Inshore Ireland Vol 4 nr 3 June 2008

Bimonthly

incorporating

News from the coast and inland waterways

Aquaculture Ireland

Fishing industry crisis

Interview

Fish Atlas

Pages 12-14

Page 16-17

Leading salmon farmer

Port protests Page 2

Snapshot of inshore activities

June 2008 Vol 4 Issue 3

Freshwater focus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aquaculture news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sea angling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marine R&D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9&10 18-25 26&27 28&29

SFPA probe intensifies into cause of Irish mussel poisoning in France

By Gery Flynn

Seaweeds for biofuels

THE rapid alert triggered by the French authorities, who have ordered the withdrawal from sale of Irish mussels suspected of causing biotoxin poisoning, could have serious consequences for the processor concerned if the Sea-fisheries Protection Authority finds that food safety legislation has been breached.

MicheaÂl O'Mahony, a director of the SFPA who has been leading the investigation at Bantry Bay Seafoods told that he was satisfied with the progress of his enquiries so far.

And although clearly limited in what he could say at this stage, he firmly rebutted any suggestion that the incident was the result of a failure in the National Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Programme: ``Absolutely not. The SFPA continues to have confidence in the programme. It's a robust system that provides appropriate levels of assurance to consumers. ``What we're talking about here is a putative implication of Bantry Bay Seafoods in biotoxin poisoning Ð particularly azaspiracid poisoning (AZP).''

Detection level As to what level of azaspiracid (AZA) had been detected in the product O'Mahony responded: ``It's complicated. To say it's been proven in the product is difficult because these mussels were cooked, and the level of AZA in cooked mussel is always higher than the level in a raw mussel,'' he explained. ``The legal limit of AZA applies to raw mussel, so even if we found a level of a million In-

shore Ireland

MAKING A POINT

* Fishermen blockade at the mouth of Cork Harbour, during their Examiner

times the legal limit in cooked mussels, it doesn't suggest catagorically that we can prove that it was over the legal limit in the raw mussels. So I can't say it's proven. But we can say that the type of disease we are talking about here is associated with marine biotoxins, and in this instance AZP is implicated.''

He added the SFPA was not entirely sure which organism produces AZA, ``but a lot of information has come to light in the past few months of a very

small phytoplankton being involved in producing it. In other words, it comes from a naturally-occurring tiny plant that grows in the sea. Irish shellfish beds Ð particularly in the southwest Ð are at risk of developing high levels of AZA and that's why we have the national marine biotoxin monitoring programme.''

O'Mahony confirmed that the investigation was exhaustive and involved a thorough examination of the company's operations before the `all clear'

Strength in Unity for all Aquaculture Producers Join to-day - call 01-4508755 or visit our web site www.ifa.ie

second day of protest in Cork. Pic: Denis Scannell/courtesy of Irish

was given for them to re-start production. ``They were subject to an indepth investigation of their compliance with all legal requirements,'' he said. ``It's worth pointing out however that food safety is specifically a matter for the food business operator, it's their job to produce safe food. It's our job to verify that they produce safe food. ``So, we would go in there expecting to find them with a meaningful food safety man-

agement system in place. They would not have been re-opened without these assurances. ``This investigation is ongoing. It has now moved from the investigation phase that went into delineating any problematic batches and ensured they were withdrawn or recalled where necessary and into the next phase that examines potential breaches of legislation that might have occurred.''

* To page 2

HOT debate is promised on the subject of using seaweeds and algae for bio fuels at the 11th International Conference on Applied Phycology in Galway, June 22-27. Using algal vaccines to prevent certain diseases will also be explored.

Besides novel algal vaccines and biofuels, other subjects during the fiveday scientific programme will explore the application of algae in plant, animal and human nutrition and the use of algae for human health and medical applications.

Session topics are: Algal products; Algae and Environment; Algae as food and feed; Algae and genetics; and Physiology & Growth of algae.

Globally, the use of microalgae and seaweeds continues to expand as new products, technologies and markets are discovered.

Cultivation of commercially important microalgae and seaweeds has become a lucrative industry and are becoming more and more important as a source for the algal industries.

Integrated MultiTrophic Aquaculture - the theme of this year's conference - may be the answer. * Full story, page 20

Home of The Irish Salmon Growers' Association The Irish Trout Producers' Group & The Irish Shellfish Association

2

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

NEWS

Fishermen's Federation seeks concrete action from fisheries ministers

By Gillian Mills

ON the day of going to press, the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) was preparing for a meeting with Ministers Smith and Killeen to ask for ``immediate action and commitments on key issues''.

The meeting is being held in response to the current crisis in the fishing industry, and ahead of the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting on June 23. ``FIF as a body that represents Irish fishermen fully understands the deep frustration, anger and desperation of fishermen at the current situation and fully acknowledges the efforts of fishermen and the Ministers for the goodwill expressed in trying to resolve this extremely difficult situation,'' remarked Michael Walshe, FIF chairman.

The issue includes

* temporary tie-up aid as identified in the Commission statement honouring commitment to provide 58m for over 18-metre fishing vessel decommissioning scheme including extension of the current eligibility rules;

* Government undertaking that

* Heavy presence of fishing vessels in Galway harbour.

Photo: David Ruffles * roll out of a decommissioning scheme for under 18-metre fishing vessels as previously approved by Government; * commitment to introduce administrative sanctions with full FIF participation, as previously committed to by current TaÂnaiste Mary Coughlan in her

role as Fisheries Minister, as a method of dealing with minor fishery offences; * marketing initiatives in order to increase fish prices to the primary producer, in particular measures to enable the consumer recognise the origin of all fish products;

control and enforcement will be conducted in a manner proportional to each country's catch in Irish waters; * level playing field in control and enforcement across all Member States incorporating harmonisation of penalties and use of administrative sanctions; * immediate ban on IUU (illegal unregulated, unreported) fishery products entering the EU; * full enforcement of existing marketing, labelling and health/ hygiene regulations for all fishery products imported to the EU; * introduction of measures to avoid unnecessary dumping of marketable fish due to quota restrictions on primary species; * funding of joint industry/ science partnerships in order to provide for more informed decision-making in relation to quotas and an immediate review of 2008 TAC and quota decisions as applies to certain species.

Ireland put the following questions to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, now that the application date for vessel decommissioning is now closed: INSHORE

II: Is the level of application to the scheme sufficient to remove the target 11,140GTs of fishing vessels over 18m?

DAFF: 69 applications have been received under the 2008 decommissioning scheme. Applications are now being assessed and prioritised in line with the requirements of the scheme and available funding. Further information in relation to how many applications meet all the requirements of the scheme is not yet available.

II: In the event that the target has not been reached, what is the scope for introducing the scheme to fishing vessel less than 18m?

DAFF: The Cawley report prioritised vessels over 18 metres for decommissioning and set down the 11,140 GT as the target capacity to be removed. The Cawley report also notes that a specific economic or social impact analysis should be carried out in relation to vessels under 18 metres to determine the eligibility, urgency scope and cost of carrying out a targeted decommissioning scheme for such vessels. Such a scheme would be additional to the target set down for over 18 metre vessels. It is important that any decommissioning is targeted to take account of the overall strategy to achieve a balance between available resources and the fishing fleet. The decommissioning of under 18m vessels over and above that envisaged in the Cawley report to replace a possible shortfall in the current scheme which targets the larger vessels would have to be very carefully considered as it would not be in accordance with the future fleet profile as envisaged in the Cawley report.

II: Government commitment to the scheme is 58m; is this commitment affected by the current economic climate whereby some NDP projects may now not be fulfilled within the timeframe originally set out?

DAFF: Funding to the value of 42 million has been committed to fund this scheme in 2008 and 2009. Further decommissioning will be considered as necessary over the period of the National Development Programme 2007-2013.

* From page 1

SFPA probe into Irish mussel poisoning Asked about the likelihood of prosecutions, O'Mahony's response was cautious: ``All I can say at this point is that we will be examining the events that led up to the dispatch of these products, particularly with regard to identifying any breaches of legislation and looking at the evidence based around it before instigating any further action.''

Mandate

He explained that the SFPA had a mandate from the Oireachtas empowering it to instigate legal proceedings where breaches are detected.

Emphasising that he was now speaking in general terms, he indicated that any company or individuals could be prosecuted in either of two ways: ``The Director of Public Prosecutions is one approach, but there can also be a summary prosecution under the FSAI Act. Roughly translated, that would involve the SFPA and the FSAI prosecuting at District Court level Ð without the DPP being involved.''

When asked the time period available to the SFPA to decide AT the ISA conference last month, Dr Philip Hess of the Marine Institute told delegates that some international agencies and the MI were collaborating on researching AZA Ð in particular they wanted to find out just how toxic it really was. ``In the laboratory, AZA is toxic to mice whether it's injected or given orally. And when you give them pure AZA orally their internal organs are affected,'' he said. ``There's also no doubt that AZA is toxic to humans when eaten as a contaminated mussel meal. In fact we've found that pure AZA is toxic to all cell lines that we've tested so far.''

Positive identifcation

whether or not to prosecute, he replied: ``There's a specific clause in the FSAI Act requiring prosecutions to be initiated within a year of us becoming aware of potential breaches of legislation. ``We would make a decision on the evidence we have and a summary prosecution would be made at District Court, and there are limitations regarding the fines and punitive outcomes,'' he said.

Confidence remains

Speaking to Inshore Ireland, MicheaÂl OÂ CinneÂide, director of marine environment and food safety services at the Marine Institute said the situation was ``regrettable'' and emphatically emphasised there had been no breakdown in the procedures of the National Biotoxin Monitoring Programme. ``This is very important and it's not only me who's saying it,'' he declared. ``Flor Harrington, speaking as chairman of the Irish Shellfish Association at its annual conference also said it. Both he and Richie Flynn, executive Dr Hess added that although scientists have known for some time that AZA is found in phtyoplankton, it was only recently that they managed to identify the individual organism responsible for producing it Ð a tiny dinoflagellate: ``This dinoflagellate found

by German scientists working in the North Sea has now been cultured and has been found to be able to produce two types Ð or analogues - of azaspiracid: AZA-1 and AZA-2, he said. ``It's such a small dinoflagellate that up until now it was not found in routine phytoplankton and so could not be identified by microscopy.''

He added that with this discovery he was optimistic

secretary of IFA Aquaculture declared that the industry was confident the system was still robust and solid.''

OÂ CinneÂide pointed out that since 2000 the Marine Institute, BIM and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) had invested a lot of money and time ``in building up a world-class shellfish safety programme'' for this country. ``We would like to see that continue; however this recent event has been a challenge. We will be reviewing the lessons from Bantry at the next meeting of the Molluscan Shellfish Safety Committee in early July to see what steps can to be taken to strengthen the programme,'' he said.

Revised programme

Recalling the bitter war of words that erupted in the late 1990s when State agencies Ð the MI in particular Ð were attacked by the shellfish industry over what it said was a grossly inadequate biotoxin monitoring programme, OÂ CinneÂide said the programme had since changed beyond recognition: that using molecular probes it would soon be possible to verify if it was the same organism responsible for AZA in Ireland. ``It will also be interesting to see if it produces any more toxin types or whether it's just that these AZA-1 and AZA-2 are just transformed into these other analogues that we've seen,'' he speculated.

Different signs

He explained that reseach had already shown that AZA analogues had quite different characteristics: ``We already know that AZA-3 is heat sensitive but AZA-1 and 2 are definitely very stable Ð they need temperatures well above 100oC to

``In the period 1999 to 2000 there was a lot of hard talking going on, and as a result of that a lot of work was done in restructuring the system, primarily on the science and regulatory side,'' he said. ``We invested in chemical and weekly phytoplankton monitoring and then made all that data available very quickly via text message and the web.''

Proof of the system's effectiveness he said was the fact that there had been no rapid alert in relation to biotoxins up to now: ``We're very proud that from 2000 to 2008, the system worked very well Ð consumers and trade customers had confidence in it,'' he stated. ``Unfortunately now this incident will have dented confidence, so our collective challenge is to restore that confidence in the market place.

That work has already begun,'' OÂ CinneÂide stated.

What is shellfish poisoning?

It has been known for some time that marine organisms produce a vast array of natural substances, many of which can be highly toxic.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are responsible for causing devastating consequences to coastal ecosystems, social and economic damage on communities dependent upon fisheries and aquaculture resources. They can also result in human illness via consumption of contaminated seafood.

Among the health effects caused by toxic algae, azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) has been one of the most problematic since it was first reported in consumers of Irish mussels eaten in the Netherlands in 1995.

The associated toxins (AZAs) have now been characterised but the toxin syndrome has reappeared sporadically throughout Europe over the last decade and is of extreme regulatory concern for seafood safety.

In a written response to Inshore Ireland, Richie Flynn referred to the comments by the ISA chairman Flor Harrington at last

month's conference in Westport: ``I want to express the ISA's concern that the image of Irish mussels has been dealt a severe blow over the past few weeks with a lot of bad press relating to rapid alerts. ``While the SFPA continues to conduct its investigation we are precluded from saying anything; however I do want to send out a very clear message that Irish mussel farmers are going to need an outlet for their product very, very quickly; that they will need a fair price for their product and that we must all rally around as a united

destroy them. Increased concentrations of AZA-3 have been found when fresh mussels are cooked; however this is something that is quite complex,'' he conceded.

Dr Hess said that AZA-1, 2 and 3 occurred in Ireland and that preliminary information from Japan suggests AZA-2 and 3 are more toxic than AZA-1.

Referring to the current legal limits for AZA, Dr Hess concluded: ``We've a legal limit alright but that legal limit was moreor-less set initially on the detection capability of the mouse bioassay. A couple of years ago through risk assessment at the FSAI, this legal limit was backed up; however

the risk assessors again were not particularly comfortable with it because it all goes back to one poisoning incident when 12 people reported exactly on how much they had consumed.

The concentrations were only determined weeks after the incident and only by one group and there were no certified standards available. So there's a few question marks over this still,'' he said.

Pointing the way forward, Dr Hess said what was required now was a concerted research effort involving international partnerships, to include: * Norwegian School of Veterinary Medicine * Alfred Wegener Institute for

Image damage

group to restore the faith of the consumer in our excellent product and in the world-class system that we have in place to monitor biotoxins. ``This is an extremely worrying time for us all, and continued uncertainty is not in anyone's interests. The ISA will continue to monitor the situation and represent the views of all producers to do what is best for the industry to survive this massive blow.''

At the time of going to press, Bantry Bay Seafoods had not responded to Inshore Ireland's invitation to put forward its views.

Polar and Marine Research

* NOAA * National Research Council * NUI Galway * Marine Institute

``But we also hope to involve other people on a steering committee. The ISA has expressed interest, and we're hoping they will participate in guiding us Ð particularly in any aspects relating to field work and so on. It's important that it's a multi-disciplinary approach all working together.

The project hasn't been funded yet, but it has been successfully evaluated and the contract is subject to final approval by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,'' he said.

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

3

NEWS

`Cawley report' critical to delivering fish processing objectives Report by Gillian Mills

* finalisation of a business plan

assisting the processing indus-

to

fo-

titive challenges on home and

IN

cussed R&D and new product

particularly on export markets

development support on a re-

at this time,'' Mr Geoghegan

gional basis to fish processors

noted.

said, include:

a statement following the

AGM of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association

with strong links to State and

tional secretary, said a ``very

* launch of a processing sector

element''

of

their

work was concerned with implementation of the core recommendations

of

the

`Cawley'

report, ``in the best interests of the fish processing and market sectors''.

Johanna Maria, a joint venture between Atlantic Dawn Company and Dutch trawler firm Jaczon, is currently undergoing a refit.

New dimension to Irish flagged ships in Mauritanian fisheries

By Pieter Tesch

have

operated

in

Mauritania

since 1999,'' he added.

IRISH flagged pelagic trawlers are returning to Mauritania this

country

month after a two year absence,

additional

following

the

nities for Irish vessels during

Killybegs-based Atlantic Dawn

the summer months when there

Company to avail of new op-

is no catch in European waters.

portunities under the 2006 fish-

``Participation under category

eries treaty between the EU and

11 is a very important develop-

Mauritanian government,

ment from an Irish perspective

a

decision

by

catching

provides opportu-

The company left Mauritania

to ensure that this part of the

in 2006 to operate its former

agreement with Mauritania can

freezer trawler flagship of the

be maintained for other Irish

same name in the South Pacific

fishing interests.''

off Chile before she was sold to

Mr O'Gorman explained that

Dutch trawler firm, Parlevliet &

because no Irish RSW trawler

van der Plas.

had previously availed of the

``We

had

a

look

again

at

opportunities

under

Category

mestic

artisanal

fleet

In

fact

if

expectations

development processing

of

he

fish - either in Mauritania or the

ciation (PFA).

