, we must learn to regard innovation as a multi-facetted concept. Innovation must take place throughout all steps in a business, and it must be done with the objective of creating profitable jobs so that we have enough tax payers to take care of us in old age.

How do we do this in Nofina?

We engage with industry at a low level by first visiting individual companies and try to solve their problems on site. Then we create clusters where different partners work together to solve problems. These could relate to packaging or marketing or product quality. We do this as a part of open innovation.

We then sit down with industry partners to understand their challenges: how they would like us to work with them and how we can help solve their problems.

Over a four-month period, our scientists work with the pelagic or aquaculture industries or with feed producers to get input and knowledge and insight.

Then, we carry out basic research to solve the problems identified and from there we look at implementation.

Environmental Sustainability Atlas to chart progress in protecting the seafood sector

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IM has launched a comprehensive compendium of all environmental activities in which it is engaged across the sea fishing, fish farming and seafood processing sectors.

The aim of the Environmental Sustainability Atlas is to highlight the work that is being done and to encourage the sector to engage with the seafood development agency on environmental aspects to ensure sustainability of this €1.1bn sector.

Improving environmental performance is at the heart of BIM’s strategy. Careful management and conservation of the ‘natural capital’ upon which the sector relies, cannot be compromised, it believes.

Environmental initiatives

range from energy and waste management to stewardship of the natural environment, continually improving measures by implementing management systems and achieving voluntary standards.

“Sustainability has become the keystone for success in the modern seafood industry.

The world’s best customers increasingly demand hard evidence of sustainability before they will buy.

“BIM understands this and has taken a leadership role in enabling Irish seafood producers to gain the necessary credentials for access to these opportunities.

This creates a ‘win-win’ scenario ensuring there will be a bright future in Irish seafood today and for generations to come,” remarked Jim O’Toole, chief executive.

The Atlas also outlines work undertaken in all aspects of the seafood supply chain under the key environmental headings of Water; Waste; Energy; Natural Capital; Biodiversity and Visual Impact. It reviews how BIM works to improve and demonstrate environmental performance and has a final chapter on future planning and initiatives.

The Environmental Sustainability Atlas will be regularly updated to benchmark BIM’s environmental work and to chart progress so that it can continue to document ‘a clear and tangible commitment to protecting the future of this significant sector’. http://www.bim.ie/ourpublications/corporate&-other-reports/.

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 19

Seafood Skills

Olivia Slevin, Slevin Consultancy Services

There appears to be a stigma attached to working in the seafood industry with many actively involved having a negative image and discouraging family and friends from moving into the sector.

Working in the seafood industry is not seen as a legitimate career or profession, and there’s little thought or discussion about career progression or where to go to from there, or even life-long opportunities within the industry.

This leads to a perception that career progression in the seafood sector is very limited, and that there’s a lack of understanding around the variety of roles available to help people climb the career ladder.

This is not helped by the fact there’s no allowance for life-long learning. For example, a fisherman finds

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’ve been working with BIM on a skills development programme. This involves identifying future industry skills and training needs, and recommending the programmes and supports required to create an industryfocussed training infrastructure that will deliver the skills necessary to operate in today’s seafood industry.

Extensive consultation with industry revealed many issues that are impeding growth.

Sustainability

Andrew Mullins, Sustainability Development Manager, Bord Bia

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he world is facing serious global challenges; there’s absolutely no doubt about that. The new generation of millennials is growing up with this issue - it’s in the news every day.

Only a few weeks ago we saw a big issue around the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

We’re starting to see major issues around rising sea levels.

How are we going to feed a growing population that’s projected to increase by two billion by 2050? That’s going to bring a challenge where we potentially need to produce 70% more food. So how are we actually going to do that?

We’re currently using the resources of 1.5 planets to cover this planet; by 20 50 that’ll rise to 3? As a way

Competitiveness

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that after spending many years at sea, the skills he or she gained are not recognisable or indeed portable. These issues are compounded and indeed driven by the lack of a training culture.

There is a belief that the industry is not as professional or sophisticated as it should be, and this leaves companies at a competitive disadvantage compared to international operators.

All of these issues are making it difficult to attract new entrants which, in turn, leads to a limited pool of talent required to maximise competiveness in the global seafood market.

I was speaking to a fisherman earlier this year who mentioned he felt his son was wasting his college degree entering the seafood industry.

Instead of discouraging young people from entering the industry we need to support and encourage that interest and ambition.

very business person is well placed to create their own narrative when it comes to social media. And I don’t necessarily think you need to be throwing hundreds of thousands of Euro at it.

Social media and digital marketing is full of jargon.

The principles of 1960s marketing books are exactly

of counter-acting this, in 2015 the United Nations set down 17 development goals – fourteen of which are concerned with life below water?. [ian this sentence will be changed] Sustainability is a very hot topic, fuelled by the USA’s decision to pull out of the the Climate Change Agreement.

Reaction to this however has seen other countries actually pulling together and bonding even further, so it’s potentially been a boost for the Origin Green programme. The real issue however is that we now have a universal road map to follow, and that’s really important.

So, off the back of increasing pressure, we’re seeing large organisations setting long-term global agendas regarding

sustainability. They are upping the ante annually, setting more targets and more goals.

But they are relying on their suppliers to help achieve these targets. So if we can have a sound sustainability policy in Ireland, we can make ourselves more attractive to those customers and suppliers, and that’s why Origin Green was born.

Origin Green is the only sustainability programme in the world operating on a national scale, uniting government, the private sector and food producers through Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board.

Origin Green enables Ireland’s food industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets, establishing a baseline for continuous improvement.

Wayne Denner, Digital Communications Expert

the same as for 2017.

Certainly, the technology has changed but today everyone has the opportunity to punch well above their weight when it comes to digital competitiveness, by using these new technologies to reach new markets and to build relationships with customers across the world.

Marketing doesn’t have to be difficult, it doesn’t have to be full of jargon; it doesn’t have to be full of buzz words. It’s got to be simple.

First of all it is about really understands your customer and what they want, and then it’s about providing them with the content that’s going to build the relationship and

is going to influence them to become a customer.

Everyone has a great story to tell when it comes to their business and their brand; content is absolutely everywhere.

It’s about using social media platforms to get content in front of people. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Dubai or China or any other country in the world. I am blown away by the sheer volume of content that’s available in the Irish seafood industry; it’s absolutely everywhere.

Content is very, very important. It’s the thing that is going to open up the opportunities for your business and your brand.

INNOVATION

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Aidan McHugh, Eaton Square

f you can’t explain simply what innovation is, then you don’t’ understand it! Innovation is as much about the idea as it is about execution. We’re seeing companies all over Ireland doing these big start-up projects, but the number that get actually commercialised to market is tiny.

Firstly, people have linked the idea that innovation is about creativity but really that’s only half the battle. The rest of the idea is getting it commercialised and getting it out to market. That’s one of the biggest challenges.

Secondly, innovation must take place around your customer. If that’s not your starting point, around your customer, then you’re at nothing. You must understand what your customer is trying to do.

For example, customers walking into a retail store, what are they trying to do?

Are they trying to get some convenience product, so as

to get home and get the kids to bed? You must have the customer at the heart of your innovation process.

Thirdly, innovation is just the process. For example, like someone in their seafood processing facility, moving product through, getting the fish in and out the door, innovation is just the process.

In fact, you can turn up to an innovation process without an idea. You can turn up with an issue or an opportunity and then drive that through the process to get an outcome. But innovation is about understanding your customers and driving it through to get it.

Innovation is just a process; it’s not a magic pill.

Finally and importantly, it is how you as a company categorise it. What we hear bandied around the world is that innovation has to be new to the market and new to the world.

But that doesn’t matter a jot to someone who’s sitting in the back end of Kerry, or Donegal, trying to bring their business from there to there.

For me, innovation is about growth; it’s about how you grow your business. There is no big insight to innovation.

The three things that stop innovation happening are time, money and resources. So, unless you as company owners get up and lead and take innovation seriously it won’t happen!

Winning in a Changing Environment: Key findings by delegates »» Brexit was identified as a significant challenge for the sector.

Close to 60 per cent of delegates indicated they did not feel their company was adequately prepared for the impact/s of Brexit. »» The conference also identified the need for industry to be ready to capitalise on the opportunities that will certainly arise from Brexit. Constructive thinking and strategic planning were identified as critical in the key areas of innovation, skills, competitiveness and sustainability. »» Two-thirds of delegates believed that credible sustainability certification is absolutely necessary for access to the most lucrative markets. A similar 70 per cent further endorsed the sector’s pursuit of its sustainability agenda. They wholeheartedly supported the call for a fact-based, long-term education and PR programme to support the development of the aquaculture sector so that licensing can progress more smoothly. »» More than half of delegates said that innovation needed to be an integral part of their company strategy with discussion at conference crystallising on the need for the enhanced funding of research and innovation programmes as major drivers of further growth and competitiveness in the sector. »» Over 60 per cent of attendees fully support the need for a life-long career approach to be taken by BIM in the education of new entrants who want to work and progress in Ireland’s seafood sector in Ireland.

20 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Maritime News

MV Betelgeuse, the oil tanker that exploded at Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay on January 8th, 1979 killing 50 people

Photo Ian Vickery Snr

Safety will not stand still for Ireland Michael Kingston

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reland is a wonderful and mystical country of abounding beauty.

When travelling through Ireland W.H Barlett wrote in 1841: ‘In what other country under heaven will you meet with such magnificent scenery as that which presents itself along the extensive line of coast lying between Cork harbour and the mouth of the Shannon?

There, nature has placed her everlasting barriers of rock to oppose the rage of the Atlantic, whose mountain billows vainly lash the huge and jutting headlands that shelter within their Titan arms noble bays and lovely creeks.’

Travelling the world working on international

regulatory matters, I have visited many places and thus far have never come across anywhere that is more beautiful than my homeland — all 32 counties and the islands.

But within that astounding beauty, many tragedies have occurred —some big, some small —each death in each tragedy as significantly devastating to the families and communities involved.

And we have experienced tragedy within our rescue services, none more devastating in recent times than the loss of Rescue 116.

The beauty of our land is tainted by such tragedy, compounded by the fact that many of the incidents could have been avoided if successive Governments had been pro-active in promoting best practice standards in industry

sooner, and had assisted in the implementation of international regulation that has been sitting on Government shelves gathering dust in the corridors of Dáil Eireann.

Regulatory reviews To put this in context, time and again international maritime disasters tell us that best practice is not always adhered to. For many reasons, too often it is cost driven and not until regulation comes into play following a disaster does industry adhere to best practice to prevent a reoccurrence.

The importance of being pro-active in Government cannot be underestimated.

Unfortunately, very often in the slow regulatory process, it takes another disaster to implement previously

suggested regulation where industry continues to ignore recommendations.

In the meantime, those who do employ best practice in the same industry suffer the consequences. That has been the realistic pattern in the development of international regulation.

History is littered with examples: In 1980, the Alexander Kielland platform capsized in Norwegian waters; 123 people died, resulting in a high-level regulatory review and Norway’s leading regulatory regime today.

In 1988, the Piper Alpha platform in the North Sea caught fire and exploded, killing 167 and resulting in a high-level regulatory review in the UK overseen by Lord Cullen who recommended a ‘safety case approach’ and the de-coupling of the Health

and Safety Executive from the Department of Energy due to a ‘conflict of interest’, and was implemented by the UK Government.

And of course the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico when 11 people died resulting in a high-level regulatory review in the US and worldwide.

The US reviews came to the same conclusion as Lord Cullen: that a ‘safety case’ approach should be implemented and that the Health and Safety Executive should be de-coupled from the Department of Energy.

The US had not learnt from the Piper Alpha Disaster even though a US company was at the centre of the disaster.

Apart from atrocious and unnecessary loss of life, these disasters all have in common a lack of best

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 21

Maritime News

practice at the time and correct regulation.

In January 2011, the US National Commission Report into Deepwater Horizon stated: ‘This disaster was almost the inevitable result of years of industry and government complacency and lack of attention to safety.’

The same could be said of all these disasters and many more.

Ireland’s failure to act In Irish jurisdiction, MV Betelgeuse exploded at Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay in 1979, resulting in the actual ratification of the modern IMO Safety of life at Sea Convention, SOLAS 1974.

Simple inert gas systems that had already been suggested but were not used on board the Betelgeuse became mandatory. Fifty people lost their lives.

Ireland had failed to ratify the Convention but did so immediately after the disaster. Had Ireland ratified SOLAS 1974, the disaster might not have occurred.

As well as the seven local men who lost their lives, including my father, 42 French nationals never returned home. Bantry Bay is forever the resting place for 23 of their bodies that were never recovered.

And no full regulatory review was carried out — unlike the urgent reviews mentioned in Norway, the UK and the USA — representing a failure to learn from such a huge disaster in our jurisdiction.

The failure to ratify SOLAS 1974 was compounded by

the terrible safety regime that resulted in all personnel waiting for almost 30 minutes to die with no fire equipment and no safety boat present.

Complacency or inability at Government level to get the job done, and the lack of drive, is sometimes quite staggering. I put it down to a lack of understating to the importance of these issues and of the very important work carried out by international expert delegations, including Ireland, at the International Maritime Organisation, and by diligent Irish civil servants responsible when preparing draft regulation to be enacted

by Dáil Eireann.Ireland has also failed to ratify the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels* – lying on Government shelves since 1977 – and only ratified by the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland, and South Africa, and the Convention for pollution from fixed structures, also adopted in 1977 but et to be ratified In the meantime, thousands of lives have been lost in the fishing industry worldwide. By not ratifying the Torremolinos Convention, Ireland has not fulfilled her international duty to seafarers and we have no international regulation surrounding pollution incidents from fixed structures such as the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

As I write, Ireland’s exclusive economic zone is being exploited for energy resources. What regime is

governing those activities?

Has Ireland looked at Lord Cullen’s recommendations and implemented them all?

Ireland has also failed thus far to ratify the 2007 Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks.

While it is true that Ireland is a country of limited public finance and resources, the issues I speak of are of such importance to the safety of seafarers in Irish jurisdiction and consequently our rescue services, there should be no question whatsoever over enacting international regulation as a matter of urgency.

It is not just our legal duty to our citizens and rescue services and those who enter Irish jurisdiction, but a moral duty of the highest level to their welfare and our society. There is no excuse for complacency.

It is also important to ask now, had Ireland assisted in the ratification of the Torremolinos Convention for Fishing Boat Safety, would Rescue 116 have had to respond to the minor injury incident on a fishing vessel in international waters to the west of Ireland?

Accordingly, Ireland must carry out a regulatory review of all safety procedures in maritime and energy operations in its jurisdiction.

We do not want more tragedy, and have to repeat what the United States stated following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy: It is also time for a dedicated Minister for the Marine to address these issues, as well as focusing

on the incredible potential of Ireland’s maritime and energy sector.

Let us show leadership by adopting the ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach while discharging our legal and moral duties in shaping

Michael Kingston, an Irish lawyer from Goleen, Co Cork, was awarded the 2014 - 2015 Lloyd’s List Global Maritime Lawyer of the Year for his contribution to safety of life at sea, and in July 2015 received the US Coastguard Challenge Coin for his efforts to promote maritime safety by raising awareness about the IMO Polar Code.

Michael carried out the legal reviews on Lloyd’s of London’s 2011 Drilling in Extreme Environments report following the Deep-Water Horizon Disaster; their report, Arctic Opening: Opportunity and Risk in the North Sea and their 2013 Removal of Wreck report following the sinking of Costa Concordia.

Michael has also represented the international Union of Marine Insurance at the IMO, and has worked on international regulation with several Governments.

Michael has been included in Lloyd’s List’s top 100 most influential people in the Shipping world, and in the 2015, 2016, and 2017 top most influential people in the tanker industry by Tanker Shipping and Trade.

* Inshore Ireland: asked the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to confirm the status of Ireland’s ratification of the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels 1977, following the Cape Town Agreement (2012) on the implementation of the Provisions of the 1993 Protocol relating to the Convention:

DTTAS response: ‘Ireland has not yet ratified the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 (which has not yet entered into force) but has ratified the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels 1977 (in January 2001). The fishing vessels covered by the Convention (those >24m in length) were the subject of an EU Directive in 1997 (Council Directive 97/70/EC as amended) which was transposed into domestic Irish legislation via S.I.s 417 and 418 of 2002 (respectively, the European Communities (Safety of Fishing Vessels) Regulations 2002 and the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Regulations 2002).

‘A provision in Irish primary legislation is required before Ireland can ratify the Cape Town Agreement and preparatory work has commenced to that end.

The Cape Town Agreement is one of a number of maritime conventions that is expected to be included in a forthcoming Merchant Shipping (International Conventions) Bill. The approach to be taken has been the subject of a Regulatory Impact Assessment published in January of this year (available on this Department’s website here).

international regulation for the safety of our seafaring world: ‘Always together we can make a difference.’

That way, W.H Bartlett’s impression of our land will be true.

INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FROM KONGSBERG MARITIME

22 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Marine R&D

A bird’s eye view of Irish seaweed Tom Rossiter, PhD student

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deficit of information exists on Irish seaweeds to support decision making in relation to the sustainable harvesting and processing industry.

A project is underway at NUI Galway/Marine Institute which seeks to address this gap by developing a methodology that is repeatable, reliable and standardised, using innovative technology to assess seaweed distribution and biomass in Ireland.

The new methodology will provide data to support future management decisions, both commercial and ecological Given the historical and current importance of seaweed to many of Ireland’s coastal communities, obtaining detailed biological information is all the more important.

Two types of brown intertidal and subtidal species of both commercial and ecological importance are of particular interest to researchers.

To-date, most work has concentrated on the midshore species Ascophyllum nodosum, more commonly known as knotted/egg wrack (‘feamainn bhuí’); at a later stage of the project the team will focus on kelps.

A. nodosum is an intertidal fucoid species that inhabits the mid-littoral zone along sheltered rocky coastlines where it creates a range of complex habitats for fish

Spectral Radiometer measuring the spectral properties of seaweed in the field

and invertebrate species.

Kelps are a subtidal brown foundation species found along exposed rocky coastlines.

A foundation species often modifies its surrounding environments, causing variations in factors including primary production, water movement and sedimentation.

The morphology of kelp creates many unique habitats and surfaces for many other marine organisms, including commercially important species such as juvenile cod.