South Pacific - would be taken

would and

li-

He added that in order to fish with one or more of Atlantic Dawn's

RSW

trawlers,

company

protocol, a new category (11)

Fresh, formerly American Free-

was created to facilitate refri-

dom, to work as an ancillary

gerated sea water (RSW) traw-

processing vessel He

secured

the

2006 EU Mauritanian fisheries

lers target small pelagic species

had

explained

that

erel, sardines and sardinella:

mentally-friendly,

natural

frigerants

in

a new dimension to the tradition

installation

and

of

handling and processing equip-

vessels

that

that

may

assist

compared with stringent enfor-

review their direction towards,

cement on Irish vessels as well

for example, possible restruc-

as the Sea-fisheries Protection

turing

Authority's

media

which

Geoghegan

mergers

wish

with

other

companies

Mr

campaign,

would be addressed in the next

tion was much appreciated and

meeting of the SFPA Consulta-

very timely in ensuring contin-

tive Committee in which the

ued very close liaison between

IFPEA was

the Association and BIM, in

actively involved.

represented

and

Mr O'Gorman added that the joint venture with Dutch trawler companyu

Jaczon

operate

to

Johanna

manage Maria

following a refit currently underway.

* ((l:r)Tom Tynan, Origin Enterprises (IAWS); Gareth Gallagher, Atlan Fish; Ricky O'Cathain, O'Cathain Iasc Teo; Charles McAleavy, Donegal Fish Ltd; Middle Row from left to right: John Murphy, Fastnet Mussels Ltd; Tony Byrne, Norfish Ltd; Cathal Groonell, Iasc Mara Teo; Patrick Gallagher, Gallagher Brothers; Brian O'Callaghan, East Coast Fishing Company Ltd; Declan Kelly, Green Isle; Dermot Sheehy, Ilen Seafoods; David O'Neil, Fastnet Mussels and Leslie Bates, Sofrimar; Front Row from left to right: Brendan Minehane, Eiranova Fisheries Ltdl; Sean McGuinness, Killybegs Seafoods; Tom Geoghegan, National Secretary, IFPEA; Jason Whooley, CEO, Bord Iascaigh Mhara; Andy Molloy, Connemara Seafoods Ltd and Tommy O'Callaghan, Eastcoast Fishing Company.

freezing the

fish

HERITAGE IN

SCHOOLS SCHEME 2008 DISCOVER YOUR ENVI RONMENT UÊOver 130 experts to choose from that include natural and cultural heritage UÊSupports the SESE curriculum needs UÊCovers a wide range of heritage topics UÊClassroom visits and field trips UÊFull day or half day visits UÊSuitable for all primary school age groups.

*

said

``Jason Whooley's presenta-

re-

``This development will add flagged

Geoghegan

to

to

or

that

Ocean

Fresh was also using environ-

Irish

Mr

vessels operating in Irish waters

programme

companies

Ocean

such as mackerel, horse mack-

the

programme,

review

out-

that a decision where she would

the

BIM's

control

lined.

Pelagic Freezer trawler Asso-

under

in

overall marketing development

light

procesures vis-a Á -vis other EU

Mauritanian

capacity,

under Irish flag still stood and

that

implementation''

included

gramme as well as a business

under the EU treaty to assist the

nated by the Dutch controlled

explained

outlined ``for earliest possible

On the control side, issues raised

will be looking at possibilities

freezer trawlers, which is domi-

He

new initiatives Jason Whooley

pro-

are

tor

New development

Among the most notable of

step-up

met, Atlantic Dawn Company

available to us,'' finance direc-

in April to Mauritania.

progress in his opening address.

a

cies like octopus.

and

shore Ireland following a visit

cepted their invitation to review

through

which

cences to Category 9 for the

In-

Whooley,

tial

concentrated on demersal spe-

transfer

told

Jason

management requirements.

for companies with good poten-

conflict with Mauritania's do-

opportunities

O'Gorman

pleased

chief executive, BIM, had ac-

in order to meet stringent quota

Gaeltachta, to prioritise support

EU's pelagic trawlers was in

to

Niall

was

discarding of good quality fish

terprise Ireland and Udara  s no

At the same time Mr O'Gor-

more efficient and better suited

quota

Association

sing and home trade through

operatively between BIM, En-

man stressed that none of the

European

these

the

and the loss of fish for proces-

programme to be carried out co-

African market.

11 there was a danger that the

fishing

context,

Also on the agenda were supply

restructuring and development

products, aimed mainly for the

our fleet in order to become the

this

On the agenda

ment was designed to consis-

Mauritania after we restructured

Commission

Mr Geoghegan added that in

other agencies, and

try in meeting the very compe-

tently produce premium quality

``Participation in these thirdagreements

commercially

(IFPEA), Tom Geoghegan, naimportant

*

provide

Former American Freedom now reflagged in Norway, Ocean Fresh

will work with the RSW Veronica in Mauritania for Atlantic Dawn company.

Quotes from teachers: ‘The specialist got us access to local buildings that we’d never have been able to see otherwise.’

‘The children really enjoyed the visit, no matter what question they asked it could be answered on the spot.’

‘We all benifited from the day, it was a historic occasion as we started our school garden,’ ‘Considering the age group of the children I have rarely seen them sitting so quietly and enthusiastically.’

For further information contact I.N.T.O. at: Phone Fax Email Web

: : : :

01 804 7700 01 872 2547 pdu@into.ie www.into.ie

4

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

NEWS

`Fishing crisis' rooted in structural

Mapping Ireland’s inshore territory: - prioritised suite of integrated marine mapping surveys - delivery of integrated knowledge, products, services and competencies

mismatch Ð Commissioner Borg but only if member states, the on. Fuel subsidies, besides restructuring or liquidation Report by sector and the Commission being illegal, would do abso- plan,'' he said.

Gillian Mills Provided that rescue or rework together to create a smal- lutely nothing to deal with the more fuel-efficient fleet that underlying problems. On the structuring plans are based on A delegation representing the ler, better matched to fishing contrary, they would serve only ``realistic assumptions and adEuropean Association of Fish ispossibilities.'' to perpetuate the problems and dress structural deficiencies'' Producers Organisation (Sean added that ``rapid rescue make the crash even greater within the fleets concerned, O'Donoghue); EuropeÃche (Ja- andHerestructuring aid'' was pos- when it comes. Act now to additional support measures invier Garat) and the fisheries sible if it enhanced clude: and restructure,'' he said. division of COGECA (Giam- fleet sustainability, fishing The rescue aid proposed, * A one-off change in fishing added paolo Buonfiglio) has outlined that ``false solutions''butwere not which would be as a reimbur- gear, resulting in a less fuelthe `major crisis' facing the the way forward. sable loan or guarantee, would intensive fishing method. fishing industry across Europe ``Higher quotas would be be for a maximum of six * Purchase of equipment to to the Commissioner for Mar- completely counterproductive, months ``to keep an ailing improve fuel efficiency. itime Affairs and Fisheries. only to further endanger enterprise financially afloat for * Once-off replacement of the On the agenda was the 320% serving increase in fuel prices over the stocks that fishermen depend the time necessary to work out a engine under certain conditions. last five years, the 40% increase in fuel since January 2008, a 25% reduction in the price of certain fishery products since January and fish prices that erational programmes of the the fishing sector.

THE main issues are: have been at the same level for * Control imports of fishery EFF. * Raise the `de minimis' aid the past 20 years. products to tackle economic, * Authorise Member States to ceiling to 100,000 per vessel The delegation made it `absocial and environmental apply temporary suspension rather than per enterprise, so solutely clear' to Commissioner dumping, as well as labelling of employers' and workers' as to bring this aid into line Borg that in the current circumrequirements. social security contributions. with that granted to other stances, it was no longer eco* An immediate ban on ille- * Change in the European industrial products. nomically viable for the gal, unreported and unregu- market regulation that would * Establish an EU taskforce European fishing fleet to conlated fishing and mechanisms allow additional funding to led by the Commissioner to tinue to operate, despite major to prevent access of illegal increase fish prices and to implement the aforementioned restructuring plans in place. products into the EU market. allow part or all of the fuel measures, as well as those They also emphasised the fact * Immediate amendment of price be included in the first proposed jointly more than that fishermen are unable to two years ago by the EAPO, the framework of the Eur- sale price, pass on fuel price increases to opean Fisheries Fund (EFF) * Authorise Member States to Europeà che and COGECA, buyers. to allow funding for tempor- co-finance premiums on fi- covering the short, medium Responding to their conary cessation of activity (fish- nancial hedging contracts for and long term. cerns, Commissioner Borg said * To have the crisis of the ermen and vessel owners) for capping fuel prices. he was ``very aware of these economic reasons linked to * Revise the EU regulation sector formally discussed at acute difficulties,'' which he fuel prices and to increase governing State aid for safe- the next Fisheries Council on said were rooted in a ``structural the amounts available. guarding and restructuring en- 23 June 2008 and to ensure mismatch'' between fleet size * Reallocation of available terprises in difficulty to take that action is taken without and sustainable fishing. funds within the national op- into account the uniqueness of delay. ``I remain convinced there is a future for European fisheries,

Delegation's main issues

Bantry / Dunmanus entry

Galway Bay lidar coverage

www.gsi.ie

www.marine.ie

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

5

COMMENT

Thorough and unambiguous investigation needed THE question is simple: how did processed Irish farmed mussels get onto the French market and make over 200 people sick from azaspiracid poisoning, when we pride ourselves on having the most sophisticated monitoring apparatus specifically designed to prevent just that?

A simple question, maybe, but finding the answer might not be so straightforward.

All eyes are now on the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) as it tries to piece together what appears to be an ugly puzzle.

The hope now is — particularly in the sector — that we see what will be not only a vigorous and thorough investigation, but one whose findings will be unambiguous.

But it won’t end there.

The repercussions from this sad affair are likely to be long-lasting and are sure to leave the entire shellfish sector reeling for some time to come. Reputations may rise or fall on

the SFPA’s verdict: the reputation of Irish seafood and of the country’s leading shellfish processor, Bantry Bay Seafoods, are at stake.

That’s not all. The reputation of the SFPA itself is under the spotlight.

Mandate Since its emergence just 18 months ago, the SFPA is still seen as the ‘new kid on the block’. So far, it has shown itself to be a nononsense body and has wasted no time in drawing lines in the sand and enforcing its mandate. There is hardly a fishing port in Ireland where stories of the SFPA’s so-called heavy-handedness are not doing the rounds.

And while all of this is going on, spare a thought for the unfortunate mussel farmers and processors. At their annual conference in Westport last month, their anger was palpable and, despite the understandably tight-lipped demeanour of ISA big-wigs when pressed on

queries concerning the ‘azaspiracid issue’, the only talk from the members who gathered in the quieter corners was of biotoxins and what might and might not have happened to get the sector into such a mess.

Nothing is guaranteed to pull the rug from under a food producing sector more effectively than news that a contaminated product was the cause of making people sick. It’s every marketing manager’s worst waking nightmare.

Years of building brands and reputations can be destroyed overnight.

These are some of the reasons why there can be no room for this investigation to be fudged. If honest mistakes were made, then let’s make sure that procedures are bolstered so that they cannot happen again.

At the moment, there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing, but on the other hand, if it is proven that the law was broken, every effort must be made to ensure that those who broke

it pay a heavy price; the shellfish industry deserves no more than that.

Review Perhaps now it’s time too for the whole biotoxin monitoring programme to be reviewed and enhanced. We know that it works in prohibiting the harvesting of mussels from waters that exceed agreed levels of biotoxins, but once the mussel consignment leaves the bay, what systems are in place to ensure that public health is protected?

Isn’t it time now to extend the reach of biotoxin monitoring all the way into the processing factories by ensuring that product is monitored for biotoxins before it leaves on the truck?

Reputations are one thing, but health and livelihoods are even more important.

Let’s hope that the SFPA gets this one right.

— Gery Flynn

OBITUARY

Decommissioning of Irish fishing boats DEAR Editor, THIS letter was prompted by the leading article in your previous issue on the decommissioning of Irish fishing boats.

After initially being encouraged to take out loans and to invest in boats, Irish fishermen have been stumbling from one crisis to the next for close on two decades. Quotas were reduced on an annual basis, fish prices fluctuated in the absence of public auctions, and the bureaucracy of national and EU fishing regulations became overwhelming.

Yes, bigger and better fishing boats with stronger engines catch more fish; yes, we have to fish sustainably in order to have a fishing industry in the medium and long-term and yes, we do need fishing regulations.

But, what is happening now is that a combination of rising fuel prices, low and unpredictable fish prices and regulations that seem to be aimed more at criminalising the average fisherman rather than helping him to sustain his business, are all forcing fishermen out of fishing and into accepting decommissioning. This is not creating a diverse and sustainable fishing industry; this is creating a dying industry where only a few of the very biggest players will be able to survive. All of this is in the context of fishermen from other EU member states that have quota as big as, or bigger, than Irish fishermen.

To achieve a sustainable fish-

ing industry we need: sustainable fish stocks, dependable fish prices and an economic environment that allows fishermen to plan ahead. We do not have these at the moment.

My suggestion is that fishermen should be given back control over their fisheries, with back-up support from both fish biologists as well as fishery economists. This could be achieved with systems of Sea Tenure.

Sea Tenure has historically existed in a number of different forms, but it all comes down to one concept: That a group of fishermen and no one else has the right to fish certain fishing grounds in the long-term.

How they treat these fishing grounds will determine their own long-term success, as they are not allowed to fish anywhere else. This creates a self regulating culture among fishermen, as well as a feeling of control over their own destiny.

It also avoids the ‘‘make hay while the sun shines’’ approach as a result from uncertainty over quota cuts, which also contributes to unreliable fish prices.

With Sea Tenure, fishermen need not be forced into such wasteful practices as the current much hated dumping of discards — they can better control fish prices and they can afford to fish sustainably.

Editor Gillian Mills

flynn@inshore-ireland.com 091-844822/085-7475797 Production & imaging

Irish Farmers Journal Advertising manager Roger Cole cole@inshore-ireland.com 01-2859111/087-2611597

26 January 1946 — 7 April 2008

IT is with deep regret and sadness that BIM marks the passing of Udo Klutch of Aran Salmon GmbH. Udo was one of the major pioneering forces behind the development of the Irish organic salmon farming industry. His absolute commitment and support of the development of the Irish salmon industry knew no bounds.

His sad and early departure will leave a large vacuum in an area to which he had devoted a considerable part of the latter stages of his life. As a staunch friend and ambassador of Ireland, Udo will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, both within the industry and on a personal level.

The staff and management of BIM and particularly from the Dusseldorf office, wish to extend their heartfelt condolences to his wife Erika and their two daughters Daniela and Manuela. *

Take-up of decommissioning package will be felt in every port, including Dunmore East. Photo G Mills

Publication dates for 2008: Printed by the Irish Times, 24 - 28 Tara Street, Dublin 2

mills@inshore-ireland.com 01-2354804/087-2902045

Features editor Gery Flynn

Udo Klutsch

— Brendan Connolly, Clonfane, Trim, Co Meath

Inshore Ireland is published bimonthly by the Agricultural Trust, publishers of the Irish Farmers Journal and the Irish Field, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12

The publishers do not accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors and advertisers.

While every care is taken to ensure accuracy of information contained in Inshore Ireland, we do not accept responsibility for any errors, or matters arising from same.

Comment

No room for fudge in SFPA probe

" February 23rd " June 21st " October 25th

" April 18th " August 23rd " December 13th

To advertise in Inshore Ireland contact Roger Cole Email: cole@inshore-ireland.com Tel: (01) 285 9111 or 284 1544

— Tom McLaughlin, BIM

6

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

YOURVIEW Food production or fuel production?

Inshore Ireland, and its publishers, do not accept responsibility for the

veracity of claims made by contributors. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy of information, we do not accept responsibility for any errors, or matters arising from same. Contact the editor at mills@inshore-ireland.com

The debate on biomass use extends to seaweed. Diarmaid Mulcahy explores the issues WE live in changing times.

Today, the general consensus within the global science community suggests that the biggest challenges facing both mankind and planet earth are climate change and peak oil.

Evidence supports the theory that global temperatures are rising, and that much of this relates to an increase in greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere Ð a lot of which is derived from burning fossil fuels, such as oil gas, coal and peat (turf).

Oil demand is growing steadily, driven by increasing populations and caruse in the western world, and the growing economies in the East, primarily in China and India. It is also reaching peak production.

With supply static and demand rising, the oil industry has become a seller's market, and prices soared to unprecedented levels of $130/barrel in recent trading.

Reducing dependency

Driven by climate change, high prices and the global economy's dependence on oil both as a fuel and as a raw material or ingredient in other products (petrol, diesel, kerosene, plastics, lubricants, etc), governments and industry leaders are looking to find means to reduce this dependency and to find or create alternative fuels and energy sources.

So where is it all going, and whatisbeing donetomakethese changes? There is a major focus

on tapping into new sources of energy or power.

We have used hydro-electric power for a very long time to produce electricity. More recently, we have started to harness wind power to drive turbines to create electricity, and newer technologies are being developed to convert the power of the sea Ð both wave and tidal power Ð into electricity.

We are now looking at sustainable alternatives to petrol and diesel Ð one of these is biofuels.

Biofuels are created through processing different types of biomass, namely plant matter (oil seed rape, grains, maize, etc), and certain tree species.

Biofuels produce less green-

house gases than fossil fuels, and there is a very strong movement to produce more and more of it in an effort to beat the oil crisis.

Rebalance required

The production of biofuel crops, however, leads to other difficulties. Land that was previously used to grow food crops has been converted to growing biofuel crops, which in turn has lead to reduced global food production and related increases in global food prices.

Strong forces are now being exerted to rebalance this situation and to return some of this land to the production of food crops.

With the realisation that plant matter can be turned into biofuel, increasing attention is now focusing on aquatic plants, primarily seaweeds, to establish if plant matter from the earth's most extensive growing medium,the sea, canhelpfillthe fuel

and energy gaps. At first glance, it would seem logical to use seaweed to create biofuel. A note of caution should be sounded, however: while it may have a role as a biofuel, its use as an established product should not be lost in what may become a race to create just another fuel reservoir.

Some facts: * Seaweed has been harvested for food, fertilizer and medicine for thousands of years. * Plants treated with seaweed are known to develop resistance to pests and disease, and foods produced using natural fertilizers such as seaweed are believed to be more nutritious and better for human health. * Seaweeds are naturally occurring carbon sinks, offering another set of lungs to the planet (in the same way as trees and other green plants do on land). * Supply of some seaweed species is limited, and access to much of the resource Ð

especially in Ireland Ð is often difficult. * Certain seaweed species are more suitable as foods, others as fertilizers, and others still offer raw materials with a multitude of applications. * Research is also underway in Japan into using seaweed as carbon sinks. It is possible that cultured seaweed may be a further weapon to reduce greenhouse gases by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Perhaps the question that needs to be asked most is whether seaweed and its derivatives would be better utilised as foodstuffs, and to fertilize and replenish soil, thus enabling better and more natural crop/ food production, rather than becoming the next candidate in solving the global fuel crisis.

We need to get this one right.

We are rapidly running out of alternative sustainable resources that can play such a huge role in feeding and healing the planet.

The RNLI and the Crew Training Campaign • • • • • • •

There are over 1,000 highly trained, volunteer crewmembers in the RNLI in Ireland.

When we recruit a volunteer, they make a major commitment – which could ultimately include risking their life.

Our commitment to them is to provide the equipment and training they need to help them save lives as safely and effectively as possible.

Only training can turn someone who’s willing to save lives at sea, into someone who can.

The RNLI Crew Training Campaign needs to raise ?14M over the next five years to keep our volunteer crews trained.

Each year it costs over ?1,460 per crewmember to keep them trained and ready for action.

Please support the RNLI Crew Training Campaign

To find out more about the RNLI Crew Training Campaign, visit www.rnli.org.uk/crewtraining RNLI Ireland, Airside, Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland. Tel 01 895 1800 Email lifeboatsireland@rnli.org.uk The RNLI is a registered charity CHY 2678

* Laminaria digitata forest in Doolin, Co Clare.

There is a major focus on tapping into new sources of energy or power. We have used hydro-electric power for a very long time to produce electricity.We have started to harness wind power to drive turbines to create electricity, and newer technologies are being developed to convert the power of the sea Ð both wave and tidal power Ð into electricity

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

7

NEWS

New heritage education programme aims to let children play in nature heritage. The emphasis on outdoor learning aims to give children and teachers a firsthand experience of their local heritage, whether by learning to listen out for common birds, or by going on a nature hunt to learning how to make prehistoric musical instruments, spin wool, listen to a local storyteller, or handle a medieval sword and shield, for example.

A new Heritage-in-Schools Directory, listing more than150 local environmental and heritage specialists by county are being circulated to primary schools across the country this month. Schools can select the heritage expert of their choice and book a visit with the INTO. The Heritage in Schools scheme aims to give children, and their teachers, a hands-on approach, so they can leave the classroom and enjoy first-hand experience of their natural environment.

The scheme’s success is due in part to the expert support it offers teachers, while meeting the needs of the new Social, Environment and Scientific Education curriculum. ‘‘The Heritage in Schools Scheme has been hugely successful since it was launched in 1999, when it had 15 specialists on its panel’’, said Isabell Smyth, Head of Communica-

OVER 120,000 primary school children from around the country are expected to take part in the Heritage in Schools Programme, which has significantly expanded this year with new members to include a number of environmental specialists.

The programme is an initiative of the Heritage Council, and is administered by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO). This year ENFO has come on board to support the scheme, and the expanding number of specialists, to help meet the demands from schools.

The scheme promotes outdoor learning and interaction with nature, along with all aspects of Ireland’s diverse The Heritage Council largely covers the costs of the scheme; schools also cover a percentage with disadvantaged schools paying a lesser amount.

The budget overall is €450,000; schools contribute aproximately €80,000.

*

*

Éana Nı́ Lamhna, member of the Heritage in Schools panel.

tion and Education with the Heritage Council. ‘‘Additional funding from ENFO this year has allowed us to continue to build on the expertise available on the scheme. ‘‘Recent international studies highlight the importance of nature and playing outdoors for children. ‘‘At a time when children are spending more and more time indoors, it is a priority for the Heritage Council that we encourage children to experience the joy and value of learning from the natural world as much as possible.

Is the canal a new dumping site for Galway city?

Benoit Queguineur asks the question THE Galway canal has been serving the City for many years, enabling activities ranging from navigation, energy supply, sport, leisure and, fisheries, to draining the Corrib. And nowadays we can add its’ use as an eclectic dumping site to these roles.

What lies beneath the surface may not be a surprise to many.

Everybody knows that thousands of cans are thrown in the canal, as well as dozens of shopping trolleys; however to find a lawnmower was quite a surprise to me. How come this rubbish ends up in the canal, and more importantly, remains there?

This latest addition lies close to the surface on a bed of curly waterweed - the highly invasive Lagarosiphon major.

Of course one could blame the lawnmower factory for not making them suitable for cutting the curly waterweed, or the current for not being strong enough to wash it away.

From an environmental policy perspective (the Water Framework Directive, WFD), all water bodies, including artificial and heavily-modified water bodies, are required to meet certain environmental quality standards. The environmental standards are based on biological and biochemical measurements (biodiversity, water quality, etc.), being developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for every water body (ground water, river, canal, estuary, costal waters).

The standard for the canal has not been released yet; however

*

Lawnmower in the Galway canal.

according to the Western River Basin District (WRBD), the Eglinton canal is not expected to achieve the criteria set for rivers. Nevertheless, Galway City Council (GCC) will have to comply, and reach the standards defined by the EPA and the WFD by 2015.

According to the Environmental Section of GCC, cleaning is done ‘every now and then, and before the summer (before the tourist season probably), but the City Council cannot be on night duty to stop people from throwing things in the canal’.

There are two monitoring groups coordinated by GCC to survey the canal; the Waterways group (whose last report available online dates back to 2003)

and the Lough Corrib group.

So far, none of the local and national agencies (Galway City Council, Waterways Ireland, the EPA, WRBD) has an environmental report mentioning the Eglinton canal. Maybe that’s because no survey has been conducted, although a report from the WFD due for 2009 might contain data on the canal.

There is some hope that the situation will change as the canal falls under the WFD. The directive aims at restoring all the water bodies to at least ‘good status’ by 2015.

But will the next seven years be enough for the Galway City Council to clean the canal, or will the tax payer have to pay the fines?

‘‘Just watch a child’s delight when they get to experience the wonder of holding a worm in its hand and watch it wriggling around. ‘‘No matter how developed our modern technology is, it cannot compare to the direct and immediate experience of nature, so it is important that every child gets the opportunity to benefit from this experience,’’ she said. A Heritage in Schools website is currently being developed and will be launched later in the year.

Further information is available from INTO or from www.heritagecouncil.ie.

*

The scheme promotes outdoor learning and interaction with nature.

* The Heritage in Schools scheme aims to give children, and their teachers, first-hand experience of their natural environment.

8

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

FRESHWATER FOCUS

*

The watershed warden in Co Kildare.

*

School awareness programme in Newbridge.

*

The watershed warden mobile laboratory.

Schoolchildren hold the key to environmental awareness Ray Earle, Eastern River Basin District DUBLIN City Council (coordinating local authority) and CDM (project consultant) are leading the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the Eastern River Basin District (ERBD) in conjunction with the 12 constituent local authorities and the other statutory bodies cited in the transposing legislation, namely SI No.722 of 2003.

Public consultation and participation and the role of the Advisory Council (SI No. 415 of 2005), elected representatives, interest groups and the general public are critical in meeting the requirements of the WFD. Accordingly, the Environmental Awareness Programme (EAP) and the Mobile Monitoring Unit (MMU) is a key success factor of the entire ERBD project.

The ERBD project has recruited a watershed warden (Michal Smietanka) to work with the 12 constituent local authorities in the District to investigate causes of pollution and poor ecological status throughout the area. A 12month programme has been developed, aimed at supplementing the limited data on many of our waters and investigating the effects of specific

*

pressures in each of the subcatchments.

Watershed warden Equipped with a four-wheel drive jeep, a ribbed inflatable boat and a variety of monitoring and sampling equipment, the watershed warden (WSW) has started his travels throughout the district to gain a detailed knowledge of ‘on the ground’ conditions and problem issues.

Since February, the WSW has worked with three local authorities (LA), namely Kildare, Meath and South Dublin.

Each LA creates a work plan based on their Water Management Units. In general, these work plans focus on walking catchments; identifying animal access points; discharge pipes and taking investigative water samples. During reporting, recommendations are made in relation to any findings as a result of the investigative fieldwork.

One of the most important aspects and requirements of this project is to encourage knowledge of water matters, by leading an Environmental Awareness Campaign. To date, a lack of concern among the adult community has been recorded through various public participation sessions set up under the umbrella of the WFD.

‘Green’ profile

Eastern River Basin District map

From previous experience (eg: Three River Project) we are now championing the idea that it is more effective and interesting to visit primary school children and to focus the campaign on a younger audience.

As the primary school curriculum now places the environment at the centre of children’s education, we decided to offer primary schools the chance to learn about their local river and the threats it may face from pollution.

The purpose of the programme is to create more awareness and knowledge

among young children in relation to the pollution occurring in Ireland’s waters today.

Through this initiative, it is hoped that the children will promote a more environmentally-friendly behavioural pattern among their families and communities.

This campaign started in mid-April at St Patrick’s National School in Newbridge, Co Kildare. This school is the first of many that we plan to visit, all of which are participating in the ‘Green School Programme’.

Green School is an international environmental, educational and management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges longterm, total school involvement.

Positive action Its aim is to increase student participation and awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and also in the wider community. These schools have to work through four different themes (one at a time): litter and waste, energy, water and travel.

The objective of the operation is to make children think about and react to the following questions: * Why does water matter? * Why is it important to preserve our water qualitatively and quantitatively? * How can we, in our everyday life, reduce our non-sustainable utilisation of and negative impact on vital non-renewable resources?

Preserved macroinvertebrate samples are used during the talk to illustrate how ecology can indicate water quality in rivers.

Thus, the children are taught how to biologically assess their local river. They are taught to recognise the main groups of macroinvertebrates such as the mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, which are good indicators of clean water and also chir-

onomids and asselus as indicators of polluted water.

From the children’s reaction, it seems that we have good reason to be optimistic concerning the accomplishment of our objectives. Indeed, we have noticed a good interaction during the talk, no matter what level of knowledge the children already have on the subject. The macroinvertebrate samples seem to intensify their curiosity!

Interest and attention to this talk can also be seen from the results of the quiz we run at the end of the talk.

Programme rollout So far we have visited five schools in Co Kildare and south Dublin. The location of the schools we visit each week is determined by the work schedule of the watershed warden.

Every Friday, a maximum of two schools will be visited until the summer holidays. The talks will commence again in September with the opening of the primary schools.

The MMU initiative is jointly funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the 12 no constituent LAs in the ERBD. It is a very effective and practical approach to moving from the dominant desk study aspects of the Water Framework Directive (EC/60/ 2000) to date to a real and transparent presence in the field to promote investigation monitoring and public awareness.

It is hoped that it will also be potentially helpful in assisting the constituent LAs to make final decisions re Programmes of Measures (PoM) at local subcatchment/water management unit level and in driving awareness for elected local representatives who are imminently charged under WFD with adapting objectives, a PoM and indeed a River Basin Management Plan as a reserved function for the entire ERBD and each of its constituent LAs.

*

School awareness programme in Newbridge.

*

Sample of macroinvertebrates

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

9

FRESHWATER FOCUS

Is government commitment sufficiently green to strengthen biodiversity policy?

Biodiversity is a buzz-word that we keep hearing, however few people know exactly what it means. We are told of the need to conserve biodiversity, and the ’urgency’ to stop biodiversity loss. But what is it, and why should we be concerned? What are the costs and benefits of biodiversity? What is the status of Ireland’s biodiversity? asks Janice Fuller.

TWO recently published reports, commissioned by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, attempt to address these questions. ’The Economic and Social Aspects of Biodiversity’ examines the benefits and costs of biodiversity in Ireland, and finds that ‘the benefits of biodiversity far exceed the costs of current levels of biodiversity protection’.

While putting a value on biodiversity is not an easy task, the report’s authors provide a preliminary estimate of over €2.6 billion per annum. This estimate is based on the benefits of biodiversity, and the goods to which it contributes.

Economic role The report examines the role of biodiversity, and of ecosystems in key economic and social sectors, including fisheries and water.

The fisheries sector has the direct benefit from biodiversity of a fish catch. Biodiversity drives productivity with aquatic ecosystems. Negative impacts on biodiversity, for example, from damage to marine or freshwater habitats, pollution, over-exploitation of resources, can impact on productivity and harvests.

According to the report, the current quayside value of the national fish catch is €180 million per annum, but the authors claim that this could be doubled if fish populations were managed sustainably.

Aquaculture and the seaweed

industry, which are worth over €50 million per annum, are highly dependent on maintaining and protecting biodiversity.

Within aquatic environments, biodiversity also provides important services such as recycling nutrients and maintaining good water quality. Many aquatic habitats are important for flood mitigation, and many have high recreational and amenity value.

Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has welcomed the report stating, ‘Most of us recognise the need to protect our native wildlife for its intrinsic value, and as something to be preserved for future generations. However, this report presents a compelling case to strengthen policies for the protection of biodiversity for economic reasons, and highlights far reaching social, as well as financial benefits, for our society’.

Poor status of habitats The second report, ‘The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland’ provides a bleak assessment of the status of the main components of Ireland’s biodiversity, much of which is described as being in ‘poor’ condition.

Habitats assessed include marine bays, deep sea reefs, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

The report found that only 7% of all the habitats examined are in good status, with 46% inadequate, and 47% in bad status.

Many habitats associated

*

A heron waits patiently at Clarendon Lock, Boyle River. Photo P Mills

with water were considered to be in bad status. Even moderate declines in water quality make rivers and lakes unsuitable for many fish and invertebrate species. Coastal habitats were found to have declined in quality, often as a result of recreation and development pressure over the past 20 years.

The report, however, paints a more encouraging picture of Ireland’s animals and plants.

Roughly 50% of the species examined are in good status, while 10% are considered bad.

Neverthess, the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera and Margaritifera durrovensis), the longest living organism in Ireland, is on the

brink of extinction. This species is an indicator of water of the highest quality.

Challenges identified in the report include the sustainable management of coastal resources much valued for recreation and development; improving water quality and the control of alien species in freshwater and marine habitats.

Minister Gormley has increased funding in 2008 for the organisation charged with protecting biodiversity, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), but warned that ‘measures will also be needed across a wide range of policy areas, including planning and infrastructure investment.’

What is biological diversity and why is it a good thing?

BIODIVERSITY or biological diversity simply means the variety of all living things on earth and includes people, plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms. Biodiversity is another word for nature, natural heritage, wildlife or the natural world. The term biodiversity, however, reflects the importance of a rich diversity or variety of living things in order for natural systems to work well, and for our benefit.

We all depend on biodiversity to provide clean air and water, healthy soils, food, building materials, and medicines.

Biodiversity also contributes to quality of life by providing the potential for recreational activities, such as, angling, water sports, and hunting. These activities only work well in ecosystems that are in good condition (i.e. unpolluted waters and wild natural areas).

Biodiversity provides economic returns directly

through recreation and tourism. It contributes to human health through the recycling of nutrients and decomposition of pollutants (including those that could find their way into drinking water supplies), and by providing opportunities for recreation and relaxation.

Main threats to biodiversity * The destruction of natural habitats (through activities such as building; drainage and infilling; removal of sand and gravel etc.), over-exploitation of resources; pollution and the spread of alien species. * The spread of alien species is particularly problematic in aquatic environments. The zebra mussel is having a devastating effect in many of our inland waterways.

Several non-native aquatic plants are also causing a major nuisance e.g. water fern and curly water weed.

As it appears that the status of some of our most important natural habitats are in dire condition, and that the costs of the protection of biodiversity are far outweighed by the many benefits, let’s hope that the Minister continues to increase funding for the NPWS and all other bodies that have a role in protecting biodiversity.

Both reports can be downloaded from www.npws.ie.

Dr Janice Fuller is an ecological consultant who works on a wide range of projects including preparing biodiversity action plans for local authorities, ecological surveys and producing leaflets and booklets on ecological topics.

She can be contacted on janicefuller@eircom.net

Aquatic Renewable Energy Technologies

Coming Soon in Autumn 2008

* Minister John Gormley, EU representatives, Fingal County Council and the Coastwatch team looking into glass balls of the biodiversity monument in Malahide Castle on international biodiversity day. The glass representing Ireland contains the salmon.

Monument unveiled CELEBRATIONS to mark World Biodiversity Day (May 22) took place in Malahide Castle, Dublin, and was attended by John Gormey TD, Minister for the Environment and representatives from across EU member states.