Aerial surveys

Current research combines field-based and optical remote sensing aerial surveys in order to assess A. nodosum distribution and biomass. The term remote sensing is applied to the science of observing the Earth from a distance (i.e. a plane, drone or satellite). This technology enables much larger areas to be surveyed than on-foot methods, thereby increasing the efficiency of intertidal surveying which is often a time and labour-intensive process.

Optical remote sensing devices measure the way the sun’s electromagnetic radiation (EMR) interacts with objects on the Earth’s surface. All objects reflect, absorb and scatter the sun’s energy in different ways, depending on what region of the EM is being used.

These unique spectral properties allow scientists to distinguish between different features, for example, comparing healthy vegetation to fire damaged vegetation or, identifying different rock types. This study will use the unique spectral signatures of seaweed species to investigate spectral differences that can be used for their identification.

The type of sensor used by the project team is known as a hyperspectral sensor which provides a high spectral resolution enabling subtle spectral differences between seaweeds of interest to be observed.

This sensor essentially divides up the sun’s EMR into hundreds of small contiguous ‘bands’ providing a much greater level of detail in order to discern differences between objects that the human eye could not, it also allows data to be recorded in the infrared

portion of the spectrum.

The team undertook an initial aerial survey using a Cessna-172 mounted with a multispectral and a colour camera, which allowed the researchers to develop the detailed logistical and technical aspects of carrying out such work.

The multispectral sensor operates under the same principle as the hyperspectral but at a lower spectral resolution. This means that instead of hundreds of small contiguous bands there are only four very broad bands, making it less well suited to identifying slight spectral variations between objects.

Multispectral image of a section of Kilkieran Bay, Co. Galway.

This image highlights the colour differences between water (dark and light blue), urban development (turquoise), grassland/vegetation (pink) and seaweed (red). Such images allow researchers to undertake more detailed investigations of slight colour variations which may indicate different species or cover types. Image courtesy of Conor Cahalane (National University of Ireland Maynooth)

Drone-based survey

A follow up survey in 2017 will utilise this information and integrate the data from a detailed, more focused, drone-based survey also employing a colour camera and a hyperspectral sensor.

As part of the method development, the team will assess the ability of the sensors to firstly discriminate between seaweed species and, secondly, to attempt to quantify biomass.

This work is being supported by traditional field-based surveying, collecting data on biomass, species diversity and percentage cover. Further to this, the researchers deploy a portable spectral radiometer (a hand-held version of the hyperspectral sensor) to obtain pure spectral signatures of intertidal seaweed species and associated substrata.

These data will then be used to ‘train’ the hyperspectral sensor to recognise the spectral signatures of different species.

An important aspect of unravelling the speciesspecific signatures is the quantification of the effects of natural environment stressors such as tidal emersion and desiccation, as well as natural colour changes within the seaweed on the spectral response of different species.

Such information will help to inform the team on the specific requirement of experimental design. For example, if there is a difference in spectral response depending on how long the seaweed is exposed at low-tide this will, in turn, affect the data collection process.

Tom Rossiter is a PhD student in Botany and Plant Science (Algal BioSciences) at NUI Galway, supported by the Marine Institute (who fund this research through a Cullen Fellowship), and NUI Maynooth.

The project is integrated into INFOMAR, the national seabed-mapping programme which is funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, and jointly managed by the Geological Survey and Marine Institute. This research is supervised by Dr Dagmar Stengel (NUIG), Thomas Furey (INFOMAR) and Dr Tim McCarthy (NUIM)]

The first image is a high resolution RGB image of a small section of the intertidal zone. The difference between rock, sand, seaweed and grass is clearly visible. What is less clear is the species and density of the seaweed and it is also difficult to efficiently assess the distribution of each feature.

The second image is of the same location, taken at the same time, using a multispectral sensor. This image has identified the patchy sand area in the middle of the image (in yellow) and also the large rocks (circled). Due to the low spectral resolution of the sensor there is some miss-classification of rock as sediment but this is to be expected due to their spectral similarity. Whilst this sensor is not able to discriminate between seaweed species it was able to identify dense (dark brown) from fragmented (light brown) seaweed.

This highlights the potential for this kind of technology.

1m2 quadrat used for surveying A. nodosum communities. In this image, it is the dominant species with green epiphytic macroalgae also present. This image shows the visible colour differences within A. nodosum and it is hoped these differences, within and between species, can be identified using remote sensing technology.

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 23

Marine R&D

Seaweed could hold the key to cutting methane emissions from cow burps Michael Battaglia, Group Leader, Agricultural Mitigation and Adaptation, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, CSIRO

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hen Canadian farmer Joe Dorgan noticed about 11 years ago that cattle in a paddock by the sea were more productive than his other cows, he didn’t just rediscover an Ancient Greek and Icelandic practice.

While the Ancient Greeks didn’t have to contend with global warming, it turns out that this practice could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 21st-century livestock farming.

Cows and sheep produce

methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Despite misconceptions, most cow methane comes from burps (90%) rather than farts (10%). Livestock produce the equivalent of 5% of human-generated greenhouse gases each year, or five times Australia’s total emissions.

From Canada to the world

Dorgan’s cattle were eating storm-tossed seaweed.

Canadian researchers Rob Kinley and Alan Fredeen have since found that seaweed not only helped improve the cows’ health and growth, but also reduced their methane production by about 20%.

This and other lines of evidence led Kinley, who by then had moved to CSIRO, to team up with other

Asparagopsis reduces methane in the lab by up to 99%.

CSIRO scientists and marine algae specialists at James Cook University to test a wide range of seaweeds.

They tested 20 seaweed species and found that they reduce methane production in test-tube samples from cow stomachs by anything from zero to 50%. But to do this required high amounts of seaweed (20% by weight of the sample) which was likely to present digestion issues for animals.

But when the researchers tested a particular type of seaweed collected from Queensland’s coastal waters, they thought their instruments were broken and ran the tests again. It turns out that Asparagopsis taxiformis reduces methane production by more than 99% in the lab. And unlike other seaweeds where the

Photo Michael Battaglia

effect diminishes at low doses, this species works at doses of less than 2%.

Asparagopsis produces a compound called bromoform (CHBr), which prevents methane production by reacting with vitamin B12 at the last step. This disrupts the enzymes used by gut microbes that produce methane gas as waste during digestion.

Fighting climate change, feeding people

Globally, 1.3 billion people depend, partially or entirely, on livestock for their livelihoods. Livestock provides protein and micronutrients to many of the world’s 830 million people experiencing food insecurity.

Livestock methane production is not just an environmental problem.

All this burped methane is wasted energy that could be going to make animals produce more food. Around 15% of feed expenses are lost in methane emissions. As feed is the primary expense for livestock farmers, this is no small problem.

It’s not just the cost, either.

As wealthier consumers become more aware of environmental issues around agriculture, some are choosing to eat less meat.

If farmers could supplement their feed with seaweed, this might just help with two of the biggest challenges of our time: fighting climate change and growing more food with fewer resources.

In Australia, if we could develop a way to include seaweed feed in the Emissions Reduction Fund (as for dairy farmers), farmers might even be able to get carbon credits at the same time.

CSIRO and partners James Cook University, with funding from Meat and Livestock Australia, are currently conducting further experiments to examine how feeding seaweed to cattle affects production.

These experiments aim to confirm the effects measured in the lab and in live sheep experiments. Confirmation through these experiments could create a new industry in growing seaweed as a feed supplement for livestock.

Where can we grow all the seaweed?

Seaweed production globally is booming, with more than 25 million tonnes (measured when wet) farmed each year, which is about double the global commercial production of lemons.

Producing enough Asparagopsis to feed 10% of the almost 1 million feedlot and 1.5 million dairy cattle in Australia would require about 300,000 tonnes a year, and millions of tonnes if it were to be scaled up globally.

With selection and breeding of seaweed varieties for higher bioactivity, this figure could come down, but perhaps only by half, and it would still require large areas of land and water. With typical seaweed production rates at 30-50 tonnes of dry matter per hectare, this suggests that to supply 10% of the Australian livestock industry will require at least 6,000 hectares of seaweed farms.

The booming seaweed industry is already aware of the pitfalls experienced in fish farming.

There are likely to be many indirect benefits, including creating alternative livelihoods in many developing countries where fishing may be in decline, and the use of seaweed as a means to filter detrimental nutrients from rivers or effluent from fish farms.

But seaweed farms more generally will be part of our increasing demands on the marine environment and will need to be part of integrated ecosystem wide management and marine spatial planning.

But for now, Joe Dorgan, of Seacow Pond in Prince Edward Island, Canada, will continue to feed seaweed to all of his cattle and reap the rewards of improved health and production.

First published in The Conversation October 12, 2016

24 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Marine R&D

Bermuda Beach

Lisbeth Engbo, Plastic Change

Pastic debris on Tracht beach, Co Galway

Photo Paul Connolly

Plastics in the ocean – food for thought Paul Connolly*, Marine Institute

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lastic is all around us in various forms, shapes, sizes and colours and has become part of daily life, found in most of our everyday items - either intentionally (our mobile phone) or unintentionally (our oceans).

Global annual plastic production is estimated to be about 300 million tonnes, increasing by 20 million tonnes a year. Plastics are critical to modern life and have made possible the development of computers, cell phones, TVs and the many appliances used in our homes and workplaces.