Organised by Coastwatch, the event was marked by the unveiling of a monument to biodiversity, comprising a sundial and millstone inlayed with animals and plants — one for each EU member state.

The inlays are covered by semispherical glass that magnify the etchings and mirror the viewer. Inscribed in the sundial is an EU Council of Ministers’ promise: ’To halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010’. ‘‘Loss cannot be halted with mixed message policies and weak law enforcement,’’ remarked Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch coordinator. ‘‘But yes, it can be achieved for certain areas and species by 2010 if we really put our minds and actions to it,’’ she said.

AQUARET is an e-learning resource which aims to educate users on the aquatic renewable energy industry using an interactive website accompanied by educational posters.

AQUARET will show you: . How these renewable sources of energy have been used throughout history . Where the energy comes from and where it can be found . How the modern technologies that allow us to harness this energy work . The environmental and economic benefits these technologies could bring . Where and how the technologies fit into the landscape . The interactions they may have with the local environment

www.aquaret.com For more information contact the Project Coordinator: David Murphy, AquaTT Manager,

01 644 9008, david@aquatt.ie AQUARET is supported by the European Commission LDV programme (2006-8)

10

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

INSHORE FISHERIES

* Pauline Simpson, Lobster Advisory Group; John Browne TD, former fisheries minister; Michael Keatinge, BIM fleet development manager and Trevor Simpson, East Waterford Lobster Co-op Society.

V-notch scheme: The Dunmore perspective By

* Lobster fishermen in the Roundstone area will primarily fish out of Management Unit 5b.

Restructuring of lobster fishery to avert stock collapse

By Gillian Mills

PROPOSED changes in managing access to the Irish lobster fishery, if accepted by the industry, will see the Irish coast divided into eight units. All authorised vessels under or equal to 12m in length will be licensed to fish for lobster; however, vessels over 12m will only be authorised on the basis of established track record. `Managing Access to the Irish Lobster Fishery', which

was prepared by BIM in consultation with the Lobster Species Advisory Group, follows on from an analysis of lobster stocks that revealed over-exploitation in many areas around the coast.

Total capacity of vessels authorised to fish lobster will be stabilised once initial authorisations are issued, and further increases will be conditional upon improvement in catches and as agreed by industry.

A holder of an authorisation

will be entitled to fish in two adjacent sub areas of choice.

For example, if a fisherman operates close to the boundary between Areas 5 and 6, he could seek authorisation to fish Areas 5b and 6a.

If, however, he operates closer to the middle of Area 5, he might seek authorisation to cover Areas 5a and 5b. (see map).

Authorisations will be valid for two years and will only be renewed on submission of ap-

Photo: G Mills

propriate evidence (logbook) of fishing activity during that period.

Speaking at the launch, Jason Whooley, CEO of BIM said that changes needed to protect lobster stocks were broadly accepted: ``The report provides a blueprint for a successful management regime, ``that will clearly define boundaries in order to manage stocks and in so doing, provide for a more secure Irish lobster industry.''

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Summary of proposed changes

* Access will be managed regionally * Authorisation required for all vessels fishing lobster * Authorisation can only be transferred with capacity within a management unit * New entrants to the fishery will be managed on the basis of priority rules to be agreed with industry * Authorised vessels must record and report activity * The fishery at national and

Trevor

Simpson,

East Waterford

regional level will operate under a management plan that will document the objectives and strategies over a five-year term. Biological, economic and environmental data will be used to monitor how the plan is performing and to make adjustments as necessary. * Within the eight areas, local industry is expected to implement the management plan drawn up by the LSAG.

Lobster Co-op Society

IN the early nineties, Irish lobster fishermen began to realise lobster stocks were dwindling and that there was no future for their industry. Consequently, a group travelled to Maine in the USA to see the way they did things there. As a result and surprisingly quickly, legislation was then introduced in Ireland to protect V-notched lobsters.

Now any lobster found with a v-notched or damaged tail has to be returned to the sea.

Penalties were introduced that now make it illegal to capture vnotched lobsters.

In the mid 1990s, with the help of BIM, lobster fishermen in South Wexford set up a Vnotching scheme off the Wexford coast. As many of the fishermen in Dunmore East had gear the other side of the Hook, we were very interested in this development. At the behest of BIM, a lobster fisherman from Maine travelled the coast to outline the success of the programme and licensing system in his home state. He met with us in Dunmore, and BIM funded a facilitator to see if we could set up a scheme here in East Waterford Following a series of meetings in Dunmore East, it was agreed to start up a scheme, and that a 2% levy would be taken from all lobster and crab landings to fund the purchase of lobsters. BIM were to match our levy to pay for the lobsters that we would v-notch and return to the sea.

Despite no legal framework existing, we issued members with permits to fish in our area.

The South Wexford Lobster Coop had a similar permit, and we agreed to recognise each other's permit in each area. We then set about trying to make the permits enforceable by law.

Soon, similar groups were established around the coast and v-notching became the only hope. Now all female lobsters were `potentially' protected, to spawn a couple of times before the v-notch grew out.

We were hopeful that all this investment in time and money would result in the establishment of a licensing system!

It became clear that all lobster fishermen had to be included in any licensing scheme.

Members of the now defunct National Lobster Association held meetings with successive fishery ministers, all of whom promised legislation to protect lobster fishermen.

Notwithstanding, the relevant department always argued that such legislation was probably

unconstitutional and, subsequently, all such plans were sent (we were told) to the Attorney General. Ten years went by and still no licence was put in place.

In 2005, a new strategy for shellfisheries saw the introduction of the Species Advisory Groups (SAGs), comprising the Department, BIM and fishermen's representatives. Their findings were to be fed into the Inshore Fisheries Review.

At the initial meeting on 14 June 2005, then marine minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher, assured us that any plan devised to protect any of the shell fisheries would be made into law, as long as it did not compromise EU legislation.

In May 2006, the Lobster Advisory Group produced a draft management plan and by January 2007 a full consultation plan was ready to present to the industry.

Unexpectedly, however, the Department advised us that the plan would need to be approved by the Cawley Seafood Strategy Implementation Group.

This Committee is made up of representatives of all sides of the Industry, Producers, Processors, Aquaculture, Marine Institute, BIM, Federation of Irish Fishermen, IFO, Inshore and, most importantly, The Government Department responsible for the Industry. We were able to get a representative on this Committee and our plans were discussed there and eventually were approved by this group.

Now in May 2008, we are ready once more to go to general consultation. Initially, we are looking for the principle of limited access to be approved; thereafter a number of measures will go for public debate and approval.

Everything we do has to be in consultation with all stakeholders. This is only fair and correct; however, it takes time and meanwhile the stocks are dwindling and fishermen are working increasingly harder to maintain the same income. The only reason there is still an industry at all in our region is because of the years of work on the v-notching programme.

Time is running out. We really do need some management of our industry. We believe that the v-notching programme has kept fish on the grounds so far but without proper management it is only a matter of time before they disappear. All lobster fishermen with a genuine interest in the survival of the industry will support BIM's new proposals.

It is the only chance we have and it has taken many years to get to this point.

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

11

INSHORE FISHERIES

Ranched salmon — a blueprint for future management?

By Gery Flynn A proposal to allow hatcheryreared ranched salmon to be captured by draft net in the Erne Estuary, which has the potential to develop into a lucrative operation, is gaining widespread local support.

However, local politicians and government so far appear to lack the enthusiasm for the project.

A draft management plan entitled ‘A proposal for the management of the salmon on the Erne Estuary’, which has been seen by Inshore Ireland, makes a convincing argument that Ballyshannon’s once substantial draft-net salmon fishery should be revived, but for hatchery-reared ranched fish only.

The report proposes that wild salmon and seatrout would not be targeted and that only ranched salmon released as hatchery-reared smolts to the open sea, identifiable by a clipped adipose fin, would be caught. ‘‘We only want to be allowed to fish for hatchery-reared finclipped salmon,’’ John McIntyre, a member of the Northern Regional Fisheries Board and secretary of the Erne Estuary Draft Net Traditional Fishermen’s Association, which is behind the idea, outlined to Inshore Ireland. ‘‘Traditionally, wild salmon return to the Erne during May, June and July. So therefore, by waiting until early August before putting our nets in the water, the chances are we will catch very, very few wild salmon,’’ McIntyre explains.

Stringent policing He is anxious also to point out that if the plan goes ahead, draft fishing would be strictly policed by the Association’s members who ‘‘would adopt a pro-active approach to the management of the fishery and work closely with fishery board staff, scientists and staff from the ESB hatchery’’.

And he is emphatic that any wild salmon and seatrout captured accidently in draft nets would be carefully removed and released unharmed to continue their journey up river to spawn naturally. ‘‘We are only interested in capturing clearly identifiable fin-clipped salmon that attempt to return to the hatchery and, therefore, do not spawn naturally, and I want to make that clear. Unlike wild salmon, the hatchery-reared ones do not continue on to the spawning beds. Genetically, they are the same as the wild variety but they do not add anything directly to the salmon population on the Erne.’’

McIntyre claims that every year, hatchery-reared salmon are ‘‘dying in their thousands’’ in the Erne because they have nowhere else to go once they arrive back in the estuary. ‘‘They actually try to swim back up the pipe and into the tanks where they were reared in the hatchery. And those that swim on as far as Assaroe Lake between Beleek and Ballyshannon eventually fall back downriver through a most inadequate

*

Kathleen Falls Dam with tail race and outflow pipe from hatchery.

salmon pass that is a real bottleneck. Over two consecutive nights last year, more than 2,500 of these fish died in this way. ‘‘It’s a shocking waste. However, if we were allowed to catch them there could be huge knock-on benefits for Ballyshannon and that is the basis of our proposal.’’

Revelations The report itself makes the following stark observations: Despite numerous requests during the 2007 season from the Erne draft fishermen to be allowed harvest the hatchery fin-clipped salmon, all were met with negative responses.

This utter waste of a valuable resource is a mindless act, which benefits nobody.

It also blames the construction of Ballyshannon and Belleek hydro-electric power stations between 1946 and

1955 for ‘irreversibly damaging the spawning and nursery beds between the two stations’’ and effectively sounding the deathknell for a substantial and generation’s old seasonal fishery.

The report adds that a ‘sustainable business on our doorstep providing badly needed jobs, producing one of the most healthy foods available, warrants serious consideration at a time of economic uncertainty and job losses’.

Government inertia In the meantime and despite a lukewarm response from government to date, John McIntyre is not giving up and says he will continue to lobby for the proposal. He concedes however that despite growing support from the townspeople of Ballyshannon, it will require greater enthusiasm from local and national political representatives if

The hatchery with the salmon pass and ESB generating station in the background.

Photo: B Connolly *

Photo: B Connolly it is to become a reality: ‘‘For the last two years, I’ve brought the idea to the notice of all politicians across the political spectrum regionally and nationally,’’ he says. ‘‘The result is a lot of correspondence all indicating support for it. But at the end of the day, I feel like I’ve been sent round in circles. The minister responsible, Eamon Ryan, indicated his hands were tied, and pointed to the Standing Scientific Committee. ‘‘They all appear to me to be very blinkered to the notion.

They advise government on wild salmon alright, but as far as I can see, they have not looked at the issue in any real way regarding hatchery-reared fin clipped ranched salmon.’’

Agitation to continue McIntyre concedes he is not optimistic about the chances of seeing his Association’s proposals implemented, but is quick to add they are determined to press on: ‘‘Dealing with the politicians and scientists has been very difficult. It’s been a bit like hitting a brick wall,’’ he says. ‘‘It just seems to be impossible to make any headway with them. However, we won’t be giving up. I will now be taking the matter up with An Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan. She supported the idea while she was Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food but said at the time that she had no responsibility for inland fisheries. ‘‘She will have to take notice now, however, because the idea is gaining momentum and the Ballyshannon community are fully behind it.’’

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12

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

INTERVIEW

‘Dynamic regulator’ required to maximise Irish aquaculture production

By Gery Flynn JAN Feenstra is arguably Ireland’s most consistently successful salmon farmer.

Born in The Netherlands, Feenstra moved with his parents to Ireland at the age of fourteen to settle in the Dublin area,

Q&A ARE the critics correct that Ireland’s aquaculture industry — shellfish and finfish — has failed to deliver what it promised thirty years ago?

They are both right and wrong about what has been a very complex development. Marine Harvest, the company I work for, will be 30 years in existence next year. It has recorded steady profit over that period, and now employs close to 200 people.

Many of the small shellfish companies have also enjoyed similar success, notwithstanding failures along the way, as in any business and industry. I do, however, feel that some of the ambitions put before the aquaculture industry were often unrealistic. What is the point of saying that Ireland should produce 45,000 tonnes? It’s better to produce fewer quality fish than more of lesser quality.

Our production requirements should be assessed by working back from the market, instead of having a purely productionefficiency focus. Volume is vanity and profit is sanity, in my opinion.

IRISH aquaculture has received significant grant aid and private sector investment over the past quarter century.

Isn’t it true that the ROI has been disappointing to date?

It is difficult for me to judge that in respect of other people’s businesses, and from living in the West of Ireland it strikes me that this relates more to the environment and to infrastructure.

Aquaculture businesses are linked to the local natural resource and therefore cannot be relocated; however, that is not always the case for other manufacturing enterprises that tend to locate in places for reasons of labour cost, grants, educated employees, etc.

It is difficult to run substantial businesses in remote locations, and while grants can greatly help one’s development, they have never been a reason for developing — and shouldn’t be.

WHAT

have been the key

where he completed his secondary education in 1978.

His fascination with fish goes back to early childhood and to home-made aquariums and a garden with ponds that he continuously re-stocked.

As a teenager, the dream of owning his own trout farm

eventually propelled him straight from secondary school into the rough-and-tumble world of commercial fish farming. ‘‘I’d always had this romantic notion that I wanted to have my own trout farm.

However, after a year in Borris, Co Carlow working for

some very nice people in the mud and the rain, I realised this was no way to make a living,’’ he said.

His choice was to return to education — to Trinity College Dublin — where in 1983, he completed an honours degree in zoology, specialising in limnol-

ogy. But his interest in fisheries was soon to resurface, and develop to the point where he is now celebrating 25 years as a salmon farmer.

As head of a subsidiary of Norwegian giant Marine Harvest ASA, he continues to display a steady and creative hand

on the tiller of the Co Donegalbased operation.

Last year, they produced 6,923 tonnes (live weight) of salmon — more than half the total national harvest — from a growing network of sea farms, stretching as far as Cork.

road blocks to establishing a thriving and sustainable Irish aquaculture industry?

The key word there is ‘‘sustainable’’, and it is sometimes used too casually. In my view, sustainability refers first of all to the environmental resource on which the business depends.

Secondly, it should also include employee and social community aspects. And thirdly, and not least of all, there’s the need for financial sustainability. A second key road block is finance. It takes three years to grow a salmon, and feed represents 60% of the cost.

There’s also an array of marine-based equipment to be maintained in perfect condition — otherwise you can lose your fish. It’s a business for which you need deep pockets; not having enough finance has seen the demise of many operations because it typically leads to the downward spiral of harvesting fish at too small an average weight at which the price per kilo is also less.

WHAT do you mean by environmental sustainability?

Environmental sustainability is achievable only through sound regulation that on the one hand takes care of the environment and the general public’s interest, while on the other hand, supports the operator and enables him or her to implement best farming practices to benefit the environment as well as the farming business.

This is a concept that still has to develop in Ireland. Instead, the regulator is seen here as having a policing role as opposed to a managing role. Farmers need several sites to apply best practices; however, if these are not being made available in the first place, then the farmer can end up in a compromised production set up that is ultimately not entirely of his own making.

Aquaculture is a young and dynamic business producing healthy nourishing foods that need a dynamic regulator with a deep and up-to-date understanding. That is, in my view, the key road block.

HASN’T the whole area of aquaculture licensing also stymied expansion?

There is no doubt it has, and continues to play a big part. It would, however, be unfair to blame difficulties solely on licensing. As in any farming business, there are always husbandry and animal health challenges, as well as the markets

*

‘Fishfarmers are the same as all farmers — we do like to go on about the weather and prices in the markets!’ — Jan Feenstra.

Photos: David Ruffles

and the weather. Fishfarmers are the same as all farmers — we do like to go on about the weather and prices in the markets!

HAS the Government mishandled aquaculture licensing?

I don’t think aquaculture licensing has been mishandled. It’s just that government has yet to fully understand the potential of aquaculture and the key success factors.

It has not, as yet, got on top of things in the way that it could, or dare I say ‘‘should’’. Side issues like decentralisation complicate

the current performance, because some long-standing employees with historic knowledge and experience have moved. So if there’s to be any criticism, it lies with the system and not with the individuals.

As in any business, there needs to be leadership in a Government department. The Cawley report clearly outlines the problems facing the aquaculture and fisheries sector. The key question now is whether we have a Government and a Minister sufficiently focused and committed to implementing this report, or whether it will be another worthy analysis gather-

ing dust on the shelf.

Implementing the Cawley report would represent a good next step; it has taken a lot of effort and cost to produce this report, and it would be a true shame if it was not implemented.

RAPID growth in waterbased leisure activities means that the coastal zone, in particular, is becoming a very crowded place. How can the aquaculture sector expand or develop new projects in the face of such competition for space?

I don’t actually agree with this

question, because I think such competition is more perceived than real, and sometimes tourism is used to argue against aquaculture.

I spend a few weeks sailing the Irish coast every year, and apart from getting caught in the odd floating line from a lobster pot at night, I don’t think there are that many issues.

Rules and guidelines are needed on spatial zoning, not least in respect of markings and safety measures. Generally, I believe we can and should respect each other’s interests, and think of these activities as being compatible.

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

13

INTERVIEW

WHY did it take so long for the aquaculture industry to engage in the environmental debate? Isn’t it true that this cost time and supporters and gave aquaculture critics a head-start?

I believe fish farmers always understood the environmental debate, but tried to tackle it too academically, too defensively, and were too busy trying to manage their business without time to share all the positives. The reality is very simple: if a fish-farmer doesn’t take care for the environment in which he or she operates, the business will suffer. The same should be reflected in the licensing architecture — rewarding good practices.

The environmental debate can be very wide, and should lean towards ‘‘conservation’’. The problem, however, is that some believe in ‘‘preservation’’, and that is simply not realistic — nor is it fair to those seeking to earn their livelihood from farming in an area of their roots.

WHY does the media, in general, continue to be hostile to the finish farming sector in particular, and how should the aquaculture sector combat this?

Such hostility can only be overcome by doing a good job, being successful, and demonstrating this. In order to achieve this, the industry needs a sensible licensing system that is properly monitored. For that, the regulator has to really understand the sector — its needs, challenges, and its critics.

There are, of course, some hostile critics who have other agendas, and who are simply among the unreasonable and inconvertible. That happens in every industry and sector.

We don’t receive much hostility unless we are seeking to open up new sites and locations, and then most of the hostility is driven by the ‘NIMBY’ syndrome. In certain ways, that is very understandable, but much of it could be avoided through

an unambiguous planning process.

WHAT have been the highs for you over the past 25 years?

Hitting good results is always a high point, because it takes what seems at times a relentless weight off one’s shoulders.

The year 2000 was the sector’s most profitable year ever, across all the producing countries.

Everybody was happy, and that makes work easy. There have been many high points, and some of the simplest are still the best. For instance, seeing perfectly reared fish — be it in the hatchery, the sea-pens or the processing plant, or better still, with your brand name or country of origin at the counter in one of those impressive French hypermarkets.

WHAT have been the lows?

Low points business-wise tend to be related to when you lose fish. Last year, a farm in Northern Ireland, which is not related to ours, lost its stock due to an accumulation of jellyfish at the pens. Such a situation is completely out of your own control, and you’re helpless.

We’ve all had similar episodes in the past, but not as severe as that. It’s devastating for all concerned, because it typically means two year’s work is lost. None of us, even as competitors, would wish that on anybody — it is a disastrous situation.

Ironically, a somewhat more regular low point can typically occur in summer if there’s a spell of prolonged hot weather in August, for example. Everybody is happy, but we worry about algal blooms and oxygen levels at sea. Salmon farmers can only relax in August when the weather is wet and windy. I think we’re alone in that!

IS there a future for Irish aquaculture, and where will it be positioned in a Europewide context 25 years from now?

There is most certainly a great future for high quality and

healthy seafood products. And as long as we in Ireland concentrate on speciality and high quality products — as opposed to producing large-scale, lowcost commodities — the future looks bright.

We will never have the scale or infrastructure to compete on cost with the larger producing countries, and there is no point in trying. It is important that we also increase the consumer’s understanding of quality in the home market, too.

There’s a lot of low-price, low-quality seafood creeping into retail, and it will be important to do business as close to, or as directly with, the consumer as possible. It’s often the middle sector between the farmers and the consumer that tends to complicate and disrupt our value chain — often at the expense of both the consumer and the farmer in the long-term.

Low-quality salmon in the shops does nobody any good — except the middleman, who

makes a quick buck in the shortterm.

WHAT are Marine Harvest’s plans for the future?

When it comes to fresh salmon, we want ‘Donegal Silver’ and ‘Clare Island Organic’ to become the ‘category general’ in Ireland. This means that they will be the first and foremost names to come to mind when the consumer thinks of buying or eating salmon — and for all the right reasons, of course!

Believe me, there is very little Irish salmon for sale here in Ireland. Among the large retail chains, only Superquinn to date has been consistently committed to Irish salmon. It’s one of our missions to change this in what should be ‘‘our’’ home market.

We’ve built up a new high specification processing facility, and once we reach a minimum level of production, we expect to tackle this — i.e. change the public’s appreciation of fresh

* ‘We’ve built up a new high specification processing facility, and once we reach a minimum level of production, we expect to change the public’s appreciation of fresh salmon through offering our fish in convenience or ready-to-go form.’

salmon through offering our fish in convenience or ready-to-go form.

We have also been researching matters of shelf-life, and when we process our fish straight from the ocean, nobody will be able to match the freshness of our products — and that includes beating the shelf-life of poultry products. So the opportunities are very much there for us.

WHAT annoys and frustrates you most about working in the Irish aquaculture industry?

Over-hearing in a restaurant or shop: ‘‘I only eat wild salmon’’!

Firstly, there is no legally-caught wild salmon available anymore — at least not commercially, unless it’s imported frozen from Alaska. I haven’t tasted it, but it certainly doesn’t look that great.

Secondly, farmed salmon used to be, and at times still is, often offered as wild salmon.

We’ve tested wild salmon and

farmed salmon from various origins on many occasions — taste is a very personal matter that has to be respected.

Generally, our fresh Irish and organic farmed salmon has a milder taste than a wild fish, but the wild fish taste also varies, whether it was caught at sea, in the estuary or up the river and how long it has been there.

At any rate — and I’m generalising here, if you leave our fish long enough in the fridge — its taste will match that of the wild fish.

Taste, texture, and fat levels vary seasonally, and depend on how the fish is handled once harvested.

But on a more serious note, it’s not the people saying: ‘‘I only eat wild salmon’’ that is annoying, but the fact that they have not experienced our products to their full potential. We regularly conduct store checks ?

continued on page 16

* ‘As long as we in Ireland concentrate on speciality and high quality products — as opposed to producing large-scale, low-cost commodities — the future looks bright.’

Photo: Guri Dahl

14

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008 a nutreco company

INTERVIEW

Feeding your passion for fish

* Former Minister of State with special responsibility for Fisheries at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries

and Food, John Browne TD, joined BIM in congratulating Marine Harvest Ireland, which was awarded BIM's Eco-Salmon Standard certification, at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels. Marine Harvest is the first company to qualify for BIM's coveted Eco-Salmon standard, which is only awarded to salmon growers and processors who adhere to stringent environmental management practices in all aspects of their business.

Pictured (l-r): Peter Marshall, chief executive, IFQC; Jan Feenstra, managing director, Marine Harvest; John Browne, TD and Jason Whooley, CEO, BIM.

* from page 13 to see what's for sale, and quite recently we came across one of the

main

``fresh''

retailers

salmon

selling

portions

all

nicely packaged.

It took quite a while to figure out

that

the

fish

had

been

imported from the other side of the world, which means it would have been frozen beforehand to get here, though this was not obvious.

Opportunistic traders and processors making short-term gains do nothing for the category, and will put some people off eating something that can be so much better,

and

is

healthy

and

nourishing

ultimately

a

food.

Such observations are frustrating, yet are challenging us to do it better.

HOW would you define job satisfaction?

As

a

farmer,

it's

when

the

harvest yields vibrantly silver fish of superb size and quality.

Skretting is a leader in the global fish feed business. We have operating companies on five continents to produce and deliver the finest feeds for more than 50 different species of farmed fish.

Everybody in the entire company

has

a

smile

when

that

happens Ð we all like to bring our best horse to the fair, so to speak.

As a manager, it's when we

Together with our world-class research centre we work passionately to expand our knowledge, taking it into practice and helping our customers produce healthy, delicious fish in a sustainable way.

deliver and do as well or even better than our colleagues in the other

producing

There's

also

the

countries. satisfaction

associated with providing em-

Aquaculture is the future and Skretting is proud to be playing an important and responsible role in its development.

ployment

in

remote

coastal

communities.

On the Fanad peninsula, for example, Marine Harvest has enabled people to stay at home, and for local life to continue more or less as it always has.

Ð from building houses to pupil

should

and teacher numbers in the local

world, but ``ideal'' depends on

national schools. Our manager

how we as a global industry

and

manage

his

wife

at

the

Altan

Very important. Many of our staff are part-time agricultural farmers who can continue as their parents have done before.

We've seen its importance in every aspect of community life

there

the

in

an

balance

ideal

between

hatchery near Falcarragh have

supply and demand. It is further

brought children to the townland

complicated by the production

of Procklis Ð they were the first

cycle being so long and highly

children to be born there in more

influenced by weather, tempera-

than 70 years, to the delight of

tures, etc.

their neighbours.

The

irony

is

that

it's

the

WHAT are the advantages of being owned by a large Norwegian company like Marine Harvest?

middle sector in the value chain

Being well-resourced and ade-

implemented

quately financed has been the most important benefit.

Technically,

we

have

also

found it to be excellent, provided there is a strong local management

that

is

sensible

about what can and cannot be learned from the parent company.

We are encouraged to operate responsibly, and to be practical about what is local and what is global.

We

very

much

think

of

ourselves as an Irish company, and that is respected and appreciated when operating in a small community.

that absorbs the benefit of low prices to the farm Ð the consumer rarely benefits from this.

At

any

rate,

measure the

by

industry

the as

MIP

a

Brussels in

was

temporary to

give

Scotland

and

Ireland time to raise its competitiveness.

We've made good progress in that on the sales and marketing side,

but

this

has

not

been

matched by reviewing or implementing a competitive and comparable Irish licensing process

to

support

lower

cost

production. And that brings us back to the Cawley recommendations.

WHAT are your views on having a national brand for Irish farmed salmon?

Our job is simply to take care

Difficult to implement, because

of the business here. Multina-

not all producers are equally

tionals tend to bring successions

resourced, and some of us farm

Ð be it in ownership or corpo-

fish

rate regimes Ð and such succes-

others grow fish in more shel-

sions

in

offshore

sites,

while

very

tered bays Ð so you would end

distracting. So it's important to

up with a lot of variation within

keep focus on the business, and

the brand, and that's not a good

that sounds simpler than it is.

formula for building a strong

can

become

When all is said and done,

brand. Irish foods and imagery

you simply want the owner and

from

corporate

be

perspective are excellent; how-

management

to

a

Continental

European

your

ever, there is ample scope to

business Ð then they will help

improve promotion and support

you unconditionally.

our products on the basis of

genuinely

interested

in

HOW important has aquaculture been in our marginal SHOULD the MIP be recommunities? tained?

Skretting delivers outstanding nutrition and services to fish farmers worldwide for the sustainable production of healthy and delicious fish. We have operating companies on five continents to produce and deliver the finest feeds from hatching to harvest for more than 50 species of farmed fish. www.skretting.co.uk.

be

Difficult

question

to

answer,

especially for me as the Irish manager of a Norwegian subsidiary! I can't really win by saying either yes or no.

Ultimately, I don't think it

having been produced here in Ireland.

We have complemented this by securing the European Eco Label, as well as a number of organic Minimum

food

certifications.

standards

for

Irish

products make sense, and BIM has worked pretty hard at that.

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

15

SEAFOOD DESK

Greater co-operation between Irish processors and fishing industry Report by Martia Clarke, IASC

IASC, the Irish Association of Seafood Companies, recently hosted a series of successful meetings with various groups in the fishing industry, namely the Federation of Fishermen (FIF); Castletownbere and Dunmore

East Co-ops and Howth Fish Sales.

Discussions were held on the various issues common to the catching and onshore sectors.

The current monthly quota system results in serious dumping of marketable fish. The possibility of fishing quota by a `days at sea' regime with staggered landings to suit buyers

was debated. It was accepted that imports are necessary, not as a source of cheap fish, but because they provide a reliable and consistent supply to meet consumer demands.

It was agreed that the increasing criminalisation of fishermen and its negative publicity from the SFPA was further marginalising the industry and

that much ground needed to be made to develop a unified voice and strong lobbying capacity. ``We recognise the need to build on our initial meetings and work together with the catching sector to access more Irish supply. Both sides work closely and effectively with BIM. However, we need to provide a joint platform to co-

ordinate efforts and drive awareness of the Irish consumer of seafood,'' said Martin McLoughlin, IASC chairperson.

The Association is holding meetings with the First Point of Sale Group (Foyle, Clougherhead, Union Hall and Galway & Aran Co-ops) and with Saltees Fish in the coming weeks.

IASC wishes to congratulate Ministers Brendan Smith and Tony Killeen to their new positions and look forward to meeting them in the coming weeks.

Strong Irish presence at Brussels seafood Mecca TWENTY-SEVEN key Irish fish processing companies attended the 2008 exposition in Brussels, the largest seafood tradeshow in Europe with over 1,600 exhibitors from approximately 80 countries worldwide.

Located on the BIM `Best of Irish Seafood' pavilion, the companies displayed a range of products that included bulk pelagic (mackerel, herring); fresh/live seafood (salmon,whitefish, crab, prawns/shrimp and mussels) and prepared or convenience seafood (fresh and frozen value-added seafood: pre-packed salmon, smoked salmon, whitefish, prepared prawns, mussels and crab), to the thousands of seafood buyers, each with an estimated purposing power of 2m.

Latest figures place Irish export sales at approximately 360 million (2007) of which four-fifths was sold on European markets with France accounting for 24%. The second most important destination

for Irish seafood was Britain, worth 68.6m.

To develop Ireland as a leading seafood exporter, BIM is working with the industry to develop new products and opportunities. One of these initiatives is the mentor programme, which provides exhibiting companies with one-to-one business support and direction to ensure companies analyse their overall strategy and identify the markets they wish to target in advance of trade shows.

Jason Whooley, BIM chief

executive said he was ``delighted'' with the level of industry participation at ESE. ``BIM has increased its industry support and investment in ESE over the last five years to ensure Ireland is best placed to capitalise on the increasing demand for seafood. ESE gives the industry the platform to tap into the buoyant European and global seafood markets and to promote their range of innovative products to a large captive audience Ă? ultimately resulting in increased sales.''

IASC members in Brussels MORE than 30 members of the Irish Association of Seafood Companies (IASC) attended ESE. According to Martina Clarke, the organisation's development officer, companies previously would have tra-

velled independently, ``but have found the two-day trip with IASC invaluable from a networking point of view with other members, together with the ease of organised flights and accommodation,'' she said.

IASC committee prepares for regional meetings THE IASC Committee recently participated in a `meeting management' workshop in the Clarion Hotel, Dublin Airport, facilitated by Polaris HR Ă? a Dublin consultancy company that delivers skills on how to run meetings and work effectively as a team. ``With the membership currently standing at over 95 companies, it is important to support communication at regional level with each member,'' Martina Clarke, IASC development executive, told Inshore Ireland.

Seven regional meetings are planned throughout June and it is hoped to hold a second round of meetings later in the year.

COMMITTEE 2008/09 Position Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer PRO North-East East South-West

Nominated Martin McLoughlin Arthur Morgan John Boyle Conal Molloy Martin Shanahan Joe Morgan Tadgh O'Meara Artie Clifford

Mid-West West North-West

Birgitta Hedin-Curtin Noel Holland Mick O'Donnell

* On the `Best of Irish Seafood' pavilion, former fisheries minister John Browne with BIM chefs Stephen Dawson and Peter Farrell.

Seafood extravaganza in southwest Dave Millard, BIM, explains

AS part of the Baltimore Seafood Festival, 23-25 May, BIM, co-sponsors of the festival, ran a number of events.

A longline mussel workshop took place in Casey's Hotel attracting over 40 attendees.

Due to the location, most were from the southwest; however, some had made the journey from as far away as Westport.

The workshop focused on improving marketability, efficiency and hence profitability of farms.

The session began with Conor Ryan, BIM, outlining his current work on the shellfish carrying capacity of Killary Harbour and on a previous study whereby mussel longlines within other bays were compared in terms of yield per line, per metre of cultivation rope, use of floatation and cultivation method. This information although obvious to some, was startling, emphasising the importance of grading to maximise yields. Other issues looked at stocking densities, current speeds etc. (Contact Kathy Cullimore (cullimore@bim.ie) for full details.

has undergone a de-stocking programme. The CLAMS group made an agreement to self-impose the maximum number of cultivation ropes per longline to 406 and longlines to 220m per licensed hectare.

In so doing, the time to harvest has been reduced from 24 to 36 months to 18 months and the annual harvest has more than doubled from 300 to 700 tonnes.

He also introduced the concept of the `Tragedy of the Commons' which discusses the difficulty in managing a common resource.

After a paella made from local Roaring Water Bay mussels, lively discussion centred on the need for greater emphasis on developing markets and increased quality and nearly all agreed on the usefulness of these `farmers' workshops.

Throughout the three-day festival, a BIM coastal training unit was on the pier, manned by Declan Donoghue who explained the various courses that are available; great interest was expressed, confirming the importance of this service.

On Sunday, during the food fair, BIM in conjunction with

Jacob's Bar offered a taste of local seafood. IQM mussels from Roaring Water Bay and oysters from Sherkin Island were supplied by Colin Whooley of Ocean Run Ltd. The oysters were simply opened and presented and the mussels were cooked in a white wine sauce, alongside mackerel supplied by Dermot Sheehy of Ilen Seafoods Ltd and barbequed.