Packaging is the largest global user of plastic resins.

This massive use of plastics today however has resulted in plastic waste accumulating around our cities from where it is ultimately transported into the ocean, and is a growing global concern.

Plastic in the ocean

It is widely cited that 80% of marine debris originates from land. In a recent study linking worldwide data on solid waste, population density and economic status, the amount

I

n 1907, Leo Baekeland invented the first plastic (Bakelite) which was used to insulate cables during the electrification of the US. During World War II, the production of synthetic alternatives to natural products became a priority.

Nylon was invented by Wallace Carothers in 1935 for use in parachutes, ropes, body armour and helmet liners. During the 1960s, plastics became the ‘vision

of land-based plastics entering the ocean suggested that in 2010, 275 million tonnes of plastic waste was generated in 192 coastal countries, with between 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes entering the ocean Population size and quality of waste management systems largely determine which countries contribute the greatest mass to become plastic marine debris. In a top 20 country list of plastic mismanagement, China, Indonesia and the Philippines were found to have the highest levels of plastic marine debris.

Coastal EU countries were found to rank 18th on the list.

Floating plastics

Plastics undergo minimal degredation and are likely to remain in the ocean for hundreds or even thousands of years. Plastic pollution in the oceans is globally distributed due to its properties of buoyancy and durability. Plastics of all sizes are found in all ocean regions – transported by the prevailing winds and surface currents.

A scientific study in 2014 estimated the amount of floating plastic debris in the world’s oceans to be at least 5.25 trillion particles weighing 244,000 tonnes.

Floating plastic is only the tip of the iceberg however.

The study did not account of the future’ and replaced many natural materials. In the 1970s, plastic debris in the environment became a global concern.

In 2013 the European plastics industry produced 57 million tonnes of plastic and employed 1.45 million people in Europe and involved 60,000 companies, most of which were small to medium enterprises, turning over €320bn in 2013.

Demand for plastics in Europe is 46.3 million tonnes with Germany, Italy, France UK and Spain accounting for

for the potentially massive amount of plastic present on shorelines, on the seabed, suspended in the water column and within organisms.

The 244,000 tonnes floating in the ocean represents only 0.1% of the staggering 300 million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide every year.

The study also found an astonishing number of those little balls from deodorant roll-ons; toothbrushes; doll parts; bouncy balls and buckets. In one area of the Indian Ocean, near Christmas Island, the study found thousands of flip flops that had been carried there from the waters of Southeastern Asia, probably disposed of by holidaymakers after returning home to colder climates.

Impact

Plastic debris can entangle marine animals such as seals and seabirds before the plastic breaks down and disperses into smaller pieces as a result of ultra violet radiation and the physical forces of water. There are many pictures showing seals, turtles, seabirds and other marine animals entangled in plastic debris such as discarded fishing nets and ropes.

As they slowly break down, plastics continue to accumulate in the ocean as small fragments called

microplastics. These can also affect marine animals both physically (by blocking the gut when ingested) and chemically (by leaching toxic substances from the plastic). The impact of ingestion of microplastics by marine animals that filter feed is still poorly understood.

A scientific study published recently shows that when fish eggs are exposed to microplastics, it inhibits hatching, decreases growth rates and alters feeding behaviour of fish larvae.

Fish reared in different concentrations of microplastic particles were also found to have reduced hatching rates and displayed abnormal behaviour. Their ability to respond to predators was reduced, increasing the mortality rate of the larvae.

There is increasing concern that microplastic waste in our oceans could affect the functioning of our ocean ecosystems, particularly the survival of fish eggs and larvae.

This could have a profound impact on our fishing industry.

A recent study has shown that two daily routines that most of us engage in contribute to microplastics in our oceans: abrasion of synthetic textiles while washing and the abrasion of tyres while driving produces microplastics that ultimately end up in our oceans.

The future

There is no doubt that plastic waste will continue to grow globally with increasing populations and plastic consumption associated with economic growth especially in urban areas and developing countries.

Improving waste management infrastructure in developing countries is paramount but this will be expensive and take time.

For developed countries, long-term solutions will likely involve curbing the growth of single-use plastics and the development of plastic recovery systems that remove plastic debris from our ocean.

A recent scientific paper showed that since the 1950s, humans have generated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastics (equivalent to one billion African elephants). Of this, 6.3 billion tonnes has become waste.

Global production of plastic reached 322million tonnes in 2015 and is likely to double by 2025 and triple by 2050.

Concern is growing about the increasing amount of plastics entering our oceans and their silent impacts. *Dr Paul Connolly is Director of Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services at the Marine Institute.

well over 50 % of the total.

Ireland ranks 21st in the EU demand list for plastics.

Packaging is the largest plastics demand sector representing 40%, with building and construction at 20%. Other sectors such as appliances, household and consumer products, furniture and medical products have a total demand of 22%.

In 2012, Europe generated 25.2 million tonnes of plastic waste, 26% of which was recycled and 38% going to landfill.

Denmark’s west coast

Photo: Kimo

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 25

Marine R&D

INFOMAR expands vessel fleet and introduces airborne capabilities Sean Cullen, INFOMAR

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he east coast of Ireland has been the focus of the INFOMAR inshore data acquisition this summer, starting around Skerries on the INTERREG-funded CHERISH project (www. cherishproject.eu ) and progressing south through the sandbanks off the Wicklow and Wexford coasts.

The Saltee Islands will be delayed until the end of September due to seal pupping; meantime the vessels will be working in deeper waters near the UK/ Ireland boundary and the Traffic Separation Scheme east of Tusker Rock.

Two new vessels have joined the inshore fleet: RV Mallet and RV Lir. RV Mallet is a new 18m catamaran built by Safehaven Marine and fitted with a Kongsberg 2040P multibeam system.

RV Lir is a second-hand Redbay Stormforce 11m RIB, deploying a RESON T20P on an over-the-bow mount. These systems are similar to those on RV Keary and RV Geo respectively.

RV Mallet has taken on the

role of ‘mothership’ to RV Geo and RV Lir, giving RV Keary ‘licence to roam’. RV Keary is the most versatile vessel in the fleet, hence can range ahead to undertake delineation surveys and to survey isolated dangers and then double back to do specialist sampling and infill when the fleet has moved on.

The four vessels are an ideal mix of capabilities; however there still remains the problem of very shallow areas which take an inordinate amount of time to survey due to diminished swath widths of the multibeams.

Enter the new technologies of photogrammetry from ‘drones’.

Computer capabilities have advanced drone flight controls as well as being able to calculate 3D points from photographs taken at multiple angles by airborne cameras. Resulting data can be rendered into real colour (RGB) digital terrain models which if captured at low tide can reach out to meet data captured at high tide by the vessels.

A seamless onshore/offshore data set is now a possibility.

INFOMAR has invested in a state-of-the-art drone that uses a 42-megapixel camera and Applanix inertial navigation system which gives

3cm resolution and a vertical accuracy of a few centimetres.

System training was undertaken at Microdrones in Siegen, Germany, and four pilots have been licenced by the Irish Aviation Authority.

Operations are due to get underway in the next month and will be reported in the next issue. Some test areas have been completed and will be rendered on the www.infomar.ie website in the near future.

Research is also underway with university groups who use more advanced hyperspectral imaging techniques which have the potential to give some bathymetric data in shallow water. Trials will be supported by RV Geo in Kerry by late September.

We always welcome visitors and our crews are happy to show the data and systems onboard. Drones are a bit more dangerous however and we ask the public to stay at a safe distance when in operation. When safe to do so we are more than willing to answer any questions!

Microdones MD4-3000 photogrammetry drone

Flight training in Siegen, Germany

RV LIR

RV MALLET at Arklow Maritime Festival in August

INFOMAR Seminar 2017 The annual INFOMAR seminar takes place at the National Maritime College of Ireland, November 15-16.

It will be dovetailed with the European Marine Sand and Gravel Group (EMSAGG) seminar and aims to tie in some of our industry stakeholders. We are promoting stakeholder engagement and will make space for industry exhibitions and time for networking though Geoscience Ireland and the Marine Development Team.

It is also planned to officially launch RV Mallet and weather permitting, all our vessels should be on show.

Full agenda will be available shortly on www.infomar.ie.

INFOMAR inshore fleet – top to bottom - RV MALLET, RV KEARY, RV LIR and RV GEO

26 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Marine R&D

New expedition finds deepest-ever Irish corals Dr Noirin Burke, Explorers Education Programme with teachers from Maree National School, Galway during the annual week long teachers training, learning about how to use marine themes on the primary school curriculum

Photograph Cushla Dromgool-Regan

Cushla DromgoolRegan and Janine Guinan

A Explorers Education Programme™ celebrates ten years Cushla DromgoolRegan

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he Explorers Education Programme™ teachers training, which is run in conjunction with the Galway Education Centre, has held its tenth annual week-long workshop with 24 primary school teachers, to help raise their knowledge of the ocean and its impact on our daily lives.

Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute chief executive congratulated the team involved: “Collaborations with Galway Education Centre and Galway Atlantaquaria help us excel in providing teachers and students with handson experiences, learning about the seashore and ocean through the Explorers Education Programme, and as a consequence, helping as a nation to develop a thriving maritime economy and future healthy marine ecosystems in Ireland.”