The seafood was offered free of charge in exchange for a donation to the RNLI that raised over 830. It was clear that the Irish public have an appetite for seafood if presented to them and BIM is continuously working on developing the home market and challenging public perception on the simplicity, availability and taste of Irish seafood.

A great time was had by all and we have already been asked back next year. Thanks to all involved, especially to Kathy Cullimore and Catherine Morrison, BIM, whose help was invaluable.

* Further information from Dave Millard, millard@bim.ie

Quality schemes Company Nickys Plaice, Howth Morgans Oceanfresh, Omeath Albatross Seafoods, Killybegs Fish Sales Killybegs, Killybegs Fishy Fish Cafe, Kinsale Morgans Oceanfresh, Omeath Kish Fish, Dublin Dingle Seafood Soup Company, Dingle Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoonvarna Galway Bay Seafoods, Galway Island Seafoods, Killybegs

Vicky Lyons and Grainne O'Brien, (BIM Environment and Quality Officers) outlined the importance of quality schemes (IQM, Irish Quality Mussels and Eco-mussel) as well as the importance of good environmental practice to assist with marketing product both home and abroad.

John Harrington (Kush Seafarms Ltd) outlined his experience as a farmer in Ardgroom Harbour, which through the CLAMS (Coordinated Aquaculture Management) process,

* Pictured with the BIM Coastal Training Unit are Kieran Cotter, cox of the Baltimore Lifeboat; Bridget Cotter, fundraising secretary and Margo O'Flynn, Chairman, Baltimore Lifeboat, with David Millard, BIM's Local Aquaculture Development Officer and Kathy Cullimore, Environment & Quality Section, BIM.

16

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

MARINE INSTITUTE

17

MARINE INSTITUTE

A snapshot of activities in Ireland's territorial sea and internal marine waters AS part of Ireland's preparation for the Water Framework Directive which required, among other things, information on the use of mobile fishing gears such as trawls and dredges close to the coastline, the Marine Institute responded with a series of maps showing the distribution

of fishing and fishing-related activities inside one nautical mile of the baselines that determine the shape and extent of its territorial sea.

The survey area was subsequently enlarged to embrace the distribution of as many fishing methods as could be mapped

within the territorial sea (out to 12 nautical miles), using geographical positioning systems (GPS) to estimate the area frequented by different fishing gears and occupied by aquaculture and mariculture. The database currently consists of 1,885 polygons.

Data were collected from the staff of various agencies and Government departments concerned with the administration of inshore waters, as well as from the fishing industry, and cover the period up to the autumn of 2006. The resulting Atlas is published as Fisheries

Investigations number 19 (2008), Pp 33: ``An atlas of

Fishing and associated activities

trawls: otter (mid-water and demersal) and beam, and a variety of dredges of different designs. Potting for crustaceans (lobster, crab, shrimp) and whelk occupied as much space as static nets; aquaculture sites are dotted along the indented west coast but they account for a relatively small area, a total of 172 km2.

Collectively, the sum total of areas used by all fishing and associated activities occupied more than 300% of the territorial sea and internal waters combined.

This signifies that the area is not exploited by a single gear only, but that instead a variety of fishing methods are practised in the same waters.

The most extensive fishing method in the territorial sea is hook and line. The distribution of the officially approved charter angling fleet is shown on one of the maps reproduced here. On the map in question, the range of individual boats is circumscribed as a 15 nautical mile radius from its base port.

Other forms of hook and line fishing exist; long lines, trolling and jigging also occur, but they are probably understated on this map.

After hook and line, towed gears occupy most space.

Towed gears take the form of

fishing and some related activities in Ireland's territorial sea and internal marine waters with observations concerning their spatial planning,'' by Edward

Fahy, Eadaoin Healy, Sheila Downes, Trevor Alcorn and

Eugene Nixon. The database containing the information is maintained by the Marine Institute. In some instances, the existence of fisheries (such as shellfish gathering on shore) was known but not their extent, and these are tabulated in the paper copy of the publication.

Fishing access

National territorial waters are a sub-division of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the waters of the European Union that extend out to 200 nautical miles from member states.

The Common Fisheries Policy applies throughout; however, by derogation, national governments have jurisdiction within 12 nautical miles.

Marine waters from 12 nautical miles to the baselines are labelled the territorial sea.

At its inception, the EEC, which Ireland joined in 1973, respected existing fishing access by other nations and permitted fishing that was taking place at the time to continue.

* Fishing limits in Ireland's territorial sea. The 12 and 6 nautical mile bands are marked. The dotted areas between them illustrate French access, the terms of which are explained in the text.

The territorial sea is divided by another boundary at six nautical miles from the baselines (halfway between baseline and outer limit of the territorial sea).

Limited access by certain other EU nations (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Britain and France) was allowed.

French access is illustrated in the map on which fishing limits are marked.

On the west coast, France is permitted to fish Nephrops and demersal species in to six miles of the baselines. In the south west, France is allowed to harvest mackerel and France can exploit all fin but not shell-fish in the Irish Sea.

In 1964, Ireland signed up to the Voisinage agreement, which allows boats of less than 22.68m overall length, registered in Northern Ireland, to fish within six nautical miles but outside the baselines.

Geographical definitions

In 1703 territorial waters were defined as extending out to three nautical miles of the coast Ă? the distance that could be covered by a cannon shot. In 1958, the Geneva convention introduced the concept of ``baselines'' from which all other measurements would begin.

Baselines were to be smooth and parallel to rather than following the detailed indentations of the coast.

Baselines join headlands and may run to the low-water mark of islands.

All waters Ă? marine and transitional (estuarine) on the landward side of baselines Ă? are part of the internal (inland) waters of the State.

The territorial sea extends out to 12 nautical miles from the baselines.

The Republic of Ireland's territorial sea covers an area of 27,487 km2. The area covered by internal waters is 13,650 km2.

Data applications

As fin fisheries decline and harvesting intensifies, concern is growing for the survival of diversity in inshore waters.

The greatest variety of fish harvesting and fin and shellfish culture takes place close to land, within six nautical miles of the baselines and inside them. These waters have fisheries and species peculiar to them; they are also spawning and nursery places for many fish and invertebrate species.

Large vessels are not excluded from coastal and internal waters, and some of the largest 10% of the fishing fleet operate close to headlands inside the

baselines, in pursuit of sprat.

Recent thinking in other parts of the EU (the Mediterranean coastline is a case in point) has considered restricting and even excluding certain fishing activities from inshore areas and creating Marine Protected Areas and Recovery zones to assist conservation and to replenish depleted fish stocks. Formulation and implementation of rules and regulations to manage Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation are currently focusing attention on alternative or modified management of parts of the inshore in Ireland.

Ironically, at the beginning of the twentieth century, a number

of regulations existed constraining or forbidding the use of mobile nets along much of Ireland's coastline. It may be appropriate to consider reintroducing them now.

These and related issues are discussed in the paper copy of the Atlas. * The database is held by the Marine Institute at Rinville, Oranmore, Galway. The paper copy presenting a selection of its contents is also accessible through the Marine Institute's website, www.marine.ie.

18

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

AQUACULTURE NEWS

New chairman and board member for AquaTT AQUATT, the international not-for-profit foundation based in Dublin has announced several changes to its board.

Dr Reid Hole has been elected as chairman of the board, taking over from Declan Clarke (Martin Ryan Institute, NUIG) who steps down after three years at the helm but remains on the board of directors.

During this time, Declan led AquaTT through a period of change that included changes to the composition and structure of the board and staff, delivery of several key strategic projects, MARINVEST, WAVE, AQUALABS, PLANET AQUA and strengthened AquaTT's position in Europe, resulting in a facil-

itator position for Knowledge Management on the European Aquaculture Technology Platform (EATP).

David Bassett (British Trout Association) joins the board as an international director. Mark Norman (Taidghe Mara) steps down as company secretary but remains on the board. The new company secretary is Dr Joseph Kerry, University Collage Cork and Doug McLeod (Scottish Aquaculture Training Association) steps down as a director after four years of service.

The directors and staff would like to thank Declan, Mark and Doug for their contributions over the recent past and welcome David Bassett to the board.

Who is AquaTT?

AquaTT provides project management and training services to support the sustainable development of Europe's maritime sector.

Established in 1992, AquaTT is supported by an international board of directors comprised of industry, academia and governmental representatives.

Further information contact David Murphy, managing director, 01 644 9008, david@aquatt.ie or you can visit the website www.aquatt.ie

Dr Reid Hole

Dr Reid Hole has been involved with AquaTT since its creation in 1992 having served as a director in two periods, most recently 2002-8. He gained his doctorate with a thesis on nutritional physiology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. On behalf of Nutreco International B.V. he established the world's first privately-owned aquaculture research centre where he was the managing director for ten years. After that he was appointed director of technology and development within the same company, with major attention to IPR and business development.

Dr Hole has broad international experience in the food sector and for three years held the position of corporate director of food safety within Nutreco B.V. Over the years he has been chairman or a member of several boards of directors, such as the Institute for Aquaculture Research (Akvaforsk); Cod Culture Norway AS, Nofima AS and subsidiaries of Nutreco international B.V.

David Bassett

As Executive Secretary of the British Trout Association (BTA), the representative trade association for the British trout industry, David Bassett acts for both the British table and restocking trout sectors with British and EU re gulato ry authorities and agencies.

In addition David acts as company secretary to Quality Trout UK Ltd, a pioneering quality assurance scheme developed by the UK trout industry, serves as a director of the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) and represents both trout farming and wider aquaculture interests on a variety of different panels and projects, both within Britain and at a wider European level through the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP).

He is now working as a senior consultant within the food value chains, specialising in investigating the market potential for hi-tech and biotech products that improve production efficiency and food safety.

Among other roles he is currently the managing director of an innovative biotech company, GenderGuide AS.

Myth: Irish farmed salmon is not as safe to eat as other fish!

By Vera Heffernan, BIM

WE are told to eat farmed salmon Ă? because it's full of Omega-3. Then we are told not to because it might not be as safe as other fish as it supposedly contains nasty things such as PCBs and other toxic chemicals! It is high time that this myth, creating confusion over the role of farmed salmon consumption in a safe and healthy diet, is dispelled once and for all. `Toxic chemicals' is a meaningless term unless placed in its proper context. Apples contain acetone, isopropanol and cyanide, but it's the dose that counts. Let's look at this issue with regard to Irish farmed salmon and put it all into perspective. Is there really a risk of PCB levels in farmed salmon causing health risks to consumers?

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are persistant environmental contaminants that accumulate in animal fats and as such can be present at levels of concern. They are a legacy of industrial practice now banned and have entered the food supply mostly through meat, eggs, dairy products and fish.

They tend to concentrate in the animals higher on the food chain, with humans being the highest.

Numerous independent research reports have concluded that the PCB levels in Irish farmed salmon are not a cause for concern. In fact, Europeanwide studies have shown that levels of PCBs and dioxins in the environment, and consequently in food, have decreased in recent years.

Authority of Ireland (FSAI), reassured Irish consumers that levels of potentially harmful contaminants in a variety of fish products available on the Irish market were well below current limits set by the EU and international watchdogs. This advice followed the publication of the results into the levels of dioxins, furans, PCBs and brominated flame retardants in fresh and processed fish products.

Results of this study are in line with those from previous studies by FSAI in 2002 and BIM in 2004. The BIM study reported an average level of 1.75 ng WHO TEQ/kg wet which is well below Below current limits weight, the maximum EU limit of 4.0 In 2007, the Food Safety ng WHO TEQ/kg wet weight.

To put this figure into context, one nanogram (ng) per kilogramme is equivalent to one drop of water diluted into 20 two metre-deep Olympic-size swimming pools, or one second of time in approximately 31,700 years.

So, why are PCBs in farmed salmon continually being portrayed in such a scary manner?

Increasingly, consumers are being warned by advocacy groups and others to eliminate or minimise their consumption of certain species, including farmed salmon, due to carcinogenic risks associated with PCBs and the other trace compounds we have talked about.

The reality is that the levels are so low the issue hardly merits attention, let alone an

altering of eating habits away from a potentially life saving food. To claim that eating Irish farmed salmon can cause health risks is scaremongering, pure and simple. We can state this as a fact.

Scaremongering

research is published demonstrating the Omega-3 based health benefits to be had from eating farmed salmon. Regularly including Irish farmed salmon in your diet will significantly contribute to a reduction in your risk of developing coronary heart disease , and substantially lessens your risk of developing Alzheimer's and other mental health disorders, according to leading international scientist, Professor Michael Crawford, founder and Director of The Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, London Metropolitan University.

Sensational food news plays on the natural fears we all have regarding dreaded things like cancer. We all tend to exaggerate the actual risks in these circumstances. Unfortunately, the one real risk in all of this is that of duped consumers denying themselves the very real health benefits associated with eating Irish farmed sal- Omega-3 deficiency mon.

Everyday more and more Professor Crawford claims that

mental health illness, associated with Omega-3 deficiency, is `the most pressing health issue of the 21st century.' During the World Seafood Congress, held in Dublin in September 2007, Alan Reilly, Deputy Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority, noted that in Ireland people are fifty times more likely to develop depression than in Japan where seafood consumption is very high. Even now, despite all we know, just 20% of Irish people eat fish twice weekly, the minimum level for any benefit to be seen.

Human response to risk is not straightforward. It is widely known that human perception of risk is often based more on intuition and instinct that on facts. When a risk is perceived as being outside our control, such as that posed by PCBs, the greater is the dread factor.

The anti-salmon farming campaigners know this perfectly well and exploit this common human weakness cynically. Ironically, if one actually thinks about the real risks we willingly choose for ourselves in our everyday lives, such as driving a car or eating a high saturated fat food product, we are engaging in practices that have a genuinely high risk factor. Just look at the statistics on road accidents or heart disease. And yet we can be manipulated into avoiding a food which can actually reduce our chances of dying from a heart attack by a whopping 36%!

So much for the farmed salmon are not safe to eat myth at this stage we can safely say that the benefits of farmed salmon consumption are very real and by far exceed any potential risk, which is so tiny as to be infinitesimal.

INSHORE IRELAND

PADDY Ward, Ward Seafoods, Burtonport, who recently installed a purpose-built live shellfish holding unit from Depur Systems, will use it to maintain lobsters in peak condition prior to sale.

Ward's three-tonne unit is comprised of eight vertical storage bays, each with the capacity to stack up to nineteen plastic holding trays, and combines the most sophisticated water recirculation and cooling technology available.

Lobsters and other shellfish can be held in individual compartments in these units for up to six months, as long as water quality is maintained and temperature kept at a maximum of 2oC.

Right time

Asked by Inshore Ireland why a small, family-run company like his decided to invest in an expensive and Ð in Ireland, at least Ð relatively untried system like this, Paddy Ward said he felt now was the right time to diversify and try something new: ``With the way fishing is going now, I thought this might be the way to go,'' he explained. ``I had heard about Oliver Tully's [BIM] system in Galway, and I thought it might be something we could do here.

Up to now, we dealt only with crab, never with lobster, but we'll be using this unit purely for lobster Ð for the time being, anyway.''

Paddy agreed that apart from the capital cost required to buy and install such a system, the cost of stocking and running it

was also significant; however, he added that it was a calculated risk he was willing to take: ``Even if you buy lobster cheap at 15/kg, it means having to spend 15,000 to stock just one tonne. ``And if you decide then to run it at full capacity, you're talking about having to pay for three tonnes. Yes, it's a lot of money to tie up, and of course things can go wrong,'' he conceded.

Zero mortalities

With his system now up and running, Paddy is getting to know how it operates. And together with Depur Systems personnel, he is observing and noting its overall performance. ``We've been testing the system since the end of April with about 100 lobsters and have no mortalities so far,'' he said. ``We are only trying a small quantity to start with, and are carefully monitoring the system Ð in particular, to see how it deals with any impurities in the water.''

Paddy said he is very satisfied with the working relationship that has built up with the designers, Depur Systems, and is particularly happy with the on-going support he gets from BIM, who grant-aided the project. ``I've had very good cooperation with John Smyth from Depur Systems, and I'm very happy with their service.

They are real professionals. ``And I continue to get a lot of help from Oliver Tully, in particular, at BIM. His door is always open when I've needed some technical advice. This kind of backing gives you great confidence,'' he explained.

Careful calculation required

When asked to comment on costs, Paddy is honest enough to admit that his original projections had underestimated, and cautions that anyone installing such a system should be careful with their calculations. ``When I costed the system, we found that our building wasn't suitable, so we had to factor in a new one. The total came to 120,000, with BIM agreeing to grant-aid up to 40%.

But when I was putting the project together, there were other things I hadn't accounted for Ð bits and pieces that I didn't think I would need at the time,'' he said. ``So the actual cost came to 150,000, but I only got grantaid on 120,000. Once you submit your application to BIM, you will get grant-aid only on that figure. I'd hope to be wiser next time.''

Now, with the system up and running for over a month, Paddy is looking forward to seeing it operating at full capacity.

He said there is a lot of interest from fishermen who want to view his progress: ``Fishermen, in particular, seem to be very interested in it. ``Other interested people say they really want to see it fully stocked before they go any further and make a commitment. ``I suppose, in a way, you could say I'm a bit of a guinea pig,'' he laughed.

Paddy Ward can be contacted at Ward Seafoods, Tullyillion, Burtonport, Co. Donegal. Tel: 074-9542053.

* Water is circulated through the system by being pumped from the 20,000 litre, two-metre deep floor sump beneath the holding unit. On the way, it passes through individual flow meters, seen on the left, and a U.V. sterilisation unit before cascading through the trays and ending up back in the sump.

Training available at BIM’s Regional Fisheries Centre, Castletownbere

What is BIM’s Regional Fisheries Centre?

BIM’s Regional Fisheries Centre is a one-stop-shop for training fishermen, fish farmers and seafood processors and others interacting directly with the Seafood Industry. If you are looking for a career opportunity in fishing or in aquaculture or simply want to improve skills in these industries, then look to the Regional Fisheries Centre.

The centre is situated on the pier in Castletownbere, and runs over 30 specialised training courses.

Since opening in 1999, the Regional Fisheries Centre has grown from strength to strength. As well as providing fulland part-time courses, staff in the Centre respond to the needs of industry and can deliver training where and when it is required. BIM has formed strategic alliances with other training providers to increase the range of available courses. Training is provided to those intending to diversify or seek alternative employment outside the industry.

Who provides the training?

The team under Principal Captain Shane Begley includes Aquaculture and Business Training Executive Dr. Susan Steele, Marine Engineer Michael O’Donoghue, Nautical Skills Instructor Captain Fergus O’Driscoll and Administrator Della O’Sullivan, as well as highly qualified part-time staff, who are all dedicated to helping the development of the Irish seafood industry.

Some courses offered by BIM’s Regional Fisheries Centre: ●

Basic Safety Training

●

Marine Engineering

●

Risk-Based HACCP for Seafood

●

GMDSS Radio Communications

●

Net Mending Skills

●

Passenger Boat Proficiency Module

●

Aquaculture Training

●

Seafood Hygiene Management

●

Work Boat Handling

●

Business and Information Technology (IT) Training

●

Deck Officer (Fishing Vessel) Certificates of Competency

●

Auditing Seafood Businesses

For more details on the courses listed above, please contact the Centre. Details on FETAC accreditation and timetabling are also available. We look forward to hearing from you.

* Paddy Ward displays his live shellfish holding unit, which was installed and commissioned by Depur

Systems, Dundrum, Co Down.

19

AQUACULTURE NEWS

Family-run business tests the water in lobster storage Report by Gery Flynn

June 2008

www.bim.ie

BIM Regional Fisheries Centre The Pier Castletownbere Co.Cork Office Phone: (027) 71230 Fax: (027) 70858 Email: rfccastletownbere@bim.ie

20

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

AQUACULTURE NEWS

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) - the right move for sustainability?

Stefan Kraan, Manager Irish Seaweed Centre OVER the past twenty years, there has been a very substantial growth in human consumption of fish worldwide. The aquaculture sector has increased at a rate of 9.2 % per annum since 1970, compared with only 1.4 % for capture fisheries, and 2.8% for terrestrial farmed meat production systems (FAO, 2005). Aquaculture is now the fastest-growing sector of world food production.

To meet demand, there has been a dramatic expansion of the global aquaculture industry.

To illustrate, witnessed by farmed salmon, there was a rise from 50,000 metric tonnes in 1985 to currently more than 1 million metric tonnes, with Norway, Canada, Chile and Scotland as the key producers.

This dramatic increase has resulted in higher levels of waste being generated (nitrates and phosphates), which gathers in inshore areas, together with nutrient loading from raw sewage disposal, septic tank leakage and run-off from land.

their carrying capacity.

Increased nutrient loading can be the underlying cause, for example, of green tides such as Ulva blooms witnessed in Dublin and Courtmacsherry Bays. There are other associated problems such as rotting seaweeds that wash-up onto beaches, creating an anoxic bottom layer (devoid of oxygen) which kills bottom life.

Increased nutrient levels may also create ideal conditions for harmful algae blooms (HABs) to flourish. These HABs, which are blooms of microalgae such as the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium or Dinophysis sp, constitute a serious threat to the shellfish industries worldwide from risks associated with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) or Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). These blooms cause shellfish areas (mussels and oysters) to be closed-off as the produce is not fit for human consumption and cause associated economic effects.

Nutrient loading

To mitigate the problem of blooms, the aquaculture sector should capitalise on this nutrient loading to recapture what is food and energy, in an extractive aquaculture system. These Carrying capacity limit extractive systems are in esThis increased nutrient load sence integrated multi-trophic causes bays with intensive aquaculture (IMTA) systems aquaculture to quickly reach that utilise different species

* A natural match, Porphyra umbilicalis growing on mussels.

Photo: Irish Seaweed Centre

with a bio-mitigating function.

These extractive species can be shellfish and seaweed, resulting in the production of value-added crops that improve economic and environmental conditions, while reducing the environmental impact asso-

ciated with finfish cultivation.

Appropriate extractive species will have to be selected based on their biology, cultivation and harvesting methodologies.

Recently, through the search for bioactive compounds, these

extractive species may very well represent a large untapped source of compounds of marine origin, that could be used for nutraceuticals, functional foods, cosmeceuticals and pharmaceuticals, to name a few.

Pioneering work on IMTA systems has taken place by a group led by Prof Thierry Chopin and co-workers in Canada (Prof Chopin is one of the keynote speakers in the mini symposium on IMTA at the 11th International Conference of Applied Phycology, June 22-27 at NUI, Galway).

The group contends that economic stability (product diversification and risk reduction) is key to increasing profitability and resilience of these systems over finfish or mussel monoculture alone, and represents significant incentives for the cultivation of extractive species, thus helping the aquaculture sector to become more efficient and sustainable.

According to Chopin, this IMTA approach is not new as Asian countries (which provide more than two-thirds of the world's aquaculture production) have been practicing it for centuries.

Prof Thierry Chopin states that a renewed interest in IMTA practices emerged in western countries in the late 1980s and early 1990s, based on the common-sense approach that the

solution to nitrification is not dilution, but conversion within an ecosystem-based management perspective.

Co-cultivation

Interestingly, Chopin's team found that by co-cultivating mussels and seaweed with finfish, not only were the economic risk and environmental issues alleviated, but that a significant increase in seaweed and mussel production (46% and 50%, respectively) arose, compared to monoculture of seaweeds or mussels, due to a more beneficial use/conversion of nutrients.

The answer for Ireland might be an IMTA approach. Think of salmon farms alongside mussel and kelp cultivation, in order to increase production and to cultivate other value-added crops, while reducing environmental problems and economic risk.

Other examples could be to combine mussel cultivation with kelp cultivation to combat the conditions in which harmful algae blooms develop.

As the infrastructure for seaweed cultivation is already present, it should be relatively easy to take seaweed cultivation on board. With the current interest in cultivating kelp to develop bio-fuels, the perfect opportunity also exists to mass cultivate seaweeds in tandem with finfish and shellfish.

Organic Salmon farming has been pioneered at our Clare Island Seafarm. This is one of the worlds most exposed sea farms, located in the lee of Clare Island, in the raging pristine Atlantic Ocean. These Irish Atlantic waters are classed as 1A in quality...the best there is.

In this exceptional environment Clare Island Organic Salmon thrive, offering a truely distinct and beautiful eating experience, which is valued by consumers from across the globe.

We at Clare Island are dedicated to rearing our Organic Salmon in accordance with the highest organic and quality standards. We endeavour to provide our customers with the freshest best quality product. It is the experience and commitment of the team at Clare Island that drives this ambition.

Marine Harvest Ireland, Kindrum, Fanad, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland.

Sales Office: 00353 74 9192820 Email: clareislandsalmon@marineharvest.com A Marine Harvest Product Certified by:

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

21

AQUACULTURE NEWS

Notice-board . . Notice-board. .

IFA Aquaculture meets new ministerial team on licences and NDP representa-

industry depends on a robust

opean Commission's negotiat-

tives have met with the new

and responsive regulatory sys-

ing

Minister for Agriculture Fish-

tem that delivers the necessary

Operational

eries and Food, Brendan Smith,

service for modern food busi-

Fisheries,'' said Flynn.

and

nesses.

IFA

Aquaculture

Minister

of

State,

Tony

Killeen, to seek action on the

document

on

the

Programme

for

Following the meeting, the

``The service has completely

IFA Aquaculture team acknowl-

and

dried up for over two years, and

edged Ministers Smith and Kill-

implementation of the seafood

the industry's patience has now

een's commitment to work in

development plan in the Cawley

run out,'' he said.

partnership with the organisa-

vital

areas

of

licencing

report for the 120m farmed fish and shellfish sector.

IFA Aquaculture Chairmen, Damien mon),

O'Ceallacha  in

and

Flor

(sal-

Harrington

IFA Aquaculture asked the

tion to capitalise on the tangible

new ministers to tackle this issue

opportunities for development

`head on', and to deal with the

across the sector and to over-

remaining

come

bureaucratic

`urgent

The IFA Aquaculture team

movement' from the Ministers

also sought assurances that the

to remove the logjam that is

Cawley Report, which recom-

currently holding up over 250

mends a total investment of over

applications

200 million in Irish aquaculture

(shellfish),

asked

and

for

renewals

in

by 2013, is fully implemented

their Department.

IFA

Aquaculture

Secretary

Richie

Executive

Flynn

told

and funded. ``Government must maximise

Inshore Ireland, ``Investor con-

the

fidence

aquaculture

in

quality

seafood

is

strong at present, however, the

EU

respond

contribution

to

development

strongly

to

any

obstacles

the

Irish and Eur-

New Executive member

that

Regular contact The organisation asked that to ensure

continued

momentum

and feedback to its members on licencing, it must be able to rely on regular monthly contact, especially with Minister Killeen.

On

the

Operational

Pro-

gramme, the IFA reiterated its' view that a most positive signal of Government support would be

the

announcement

of

the

opening of Capital Investment and

Resource

Development

Grant schemes as per the Caw-

THE Irish Shellfish Associa-

valuable asset to the shellfish

tion

Committee

industry. In welcoming Kevin

welcomes Kevin Lydon, from

to the committee, Chairman,

Department has

Killary

Executve

to

growth.

blockages immediately.

ley plan. ``It is with regret

that the

announced it

board

Flor Harrington, also noted

not yet possible to indicate the

following his election at the

outgoing executive member,

opening of these schemes, pend-

AGM, as representative for

Simon Kennedy's six years

ing the outcome of the Strategic

the

sector

with the ISA, and thanked

Environmental,'' said Executive

(northern region). Kevin has

him for his support in the

Flynn.

long been associated with the

organisation during his time

rope mussel sector, and is a

as a voluntary officer.

Harbour,

rope

on

mussels

``Assessment on the nationally-resourced

development

programme. We urge full haste

* The IFA and Dept of Agriculture Fisheries and Food teams meet in Dublin (l-r) Damien OÂ CeallachaÂin, Richie Flynn, Flor Harrington, Minister Brendan Smith TD; Minister Tony Killeen TD.

ing up the very real financial

lacha  in

and

``The boards of the ISGA and

business, and biological conse-

tended

invitations

ISA must consider the positive

quences of the continued inabil-

ministers to visit their members

and very welcome declaration of

ity

in key aquaculture production

support by both Ministers for the

continued.

in this matter,'' Flynn added.

aquaculture sector, while weigh-

to

issue

licences,''

he

The IFA Chairmen, O'Ceal-

Harrington, to

exboth

areas around the coast to hear the issues first hand.

FETAC Certificate in Aquaculture Course (Level 5) Ð closing date 25 July THE

closing date for applica-

tions for the 15-week FETAC Level 5 Certificate in aquaculture course is 25 July 2008. The course will start in September 2008

and

run

until

The Eastern River Basin District Project implements the Water Framework Directive in all or part of 12 counties: Cavan, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Kildare, Meath, Offaly, South Dublin, Westmeath and Wicklow plus small portions of Louth and Wexford.

January

2009.

This course gives a nationally and internationally recognised qualification

in

aquaculture,

equipping participants with upto-date and current knowledge on farming and husbandry in the shellfish and finfish sectors. It also offers modules on safety at sea,

juvenile

fish

production,

c o m mu n i c a t i o n s,

c o mp u t e r

skills and a choice of work-boat handling,

care

of

the

catch,

navigation and stability or engineering, as well as a work experience module.

An important feature of this course

is

its

high

practical

content. Students get to spend time at sea and time visiting or working on shellfish/finfish facilities.

The Regional Fisheries Centre (RFC) in Castletownbere is a modern, well-equipped facility with

access

abalone, intensive

to

urchin, mussel

local

oyster,

salmon

and

farms,

nur-

series, ongrowing and processing facilities.

The many

course

gives

certificates

* An important feature of this course is its high practical content. Students get to spend time at sea and time visiting or working on shellfish/finfish facilities.

students

including

work boat handling, safety at sea and seafood hygiene.

There is a very progressive team based at the RFC Castletownbere, under the leadership of Principal, Captain Begley.

The course is directed by Dr

RFC

in

Castletownbere be

over

16

Further details from: Liz O Leary,

RFC,

Castletownbere,

candidates

16 years in the broad aquacul-

years-of-age, have an interest

Co. Cork. Tel: 027 71230, email

ture industry. Other instructors

in aquaculture, a seafarers med-

olearye@bim.ie, rfc@bim.ie.

are Robert Kerr, Liz O'Leary

ical certificate and / or relevant

and Mike O'Donoghue.

life and work experience. Can-

able

didate selection is by interview.

www.bim.ie/training.

The course will be held in the

must

and

Susan Steele, who has more than

Applications are also availfrom

the

BIM

website;

The co-ordinating Local Authority is Dublin City Council and further information on the project or the Water Framework Directive can be obtained from: Ray Earle, Project Co-ordinator, Dublin City Council, 4th Floor, 68-70 Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8.

Email: ray.earle@dublincity.ie Visit the project website at www.erbd.ie

22

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

AQUACULTURE NEWS

Marine Institute workshop unites industry and scientists in fight against sea lice

By Pauline O'Donohoe Marine Institute A two-day workshop on sea lice treatment of marine salmon farms was hosted by the Marine Institute. It focused on the bioassays employed in the monitoring and scientific assessment of sea lice clearance and Slice treatments on fish farms in the West of Ireland and internationally. This sea lice treatment has been in use in Ireland since 2000.

The workshop was attended by representatives from the salmon farming industry, Irish veterinary services personnel, Schering-Plough Animal Health and the UK Fish Vet Group, as well as members of the Aquaculture team of the Marine Institute. Dr David Jackson of the Marine Institute said they looked forward to working with the group to ensure that the most appropriate sea lice treatments were used, based on accurate sensitivity data.

The workshop involved training in how to carry out sensitivity bioassays on sea lice, and included an inter-calibration study between the participating laboratories.

The Marine Institute was originally involved in validating these bioassays via the SEARCH (Sea Lice Resistance to Chemotherapeutants) project 2001-2003.

The active ingredient in

1

1

Slice , emamectin benzoate, was used to determine the EC50 levels of a sea lice population Ă? in other words, determining the concentration needed to immobilise 50% of the target organism (by rendering them either moribund and dead).

John McHenery of ScheringPlough Animal Health observed that the Marine Institute's facilitation of the workshop was a good example of how all who are interested in the health and welfare of salmon, and the wider marine environment, can work together to achieve scientific understanding in complex fields.

Launching a new strategy for improved pest control on salmon farms, former fisheries minister John Browne said the initiative aimed to build on the existing monitoring and treatment regime through intensifying and revitalising the single bay management approach, making it central to national policy for sea lice management. ``It will incorporate `real time' management in infestations on a case-by-case basis,'' he said.

An implementation group comprised of representatives from DAFF, industry, BIM and the Marine Institute will review progress and report to the Department with recommendations, ``if any'', within six months.

*

(L-r): John McHenery, Schering-Plough UK; Catherine McManus and Sine Ă‚ad Doherty, Marine Harvest Ireland; Louise Henry, Atlantic Veterinary Group Ireland; Chris Findlay, Fish Vet Group UK; Bernie Hegarty, Marine Harvest Ireland; Pauline O'Donohoe, Marine Institute; Susie Mitchell, Atlantic Veterinary Group Ireland; Lorraine Copley, Marine Institute and Frank Kane, Marine Institute.

Heavy casualties in 2007 smolts impact on harvest Report by Gery Flynn

THE steep fall-off in the number of salmon juveniles going to sea as smolts in Ireland in the last few years, which is impacting on the national harvest can be blamed entirely on the effects of Pancreas Disease (PD), an international seminar was told in Galway.

Dr Hamish Rodger, an aquaculture veterinarian with VetAqua International who specialises in the diseases of finfish, told the Tri-Nation Pancreas Disease Group in May that 2007 had been a particularly bad year for the disease in Ireland. ``Last year was a bit of disaster for PD at some sites, and the industry has contracted significantly in terms of the number of inputs of salmon to sea as a result,'' he said. ``Of the eleven inputs to sea in 2007, which accounted for about five-and-a-half million salmon smolts, ten showed clinical PD and had mortalities ranging from 5% to 45%. The average mortality overall last year was 23% for this year class.''

Decline in sea inputs

Dr Rodgers added that over the past six years, sea inputs had declined from 22 to 11, and the percentage of sites proving positive for PD had also risen sharply from 60% to 90% in the same period. ``The basic message is that PD is now endemic in Ireland,'' he said. ``And even though there are still some sites that have never

had it in twenty years of salmon farming, the virus is very widespread.''