Jan Sinnott, teacher at Maree Primary School, Galway, was delighted to take part in the workshop again this year after facilitating the first Explorers training course in her class in 2005: “This is an outstanding course and provides excellent examples of how we can overcome some of the challenges of teaching students about the marine, using cross curricular lessons and planning.”

The enthusiasm of the course trainers and the seashore fieldwork reminded us of how we have a great resource on our doorstep and how easy it is to create inspiring lessons across all of the strands,” she added.

With the expansion of the Explorers Programme run by outreach centres around most coastal counties in

Ireland, the programme will reach over 20,000 students by the end of 2017.

Dr Noirin Burke, Galway Atlantaquaria, who oversees the coordination of the Explorers Programme, noted that the programme has diversified greatly over the last ten years.

“As well as the DES approved summer course, we now also offer whole school CPD training for schools in the west of Ireland who want to introduce ocean literacy and cross-curricular subjects such as environmental awareness and care into the curriculum within their school.”

Schools may also apply to have marine-themed modules delivered by a member of their local Explorers outreach team. These include creating marine-themed projects, seashore visits and marine workshops, primarily for 5th and 6th class students.

“Over the last year we have seen a wealth of amazing marine projects that have been completed by teachers and students covering subjects ranging from sciences, geography, art, history and english to name a few. Some of these have been shared with their local community, such as the Cleggan Our History, Our Sense of Place book, or have featured in national exhibitions including the Galway Science and Technology Festival as well as SEAFEST- Ireland’s National Marine Festival. It was a pleasure to work with centres and schools to help promote the ocean around Ireland and how we are connected to it,” Dr Noirin Burke added.

For more information on the Explorers Education Programme centres or to download free lesson plans and resources, visit www. explorers.ie

team of scientists has discovered the deepest known occurrence of a cold-water coral reef known as Solenosmilia variabilis in Irish waters at depths of 1,600m as part of a multiagency and university collaboration using video mapping with the Marine Institute’s Remotely Operated Vehicle ROV Holland I. The marine scientists led by the Marine Institute with the National Parks and Wildlife Services, travelled more than 1,000 nautical miles over three weeks along Ireland’s Porcupine Bank and continental slope, collecting HD video, sample cores and biological specimens along the shelf edge from 50 locations.

The SeaRover survey was carried out on the Commissioner of Irish Lights vessel ILV Granuaile, gathering data for marine planning, habitat protection and measuring the effects of climate change.

“Some of the reef ecosystems and habitats we discovered have never been seen before. Discovering S. variabilis at depths greater than 1,600m helps us establish a better understanding of the environmental conditions necessary for this species to thrive,” explains Chief Scientist David O’Sullivan, INFOMAR, at the Marine Institute.

“The deep-sea coral S. variabilis is widespread; normally seen at depths between 1,000 to 1,300m on seamounts or rocky areas deep under the sea but only occasionally forming reefs.

“Its growth rate is very slow — approximately 1 millimetre per year —so finding the reef structure, which is part of a fragile ecosystem thousands of

years old, and in deeper parts of the ocean, is an important find for marine science.”

Sea pens, which visually resemble a cross between a feather, a starfish and a fern, are actually a form of soft coral and were also found in the extreme deep sea environment. They sprout polyps from a stem-like centre.

“With over 300 species currently known around the world, they come in many shapes, sizes and colours. We have seen a wide variety of forms on this survey and can only give species names to very few as many are likely to be new to science and have yet to be described,” explained Dr Yvonne Leahy, NPWS. “There are undoubtedly many more unidentified species out there, and we have observed some specimens that require closer examination to properly identify”.

The team used ROV Holland I to map the distribution and extent of deep-water reefs and associated habitats, as well as using high-resolution bathymetric maps produced under the national seabed mapping programme, INFOMAR — a joint Geological Survey Ireland/ Marine Institute initiative.

The bathymetric data which shows the depths of the ocean, has been key in identifying specific seabed features such as submarine canyons, escarpments and mounds where reef habitats are likely to occur.

The SEA-Rover survey (Sensitive Ecosystem Assessment and ROV Exploration of Reef Habitat Survey) is jointly funded by the Irish government and the EU through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and NPWS, to undertake further mapping surveys of offshore reefs with the aim to evaluate status and review requirements for conservation and management measures consistent with the Habitats Directive.

The project is co-managed by the INFOMAR programme and Fisheries Science and Ecosystem Services at the Marine Institute and NPWS. While the project objectives are primarily policy driven, collection of data and scientific benefit will also be of immense benefit to the national and international research community.

The ROV robotic arms were also used to collect biological specimens for NUI Galway’s SFI-funded project ‘Exploiting and Conserving Deep Sea Genetic Resources’.

The specimens will also give new information on where sensitive species are found and will assist research at University of Plymouth’s Deep Sea Conservation Unit to predict where high value ecological areas might be found offshore Ireland and in the wider North East Atlantic.

“The biological samples will help us understand the connectivity of different cold-water coral reef habitats and will ultimately help with their future management,” said on board senior scientist Dr Kerry Howell from Plymouth University Deep Sea Conservation Unit.

The SEA-Rover survey was commissioned and jointly funded by NPWS and the EMFF and was coordinated and led by the INFOMAR programme at the Marine Institute.

INFOMAR (INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s MArine Resource) is a joint venture between the Geological Survey Ireland and the Marine Institute, funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

The INFOMAR programme is one of the largest civilian seabed mapping projects in the world and is acquiring high-resolution seabed data that contributes to the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource.

Left: Solenosmilia variabilis cold water coral discovered in Irish waters at depths of 1600m Right: Seapen cold water coral sample captured by the hand of the ROV Holland I

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 27

Marine R&D

Bursary students gain hands-on experience Fionn O’Fearghail and Cushla Dromgool-Regan

S

eventeen undergraduate students from Ireland, Scotland and Guernsey recently took part in the Marine Institute Bursary Scholarship Programme where they gained practical experience in areas ranging from fisheries and aquaculture; marine ecosystems; shellfish safety; data development; oceanography and research funding, to communications and HR. The Bursary Programme runs for 8-12 weeks from June and endeavours to expose students to the work undertaken at the Marine Institute which aims to promote the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource through coordinated research, technology, development and innovation.

Congratulating the students selected for the highly regarded

bursary positions, Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute chief executive, said the students were among the next generation of marine scientists and experts “who will continue to collaborate and develop the knowledge informing the best decisions about our oceans into the future.

“We are therefore always pleased to provide them with the hands-on experience to help advance their education and careers in the marine sector.”

The students are based at many locations throughout Ireland and regardless of whether they are based at the Institute’s HQ in Oranmore; the Burrishoole catchment facility in Newport or other ports around the country, each student becomes integrated with the work, life and ethos of the Institute.

“This enables them to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the value of the marine, and the experience is central to Ireland’s reputation for

excellence in marine science,” Dr Heffernan added.

The bursary programme provides students with the opportunity to expand their professional network in Ireland and abroad. Coming from universities including National University of Ireland Galway; Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology; Dublin Institute of Technology; National University of Ireland Maynooth; Ulster University; University of St Andrews; Mary Immaculate College and the University of Exeter, the students have diverse backgrounds ranging from marine biotechnology to oceanography, forensic chemistry, politics, food science and teaching.

When discussing the range of fields of study, Helen McCormick, Senior Lab Analyst and bursary programme coordinator, noted: “Previous bursars have gone on to secure posts with the Marine Institute and other public and private research bodies such as BIM and MaREI”.

Grace English; Mico Kinneen; Eoin Conroy; Roisín Dobey; Amanda Egan and Louisa Sinclair Photographs Fionn O’Fearghail

Mico Kinneen (Dublin), a marine science student from the NUI Galway, gains experience in commercial fisheries on and off the water

Norwegian ambassador visits Allianz Business Kinvara National School to Arts award Cushla DromgoolRegan

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he Norwegian Ambassador, Elsa Berit Eikeland, along with Geir Klover, Director of the Fram Museum in Oslo, met the 6th Class of Northampton National School Kinvara, Scoil Bhríghde Naofa, along with their teacher Orla McHale at the exhibition on Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole, at the O’Donoghue

Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, NUI Galway.

The students gave a presentation about their research project, highlighting the Irish connections to the South Pole. They also read the letters they had written about the adventures of being an explorer with Tom Creen, and described the strength and hardships of crossing the freezing cold ice land; competition among explorers reaching their destinations, as well as

The Norwegian Ambassador Elsa Berit Eikeland and Geir Klover, Director of the Fram Museum in Oslo, visit Scoil Bhríghde Naofa

seeing new animals such as penguins for the first time.

As part of the project the students also learnt about researchers in the southern waters, where they have been writing to Paddy Griffin from Kinvara who is currently based in South Georgia Island, Antarctica.

The Ambassador and Geir Klover were delighted to see the interest and the students’ awareness of the Norwegian explorer who was the first person to navigate the Northwest Passage and to reach the South Pole, on 14 December 1914.

Norwegian polar history is closely connected to Norway being defined as an independent State in 1905 and to its close connection to the oceans and polar regions.

The exhibition, Cold Recall – Roald Amundsen’s Reflections from the South Pole, is based on images from the original lantern slides that Amundsen used in public lectures about his expeditions through the Northwest Passage and to the South Pole.

The exhibition is a collaboration between NUI Galway and the Marine Institute in association with the Norwegian Embassy and the Fram Museum, Oslo.

By Cushla Dromgool-Regan

B

uild Your Own Unknown, a marine science and art installation and short film has been short listed for the Allianz Business to Arts Awards.

Placing art, marine science and technology in the heart of the classroom, 4th class children at Cregmore National School, Co. Galway have been learning about marine life and hydrothermal activity under the sea for the past six months using a range of cross curricular art and science lessons. The project involved TULCA Offshore in partnership with the Marine Institute, artist Louise Manifold and marine scientist Dr. Andy Wheeler from UCC. The Allianz Business to Arts Awards promotes the spirit of collaboration between businesses, artists and arts organisations that develop creative partnerships. Wishing those involved in the project luck at the Awards, Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute said “One of the greatest outcomes of the Build Your Own Unknown project was being able to provide an opportunity for artists, marine scientists and educators to work together to help engage and increase children and the wider community’s awareness about the importance of our ocean.”

Build Your Own Unknown launched at Seafest 2017.

L to R: Dr Andy Wheeler, UCC; Artist Louise Manifold, Joanna McGlynn, Tulca; Cushla Dromgool-Regan, Marine Institute and Denise McDonagh

28 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Marine R&D

Global connected oceans present economic opportunities for Ireland

Dr Edel O’Connor, Business Development Manager, IMDO, opens the Digital Ocean Conference

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he Digital Ocean Conference took place in NUI Galway on June

29 as part of SeaFest 2017. The event, which was attended by over 350 delegates, highlighted

how global opportunity; Ireland’s marine expertise; reputation as an ICT hub and strong research and commercial capabilities, are creating the ‘perfect storm’ to position Ireland at the forefront in IoT of the Sea; the digital integration of ports; shipping and maritime security and the role of technology in developing our offshore economy.

The conference, which was organised jointly by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Irish Maritime Development Office, Marine Institute, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, welcomed a host of international speakers

from world-renowned companies such as Wilhelmsen; Rolls Royce; Dell EMC; Saildrone and Fugro, as well as indigenous companies leading Ireland’s digital ocean agenda, such as Cathx Ocean; 8 West Consulting; Eire Composites and Techworks Marine.

The key themes included ‘Digital Eyes on the Ocean: IoT Systems for Realising a Connected Ocean’; ‘The Digital Integration of Ports, Shipping and Maritime Security’; ‘Engineering the Transition to an Offshore Digital Economy’; ‘Technology Driving the Development of Offshore Renewable Energy’ and ‘Future Market Opportunities in the Offshore Economy’.

National Marine Research and Innovation Strategy 2017-2021

M

ichael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and chair of the inter-Departmental Marine

Coordination Group, launched the National Marine Research & Innovation Strategy at the Our Ocean Wealth Summit at NUI Galway.

ASG, Department of the Taoiseach, Philip Hamell; Minister Michael Creed and Dr Peter Heffernan Marine Institute chief executive at the launch of the NMRI Strategy

Minister Creed, Dr Amaya Vega and Dr Stephen Hynes NUI Galway and Dr Peter Heffernan CEO of the Marine Institute at the launch of the SEMRU Report Photos Andrew Downes, Xposure.

Minister Creed noted that Ireland’s Integrated Marine Plan, ‘Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth’, identified the need for a strategic marine research agenda to promote cross agency collaboration.

Welcoming the Strategy, Minister Creed said that government had endorsed this Statement of Strategy “as a framework to assist those government entities participating in the funding of marine-related research and innovation” and looked forward to receiving updates on its implementation.

The strategy was prepared by the Marine Institute on behalf of the Marine Coordination Group and supports the implementation of Innovation 2020 — Ireland’s national Research and Innovation Strategy which identifies the marine as one of eight areas of focus for social progress and the economy.

“This new strategy follows on from Sea Change, the last national marine research strategy published in 2007, and will help ensure that Ireland maintains its position at the forefront of marine research in Europe,” remarked Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute

chief executive.

He added that the strategy would ensure that the outputs of new research and innovation would support Ireland’s quest to generate “real socio-economic benefits” by reaching the 2020 target of a €6.4bn ocean economy “in a sustainable manner”.

The strategy provides a framework for research funders to assess the impact and likely return to the State from research investment in marine-related research themes. It is also designed to ensure that State support of marine research results in Irish researchers being able to compete at an international level and to participate fully in transnational research projects.

Preparation of the strategy included a review of national and international marine related strategies and plans and identified 15 broad research themes including energy; transport; biodiversity and bioresources.

Each of these themes was the subject of a detailed review of the research capability in Ireland, and the steps required to raise this to

The conference also welcomed an address by Pat Breen, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection.

The conference was supported by a dedicated marine trade show on the grounds of NUI Galway that showcased the innovative technologies, services and solutions being developed

by Irish companies for the marine industry.

Seventy organisations participated, exhibiting to an audience of more than 700 delegates who attended across the two days of the ‘Digital Ocean Conference’ and ‘Our Ocean Wealth Summit’.

Following the conference, Dr Edel O’Connor, Business

meet research requirements of national strategies, Food Harvest 2025 and the Energy White Paper Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030.

Welcoming the publication of the strategy on behalf of the board of the Marine Institute, the chairman John Killeen said that as the national agency for marine research and development, the Marine Institute was pleased to coordinate the development of this strategy.

“We look forward to it informing the Institute’s own investments, including our plans to co-fund with other government agencies and departments on projects in a range of marine-related research disciplines”.

Launch of the National Marine Research & Innovation Strategy was accompanied by the publication of New Connections III (20142016) which records the success of the Irish marine research community in competitive EU funded programmes such as Horizon 2020, INTERREG-V and ERASMUS+.

This is the third New Connections report produced by the Marine Institute. Previous reports covered the period 20072013.

The National Marine Research & Innovation Strategy 2017 – 2021 can be downloaded from www. marine.ie

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 29

Marine R&D Development Manager, Irish IMDO remarked: “Surrounded by the ocean and already a global tech hub, Ireland has real capabilities across key enabling technologies required to drive bluetech innovation including nanotechnology; sensors; data analytics; robotics; communication technologies and advanced materials.

“We also have a number of Irish companies providing world-class expertise and are exporting in specialised areas of the marine sector such as data analytics, design and build of offshore vessels; offshore support services; marine electronics; engineering and other areas.

“Together with the marine industry, civil society and other government agencies, we are creating a successful ecosystem to harness Ireland’s incredible IoT of the Seas opportunity.

Multidisciplinary ecosystems will drive a modern dynamic blue economy and efficiencies and solutions that will enable us to manage global challenges such as energy, food security, climate change and access to new medical systems.”

Thomas Furey and Deirdre O’Driscoll, Marine Institute (INFOMAR) and Jeremy Gault, MAREI at the Show

Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute chief executive with Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Micheal Creed with Jean Marie Bouquel, Eire Composites, who explains their ranges of solutions for marine and renewables projects

Taoiseach attends SeaFest 2017 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD was welcomed to Galway for Ireland’s biggest and most spectacular maritime festival, SeaFest 2017 where he was greeted by festival-goers and enjoyed the huge range of activities taking place in Galway Harbour and Docks.

“I am delighted to be in Galway for SeaFest, which celebrates Ireland’s maritime heritage and raises awareness about the opportunities provided by our ocean.

“I really enjoyed seeing the ships, seafood displays, water sports and marine science exhibitions. The West of Ireland will benefit greatly from our growing marine economy’” he remarked.

Minister Pat Breen speaking at the Marine Trade Show

Pat Breen, Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection with Shelia Downes and Brian McCarthy, Clare Co Council at the Marine Trade Show

1 - Prannie Rhatigan from Irish Seaweed Kitchen sprinkles seaweed health wishes on Seafest 2017 as part of the Lookwest.ie exhibition; 2 - Mairtin Breathnach, Carraroe’s Men’s Shed, with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; 3 - A perfect set of nashers! Taylor Jane Kirrane, Oranmore; 4 - Galway Hooker Croí an Chladaigh; 5 - Beau Weston World Champion flyboarder took a JETPACK for a spin at Seafest Photos:Andrew Downes, xposure

30 inshore ireland Autumn 2017

Coastline News

Potential antimicrobial cold-water corals and sponges discovered off Ireland’s continental shelf

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arine scientists Dr Louise Allcock and Prof Oliver Thomas (NUI Galway), and a team of 10 university researchers and students, are researching cold water corals and sponges for potential antimicrobial (anti- cancer) properties.

On board the Marine Institute’s RV Celtic Explorer, two-hundred miles southwest of Ireland at the edge of the continental shelf in the Atlantic Ocean, data is being gathered by the Institute’s remotely operated vessel, ROV Holland 1, at depths of 300m to 3,000m.

“The researchers and students are seeing for the first time corals and sponges covering an area around the Whittard Canyon, Porcupine Seabight, Gollum Channel and the Belgica Mounds in Irish waters,” remarked Dr Oliver Thomas.

Chemists involved in biodiversity research only need small quantities of any organism to develop a new drug. “One a suitable compound is identified it can be synthesised in the lab, which can then be used in drugs to combat human diseases.”

Dr Louise Allcock explained that the ROV’s robotic and lighting capabilities enabled

Deep-sea research of corals and sponges off the Irish Continental Shelf being carried out by NUI Galway Scientists on board the Marine Institute’s RV Celtic Explorer

Photos: Louise Allcock

them to take small coral samples, sponges and other specimens from “extremely hostile parts of the ocean floor” of no natural light and tremendous ocean pressure.

“By analysing past research relating to sponges and corals, we are able to see that some species are better target groups than others in having antimicrobial (anticancer) properties. Based on this information we are building mathematical models to predict the likelihood of any given species yielding a novel natural product, along with developing species distribution maps of corals and sponges on the deep-sea floor, so that we know the best places to go searching.”

Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute chief executive said these were “exciting times” to be a marine researcher who have discovered more species within the last 10 years than ever before, averaging 2,000 per year.

“In Ireland, we are contributing to building on this wealth of valuable information and sharing the best available science and knowledge to inform decisions affecting the Atlantic Ocean.”

The five-year project: ‘Exploiting and conserving deep-sea genetic resources’ is co-funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Marine Institute.

Encouraging exploration in the great outdoors

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ours in front of a screen; less time to play outdoors and a society faced with the concern of ‘stranger danger’ has led to a generation of children in Ireland that simply don’t have the freedom to explore the natural world around them.

This is the latest research by Leave No Trace Ireland – the outdoor ethics programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubmxgV-hjOw&t=25s through education, research and partnerships.

Fifty-one percent of children in Ireland only spend 30 minutes or less playing outdoors after school which is far less time than their parents, the research reveals.

“This worrying trend is leading to what is termed ‘nature deficit disorder’ among a generation of children. Children are missing out on life forming nature experiences. The research shows that 45% have never climbed a tree; 48% have never gone walking in a forest with friends and 74% have never sat around a camp fire,” remarked LNT Ireland manager Maura Lyons.

Nationwide programme

To specifically address concerns in the marine environment, Leave No Trace Ireland has teamed up with the Marine Institute to roll out a nationwide Explorers Programme that targets children in the 6-12 age range to encourage exploration at their local beach through fun experiences and activities.

Child-led courses are built on the principles of strength-based education and the syllabus is designed to develop problemsolving; critical-thinking; enquiry and investigation; spatial awareness and sensory perception and increase awareness of ocean literacy. The 2016 evaluation indicates that students’ ocean literacy awareness increased from 56% to 94%.

The Explorers Programme gives young children the opportunity to learn about the importance of engaging with the sea. Explorer education officers introduce marine biodiversity and environmental awareness into the classroom through projects and workshops, and seashore safaris are designed to encourage exploration and discovery in a supervised environment.

Ocean literacy

WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT DROWNING

RNLI.org/GAA

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Registered charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland

The programme also gives teachers an understanding of ocean literacy and offers teaching topics based on a worldwide context.

“Increasing awareness and understanding of the value, opportunities and societal benefits the ocean provides us is key to sustainably developing Ireland’s marine resource,” remarked Dr Peter Heffernan, Marine Institute CEO. “As the State agency responsible for marine research and innovation, we welcome the opportunity to work with educators to promote the development of our thriving marine economy as well as protecting and conserving our rich marine biodiversity.”

Visit Leave No Trace Ireland http://www. leavenotraceireland.org/what-we-do and the Explorers Education Programme www.explorers.ie

Kayaking in Lough Hyne, designated Ireland’s first Marine Nature Reserve in 1981 Photo: Gillian Mills

inshore ireland Autumn 2017 31

Outside Ireland

Small-scale and large-scale fleets could play complimentary roles given a level playing field Brian O’Riordan, Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) Platform

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here is a place and a need for both small and larger-scale fishing fleets, but this requires establishing a level-playing-field that ensures fair access to resources; to markets; to sector support and to decision-taking processes for all fleet segments.

When Commissioner Vella asked LIFE whether or not all small-scale fishing activities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea were really low impact, he had already supplied the answer in his speech to fishery stakeholders in Malta (29/3/17).

The European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries had pointed out that 80% of the Mediterranean fleet ‘belongs to small-scale fishermen (with vessels under 10m long), who fish a quarter of the total catches’.

Seasonal effects

According to Commissioner Vella, just 20% of the fleet — the larger-scale segment — takes 75% of the catch, thus having a far greater impact on fish stocks and the marine environment than 80% of the fleet with 25% of the catch.

Of course, not all small-scale activities are low in impact and not all larger-scale fishing is destructive. Stocks may be more vulnerable during certain seasons when they aggregate to spawn, feed, and develop. Both small and large-scale activities that target these aggregations may have significant impact.

High concentrations of small-scale gears in inshore waters for example, despite being worked from very small [<6m] vessels, may have a big impact on these aggregations. So too, relatively small vessels kitted out with modern fish finding and navigation technology, gear haulers and powerful engines that fish intensively, may also have a considerable impact.

Small, like large, also requires effective management and regulation; however the same regulatory and management measures are not necessarily appropriate for these two fleet segments.

In this context, members of the European Platform LIFE aspire to having the least possible impact on fish stocks and fishing grounds by adopting a best practice approach – using the right gear, at the right time, in the right place.

LIFE’s answer to Commissioner Vella’s question is therefore: ‘No, of course not. Not all small-scale fishing activities are low in impact but they could be if given a fair chance and adequate support.’

LIFE has always held that both large-scale (lsf) and small-scale (ssf) fishing activities at all stages of the supply chain from catch to consumption, are needed and play complimentary roles in providing income; employment and food supplies; creating wealth and contributing to the culture and social wellbeing of coastal communities.

Offshore conditions

Stocks further offshore may be more effectively caught by larger vessels, able to deal safely with the conditions and with the capacity to store larger catches.

Bulk landings from larger scale fleets may be more suitable for large processing facilities that supply mass retail markets. There are also advantages to reserving inshore areas for smaller scale, fixed gear operators who have traditionally supplied high-quality fresh fish to local and more niche markets.

These coastal fishermen and fisheries also underpin vulnerable coastal communities, often with few alternative employment opportunities — not just in terms of food production but also for the added-value they bring to the tourist experience, along with the many shorebased jobs they support and in maintaining maritimerelated knowledge and skills.

It is therefore in everyone’s interest that the intrinsic complementarity between large-scale and small-scale, artisanal and industrial fleets, and between traditional and modern activities, should be recognised and synergies identified and capitalised on.

This can only be done if a level-playing-field is established where competition and conflicts do not put one or other sector at a disadvantage; where each fleet segment is provided with a fair and transparent share of access rights and where good practice is rewarded and innovation encouraged.

This also requires a governance system that puts those who fish and are active in the supply chain centre stage, enabling them to engage meaningfully in the decision-making processes that affect both them and the resources they depend on.

Such governance systems do exist, and require that authorities and fishers sit together on co-management

committees to solve problems and agree courses of action.

Blind-eye governance

For over 30 years however, fisheries in Europe have been governed by the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) — a policy that has turned a blind eye to smallscale fisheries, treating it as a national issue and making exceptions for smaller vessels to many EU rules.

Making an exception of small-scale fisheries has proved to be a poisoned chalice, effectively leaving the sector to operate under the regulatory radar. Catches have not been properly recorded and documented, and this has put smaller vessels at a disadvantage when it comes to quota allocation.

It has also meant that smallscale fishing organisations have been disempowered from engaging in decision-taking processes at EU level, as no support is in place to establish structures like small-scale producer organisations.

In Ireland, small-scale fishers from island communities are not allowed to catch the fish in their coastal waters.

Meanwhile, supertrawlers that fish around the world are catching the species traditionally caught by islanders and hauling away their gear with impunity.

So, how can a more level-playing-field and a more transparent and fairer system for allocating fishing rights and financial support be established?

Firstly, the small-scale sector must be brought into the regulatory fold. This could be done by establishing a differentiated approach to managing small and largescale fishing activities, based on spatial management with exclusive fishing areas designated for small-scale,

low impact fixed gears, and confining the activities of more heavily impacting mobile gears further out to sea.

The benefits of such an approach are highlighted in a recent report by the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (SCFF). The SCFF points out that the combination of Marine Scotland’s ‘hands off ’ approach and de facto creel limits imposed by the trawl sector, has resulted in trawlers managing to secure 87.7% of the Scottish Nephrops prawn catch; a level of access to stocks, according to SCFF, not warranted by the trawl sector’s economic or environmental performance, or indeed any coherent performance indicator.

Fishing with creels not only delivers more jobs per tonne caught, it is economically more efficient to catch a tonne of Nephrops using creels rather than trawling the sea bed.

By reallocating access to Nephrops in favour of creeling and by establishing creel only areas, Marine Scotland has the opportunity to increase total employment; total household incomes; total profits /economic efficiency and the number of individual fishing businesses in coastal areas. Many of these areas are remote and suffer from a narrow range of economic opportunity.

Secondly, a differentiated approach would involve establishing different access regimes for polyvalent low impact, small-scale fixed gear operators on the one hand, and larger-scale mobile gear operators on the other.

The former would involve regulating access using input controls such as days-at sea, spatial and temporary fishery closures and putting restrictions on the quantity of gear that any vessel could deploy

Small trawlers at the port of Skagen in Denmark

within a given time frame.

A regime for largerscale operators could involve a mixture of both input (restricting effort through days-at-sea) and output (restricting catches through quotas) controls.

The quid pro quo of this would be that ssf operators would need to engage more proactively with scientists and fishery managers in providing data on fish catches they generate, by using new technologies available such as mobile applications for smart phones and tablets.

New, simple and powerful, electronic technologies are available that make the whole process of data logging at sea relatively easy (http:// abalobi.info/). Already such mobile technologies are being used by fishers to improve their marketing arrangements and to engage more effectively as data providers in fisheries management.

Such data gathering tools could also be developed as electronic log books.

The current focus on the blue economy, sustainable development goals and climate change, provides a useful opportunity to reflect on the state of play in European fisheries, to highlight some hard facts, and put forward solutions.

Exploiting the synergies and complementarities between small and largescale fleets should provide the possibility for putting European fisheries on a fairer and more sustainable footing for the future.

It is an opportunity there for the taking and one that all concerned ignore at their peril.

This article is a shortened version of an article published on LIFE’s website in June 2017. http://lifeplatform.eu/aquestion-of-balance/

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It notes that as the flight crew has been using an operator-specific route guide it would be appropriate that the operator should review all such route guides.

‘CHC Ireland should review/re-evaluate all route guides in use by its SAR helicopters in Ireland, with a view to enhancing the information provided on obstacle heights and positions, terrain clearance, vertical profile, the positions of waypoints in relation to obstacles and EGPWS database terrain and obstacle limitations.’

Location Beacon

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by Karmwas will considerincircul factors the viability of the installation clean economy bioeconom Envir , Commissi enu and y, provisions and instructionsAffair onme including “Sust tech by 2025. oner organisation for up exporainable soluti Mari s and nt, and management of thet and for locator beacons on Mk44 time who said Fishe With ries, emploons speed themission; leadin EU the Operator’s lifejackets and if necessary increa better regul ymen econo g on sever was se invest ation we t. al blue and help guidance, amend or update these such my technprocedures ment boost he Irish can as renew ologie The confeecono s that will and clean Mari s helicopter systems; navigation; provisions and instructions able a netwo rence mic growt Ener time and shipp energy “The produ for the rking envirooffered h.” e with ing. mapping and charting; taking into consideration econo sustainable is a ‘TripClus gy Resource 1,200 ramm for two cross cts and servic also attend deleg nmen ter, my is prog off air marin performance; is a realit Partn le Helix IMER aircraft the beacon manufacturer’s not ahuman ates t time on for cutting them es with works be C dream e stakeh who y. will facilitatede peop mari hops edaspects; form ership’ gover example es focuse , it them le are Acrossperformance; survival recommendations for on and five older with o 1’s aughton (12-19) to es in Rio ecosy Neste arranal and infor worki Europe, both st ICT. nance, engin in blue atic sessions: stem d TE Radi geme is the d within ation ng oversight; effective operation’ bouninnov us Conn hard the Irish growth riskInvesti pic Gam eering nts mal ng Augu the cluste s ergonomics, ocean rtunity To date ; Impro Olym Colle NationalMarc and govern becaudaries. We to push acad milit between ving ng Marit s duri r of the a deeper a numb it has skillsand the oppo se we aremanagement ary, Irish partn ge of Irelanweekime develop ance; Boosti enabl have leadin Colleemia, Univ have innov er of disrup d a rage ed ng ment; data g of clean invest ding: analysis the energy recorded ers will finaL fLight IT andership betwecove ations Insti ge Cork ersity ed. area develo joint action, and Harnessing tute en Cork ver, listensquad, inclu facilit tive and Cork both the Irish Facilit of Tech It has and recovered R116 had responded to iro.Navy howe sailing into policy pmen ating local Leader wreckage. along y 5where Jane naval milita ry Frida ship Excha with ating Energ four pillar nolog our perso Onand a Natio formu t. It has fed merch 2 y, Shipp The report notes: ‘The sole a call to provide ‘topKe cover’ yn s, Marin y. & develo nnel train, nge panel ng from and Logis Radial ant ing Trans as an nal level, lation at e s. is As an p. of heari reflec hy, Laser ard and Secur tics, Marit of this investigation for a medical evacuation of otepurpose port gover exemplar is codified addr t Stand overn, 49er IMER innovative lise Murp in nmen ime ity our tor and yacht Safety Paper to prevent aviation an injured fisherman from t Defen end on McG cross netwo h, Laser ess accidents conte C allow»s Anna G). ce Direc h week rk n & Matt ing Natio and in the ce White broadLync R rman X Watc explo xt, sensing»a Finn p (IWD and serious incidents. It a fishing vessel, 141 nm off curre and erSeato 49erF ISA Perfoal Whale hin Grou LIEBHER Gove nal programm of as nt innov ring and drivin rnme » Ryan a Tidey, yet uniden of any an, While the is not the purpose the Co Mayo coast. The Air e for nt. ocean re on Fenit the Annu and Dolp g the O’Callagh collab ation netwo » Saski tified species coordi it is clear le absorb featu s oratio ewing Wha a nation produc such investigation the. The Corps could not respond to end user Jame at a region n, withrk»throu could that Irish 2, we have e Bay and es mores moreand CO 2 and gh be previ other ecosyst oxygen end user identified a»focus Trale al sea be improv We’ll 27 by the association the mission request as they had radica than anyreport anchor of intern ed level, p with It is also investigation em in soluti onst y September identi l uncerta theory our onshi ons toFrida fied probl Augu of ecologi theblame ationa the water inty to apportion or liability. talk no availability until 08.00 hrs. primar biosph of the can be found l politic On and its relati ere. » ems. should cal threshoand existen soverei our andt the minera and a signifi y source of al State which plant A safety recommendation The first indication that gn territoin the space Harb l cant source er 9 as the be guided by lds, policy ce The seawealth and ways of emb in Cork abhain abouge. holdin in additi rial hydroc a of Sept Other “precautiona principles is a source shallbeauty in no case create R116 could be missing on to arbons princip This doing things. such Aud with rights, g exclusive ry Friday Spike Island O Donn ime herita best availa . of les includ approach”. also has sovereign potenti and recreat n a March consul resonates with visit and the ent presumption of blame or was at 01.06 hrs on ist Barra and marit keyn ion al, In We ble tation e obliga approa terms ment use with if Presid eolog stic science to exemp ote addr the EU’s proper Vice of ocean of securit tions. compl mona er 16 ly governthe at Case HE thegreat grand govern on international lify the and a ch, adaptive , ecosystem the an occurrence.’

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State academia, State ality and civil society of a fewdata compa be up and law, ay betwee There Civil society s greater institutions should red fundam ising power, buildintions that are ful needs and indust institutions, n for datais no ‘do-no years ago. every man, is a human entalis techno not only includdiversity, harm g economies, critical in m. the seasto adapt to changery, and that is underpins thing’ option woma where right but alsology, engineering e science alway ecosystems as but they can n it right are being s to howit , unders key to knowl information , institu people are free,and child, of used. Gettin encom the arts and and maths tandin someti s tell the ecologithey do not terms matters becaus where g and edge, With where tions of the g politic passing econom the human cal the damag mes failing 70% while the ocean e in global al science knowl so much datawisdom. to considtruth, ics, social ities where wealth can State functio The more service e to ecosystem . be the 90% of the earth’s covers over n, er essenti edge being generaand and s. Proper diverse The rule goods the Ocean vulnerable generated is and the institu critica of the biosph surface (over ly integra and the more an organiis simple. marke al that govern ted, it is of the governance are protect and l enable the greater ere), it t and govern tions of sation ment, diverse r to Estim these data civil society is the ment and marke ting policy interplay of is a functio ed. the In essencethe opport its networ will facilita t with marine ates suggeslife on earth. civil integra in an innova leverag k, of civiland the law, government, n , ocean unity. inextri t the value es te functio society, proper are twiceecosystem goods the society cably linked tive opport ted way. It govern and enterpr of day govern and of institutions unities presen and ance is corpor ty rights and ning Estim that of the and service with commu ts , ate the ise. at a greater huge ance ates functio of the marke day-to This nity, State,individual, of Defini social respon sea habita also sugges terrestrial. s and indeed integra n of how interplay t climat major challenthe State. Most regiona accept ng what actionssibility. ts could t that deep is institu Movin international l EU princip te and the norms tions host million increase; migration; ges we face: regime able for an ocean are e; resourc popula where g from closed levels. require integra les that frame and s and sustain and adhere tion e s codific governance innova organi we innovate securit tion and the that ing degradation have a ation nce within tion, princip y and mariti econom where sations, to open les. Princito, clear normsof, compli efficacy of Our securit me dimen ic growth for govern ance regime the innova organi we innovate ples are , and sion. as a society y and sations betwee tion behavi ance as . and indeed , institu they the basis n our – are – indeedour surviva Under and allocat prescribe States, tions system conditi sea andinextricably as a speciesl e ons of authority. organi atic change requires a positio the ecosyst linked with that permea high or identit sations, bridgin ecosyst n ourselves em. We mustthe em, demon as part menta ies, challenging g cultura tes good actors lities and l stratin of the seekingsilo good and our recipro g by being new That services we city for the receive develop is key to sustain . ment.’ able

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