He said that PD, which is salmon-specific and cannot spread to humans, was proving to be very difficult to eradicate and was now ``the single most infectious disease agent affecting salmon aquaculture in Ireland.''

He added it was having a detrimental affect on fish growth rates and had already resulted in administrative restriction on fish movements. ``PD is seriously curtailing growth in the finfish aquaculture sector,'' Dr Rodgers said.

The eight Tri-Nation PD Seminar was held under the banner of the Tri-Nation Pancreas Disease Group, which brings together experts and industry practitioners from Norway, Scotland and Ireland to exchange information, ideas and research findings in order to develop effective strategies for controlling the disease.

The Group was formed in Bergen in February 2005, following the growing awareness of the threat posed to the salmon farming industry by the disease.

The group organises workshops on a twice-annual basis in Oslo, Galway, Aberdeen and Bergen, and is comprised of government agencies, scientific researchers and industry representatives.

From the first description of Pancreas Disease in farmed Atlantic salmon from Scotland in 1976, PD has now become endemic in Ireland and parts of Norway, and continues to be significant in Scotland.

Sleeping sickness

The causal agent of PD, a socalled salmonid alphavirus, has now been characterised and a closely-related sub-type of the virus is known to cause sleeping disease in farmed rainbow trout in Continental Europe and in Britain.

According to the Marine Institute, the Irish salmon farming industry estimates that PD has resulted in a total loss in turnover of 35m and a 12m loss in profit in the years 2003-2004.

Impacts are estimated to be in the range of 100m per year in Norway.

In Scotland, PD and related pathologies are increasingly responsible for significant losses in marine salmon farms, but have yet to be quantified.

Addressing the Galway seminar, MicheaÂl O'Cinnide, director of Marine Environment and Food Safety Services at the MI, said that he saw the Tri-Nation Group's role as ``essential'' in co-ordinating development of research proposals, communicating knowledge and ensuring information flow between research groups in Ireland, Scotland and Norway. ``Given the devastating results that this condition can have on farmed salmon stocks, it is essential that both industry and the research community coordinate their activities towards the development of effective control strategies,'' he said. ``This is where international groups like the Tri-Nation initiative come into their own, by synchronising activities, creating dialogue and communicating results.''

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

23

ISLAND LIVING

Two-day festival of island culture and arts

By Majella Nõ  Chrõ Âocha  in, Comhdha  il Âireann Oilea  in na hE

A CONFERENCE within a festival is how you might describe `Island Culture and Arts' which is to take place from July 24-26 in Belmullet, Co Mayo.

A joint venture between ComhdhaÂil OileaÂin na hEÂireann/the Irish Islands Federation and Fe ile Iorrais, the conference will explore various aspects of island culture and celebrate island musicians and artists.

It was an exhibition of photographs of islands from the National Museum, `Island Life' that prompted SeaÂn OÂ Coisdealbha of FeÂile Iorrais, the annual arts festival in the Erris peninsula, to get in touch with ComhdhaÂil and suggest it might be an idea to organise a series of events focusing on the islands as part of this year's festival.

Comhdha il has organised many conferences and seminars in the past, on subjects as diverse as island fisheries, agriculture, tourism and alternative energy, and jumped at the chance to celebrate island culture.

Musical start

Events kick off on the Thursday in AÂras Inis Gluaire, the beautiful new arts centre in Belmullet, with the opening of `Island Life'.

Young singer songwriter from Inishbofin, Peadar King will feature in a special concert featuring island musicians later that night as will Ceolas, traditional Scottish musicians and Gaelic singers from the isle of

* Sunset on Inis Bigil

Uist in Scotland.

Minister EÂamon OÂ CuõÂv, a man known for his interest in and support of the islands, will open the conference on Friday that will include presentations, talks and films. The Galway islands are of course known for their music, and the young fiddler from AÂrainn, Deirdre NõÂ Chonghaile, will give a talk on the songs and music of the Aran islands.

Two young men from Toraigh island will talk about their role in an exciting multi-media project, during which they recorded sean-noÂs singers on the island and then mixed the recordings with garage and other beats to produce their own CD, `Buile Bhaloir'.

Islands have long been subject of both outward and inward migration, and John Walsh will give an insight into the impact

* CaÂit NõÂ Shuibhne with her dogs.

of successive garrisons on the culture and way of life on Bere Island.

Links between AÂrainn MhoÂr and Scotland and America are examined by NoÂirõÂn NõÂ Mhaoldomhnaigh, and artist SeaÂn OÂ Flaithearta from AÂrainn will discuss his latest exhibition, `DuÂch Yesenin/Yesenin's Ink' which explores ideas of bloodlines, identity and culture. The day will finish with a discussion on the nature of island culture Ð is there such a thing and if so, how do you define it?

Documentary films about the islands will be shown throughout the day and there will be a chance to see a new film about Inis Bigil, `An TaÂilliuÂir Gorm/ The Blue Tailor', by Piaras OÂ Raghallaigh and Jim Cahill due to be broadcast on TG4 in the Autumn.

Inis Bigil lies in the shadow of Achill island and while it has a rich culture and folklore tradition, its population has fallen rapidly and it faces, perhaps more than any other inhabited offshore island, a real crisis in terms of its future. A new family however has moved to the island, bringing renewed optimism.

The Inis Ge islands in Blacksod Bay were evacuated in 1935 and on Saturday morning there will be a guided tour of the islands Ð the ruins of whose villages are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of island communities. If people come back from that trip feeling a little blue, they can shake it all off at the PoÂg Mo CajoÂn concert that night which will include a mix of traditional and new music from the Isle of Man. All in all, the conference and events promises an exciting, informative and enjoyable few days for anyone interested in islands, in culture and the arts.

* Deirdre NõÂ Chonghaile.

Photo: A Burke

Island Culture and Arts Cultúr agus Ealaı́ona na nOileán

Belmullet, Co. Mayo / Béal an Mhuirthead, Co. Mhaigh Eo

24-26 July/Iúil 2008 Programme/Clár

Registration E15: marian@oileain.ie 099 75096 7.30pm 9.00pm

Thursday/Déardaoin 24 July/Iúil - Áras Inis Gluaire Launch of photographic exhibition of the islands Seoladh - Taispeántas grianghrafanna ó na hoileáin Island Musicians/Ceoltóirı́ na nOileán . Ceolas, Isle of Uist, Scotland . Peadar King, singer/songwriter from Inishbofin with his band.

Amhránaı́/cumadóir as Inis Bó Fine agus a bhanna ceoil.

Friday/Dé hAoine 25 July/Iúil - Áras Inis Gluaire (There will be a simultaneous translation sevice)

10.30am 11.00am - 1.00pm

1.00pm - 2.00pm 2.00pm - 4.15pm

4.15pm - 4.30pm 4.30pm - 5.30pm 7.30pm - 9.00pm

Launch/Seoladh - An tAire Éamon Ó Cuı́v . Music and Song from the Aran islands.

Gnéithe de Cheol agus Amhránaı́ocht Oileán Árann . Rathlin Music and Scottish Influence.

Ceol Reachlainne agus Tionchar na hAlban . ’Sean Nós Nua’ . ’In Search of Community’, documentary from the RTÉ archives, filmed on Clare Island.

Clár faisnéise a taifeadadh ar Oileán Chliara (1968).

Lunch/Lón . Islands as Garrisons. Oileáin Mar Gharastúin. . Emigration from Árainn Mhór to Scotland and America.

Imirce ó Árainn Mhór go hAlbain agus go Meiriceá. . ’Dúch Yesenin’. . What is Island Culture? Céard é Cultúr Oileánda?

Tea/Coffee . ’An Táilliúr Gorm’ New Documentary about Inis Bigil.

Scannán Nua Faisnéise faoi Inis Bigil (2008) Documentaries/ Cláir feisnéise:

. Inis Airc- Bás Oileáin / Inishark - Death of an Island . Inis Gé 9.00am 8.00pm

Saturday/Dé Sathairn 26 July/Iúil . Guided tour of Inis Gé. Turas treoraithe chuig Inis Gé.

E35 - Bookings/Áirithintı́: Oliver Ó Cadhla 097 85727/28/90 . ’Póg Mo Cajón’ Music from the Isle of Man. Grúpa ceoil ón Oileán Mhanann E5 Organised bv Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann and Féile Iorrais, with support from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Arna reáchtáil ag Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann agus Féile Iorrais, le tacaı́ocht ón Roinn Gnóthaı́ Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta

24

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

ISA CONFERENCE

Carbon footprints and giant clams steal thunder at aquaculture show Gery Flynn reports from Westport

WITH its now-customary lineup of expert speakers, the subject mix at this year's Irish Shellfish Conference Ð licen-

cing, the Shellfish Waters Directive, NDP for aquaculture, EU markets, investment opportunities in western Norway, ecolabelling, the effects of alien species on shellfish, and the views of French shellfish customers Ð was at first glance

all-encompassing. The elephant in the room, however, which was conspicuously avoided, was potential fallout from alleged azaspiracid poisoning in France from Irish-farmed mussels. A visitor from Mars mightn't have detected anything

peculiar in the air. For all intents and purposes, this was a run-ofthe-mill trade gathering in good-humoured full swing.

But the whispered conversations he might have overheard were of little else but biotoxins.

Presentations on licensing

were played out with the usual public servant hand-wringing and assurances that the logjam of applications would be cleared Ð sometime.

For sheer interest value, however, two completely different presentations stole the show:

Colm O Gairbhaith's sign-ofthe-times and thought-provoking talk on carbon foot-printing and its relevance to Irish shellfish, and Dan Barth, whose rapid-fire and deceptively simple but riveting presentation on branding and marketing.

Restrictive terms of reference dilute all-island mussel reivew `THE Rising Tide Ð a Review of the Bottom-Grown (BG) Mussel Sector on the Island of Ireland'

which was launched at the Irish Shellfish Growers Association, declares that the past decade has been a successful period, characterised `by strong market demand for the product and significant inflows of investment, both from within the island and from international sources, most notably the Netherlands'.

Noting the importance of the sector in the wider context of the aquaculture industry, the review describes it as `in many ways, the powerhouse [...] forging ahead while other types of fish farming have struggled to make progress.'

This review comes on the heels of an earlier one, published in March 2006, which focused solely on the smaller rope mussel sector.

The scope of the two reviews differ significantly, however Ð both in the make-up of contributors as well as geographical focus.

The rope mussel review was jointly commissioned by BIM and Enterprise Ireland, and dealt with operations inside the Republic of Ireland only.

Sector snapshot

The bottom-grown review, on the other hand, has a broader base, providing a snapshot of the sector from an all-island

perspective. And according to its foreward: `It was deliberately designed to involve the widest possible consultation' with inputs from a Review Group drawn from DAFF (ROI); SFPA (ROI); DARD (NI) and the Loughs Agency (NI). In its Terms of Reference, the BG review differs markedly from its sister review, having been set by ministers in both jurisdictions and supported by a Secretariat provided by the Aquaculture Initiative EEIG. Under the heading `Marketing,' the BG review sees mussels as `the almost ideal form of seafood in marketing terms, as they encompass within their product range the key characteristics of health, indulgence and convenience.'

Calling for the implementation of more effective marketing strategies, it declares that a market-led development should be the cornerstone of any progressive industry, and it lists the following key objectives: * Improve and diversify the product offering. * Develop a distict and valorised identity for BG mussels from the island of Ireland. * Improve supplier/buyer relations, thus securing the key relationships in the existing market. * Take advantage of growing consumer demand for seafood by positioning BG mussels correctly in the market.

* Seed Mussel settlement.

Green footprint

Looking at environment, the review notes overall that the sector benefits by being perceived as having a low environmental footprint, `especially in

Governments `determined' to see full potential of mussels realised SPEAKING at the launch of the BG mussel report in one of her final acts as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan said both governments on the island of Ireland were ``determined'' to see the full potential of the ``unique seed mussel environment'' realised in a sustainable way to maximise benefit to all. ``The time has come for the bottom grown mussel sector to come together in a structured way that will leverage the most value Ð not only for those directly engaged in the business but also for the wider community,'' she said.

Co-launching the report, Michelle Gildernew, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland, said the report was a ``great example'' of effective all-island co-operation in action ``and I look forward to working closely with my southern colleagues in the future on issues such as this, which benefit all the people of the island.''

the areas of visual impact, noise, odour, water, landscape and material assets.'

Neverthess, it finds that seed allocation and benthic impacts `require a greater level of understanding'.

Despite this, it is optimistic that these will be addressed `progressively' within the `recommended research priorities, proposed stock tracking system and fishing schedules'.

Under administrative arrangements, the review concludes `there is a strong consensus that the administraive arrangements employed to support the BG mussel sector require a radical restructuring'.

And it finds that because of what it describes as the `complex inter-jurisdictional nature of the industry and its recent expansion', the sector suffers from being fragmented and consequently requires `a higher level of administrative resource than is currently available'.

Limited scope

Outling the report in Westport, chairman of the Bottom Grown Mussel Review Group, Donal Maguire, said it was a ``pretty

* Mary Coughlan, former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Michelle Gildernew, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland, launch The Rising Tide.

unique piece of work, in the sense that it is a 32-county allisland review, and it was limited in its scope from the start, and it's worth saying that.''

He indicated that while the aim had been to produce a report that would be ``in line with the one carried out on the rope mussel sector in 2006 by consultants PricewaterouseCoopers,'' it was not possible because, being all-island, ``it was much more complicated''.

Stating that the mussel industry was ``in flux'', Maguire noted that a ``lot of forces'' were driving it. ``And because it is so new and because it has grown so quickly, the mussel sector has actually outgrown State resources to such an extent that the State has not geared itself up sufficiently to deal with it.

There is a lack of resources and State organisation, and I know there are many people who would have liked to have seen various other issues explored in this report that we weren't allowed to go into,'' he said. ``From the kick-off, this had to be a 32-county, all-island

Outling the report in Westport, chairman of the Bottom Grown Mussel Review Group, Donal Maguire, said it was a ``pretty unique piece of work, in the sense that it is a 32county all-island review, and it was limited in its scope from the start, and it's worth saying that.''

review, which made for a complicated background to operate under,'' he said. ``For instance, we were not allowed to get involved with safety issues, or with issues to do with the Torremolinos Protocol or the operation of the Marine Survey Office. The Voisinage Agreement was seen as ultra vires and part of the Peace Process, and was something that we were not allowed approach or have anything to do with.''

After reading aloud the Terms of Reference* Maguire said: ``Believe it or not, it took more than a year to agree even on that. So it's been a long road to publishing this review, and I am concious that it is also probably the longest-awaited and most-leaked review known to man! But it's finally out, and it's a reasonable document that is designed to be as helpful as possible. Not everybody is going to agree with it, but I think it is pragmatic, reasonable and sensible, and hopefully, the recommendations are suited to the function that's required.'' *`The purpose of the regula-

tion and management regime for the seed mussel resource shall be to ensure that sustainable exploitation of the wild mussel seed resource, and to maximise the benefits derived from that resource in terms of volume and value of the mussel crop subsequently grown, harvested and processed, with the objective of generating sustainable economic activity and employment in coastal communities.'

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

25

ISA CONFERENCE

Branding is best to create unique identity AMERICAN shellfish grower Dan Barth told delegates he was somewhat dismayed that Irish oysters were still being sold mainly in bulk, and urged producers to take a fresh look at marketing and to examine alternative processing possibilities ``I am told Irish growers sell their oysters by the tonne. In Washington State, where I come from, we sell them by the dozen,'' he said. ``For me as a farmer, it's quite straightforward really Ð oysters by the dozen, clams by the pound. The wholesale price for clams is between US$2.35US$2.50 a pound, and for oysters I can count on getting US$3 per dozen.''

And while acknowledging there was little to be gained by comparing shellfish production in both countries in every detail, Barth said that growers everywhere could learn by sharing ideas with one another on various issues, especially marketing.

As a modest man, however, he added he did not want to be seen as someone who thought he had all the answers for Irish growers: ``I'm not advocating you should redesign your industry here. It's simply about learning from each other. What does that grower do, and what does his neighbour do? In this business, you very often learn most from your mistakes,'' he said.

Hand picked In Puget Sound, where he produces a variety of shellfish, oysters are nearly always handpicked, with only a small amount being dredged. ``Of course, back home we do ship whole product, too; however, usually when the orders for oysters come in, they are for quantities of 200 or 300 dozen, and right on down to 10 dozen or so. Our markets are local, so we're not shipping huge amounts to any one buyer,'' he explained.

He added it had been interesting to see the reaction here when he described the ways oysters, in particular, are processed in Washington State: ``It's interesting to see the expressions on their faces when I

Shay Fennelly reports from Westport

* Dan Barth (62) at his Puget Sound shellfish farm in Washington State where he grows a variety of species

of oysters, mussels and clams. In his left hand, Dan holds a native North American geoduck clam, weighing between 2-3.5kgs Some specimens, he says, can reach 7kgs. In his right hand is the farmed variety, weighing about a kilo. Dan can expect to receive between US$30-35 per clam.

tell them that we sell shucked oyster meats in pint, half-gallon or quart-sized plastic jars,'' he said. ``Pickers put their oysters in a crate or a basket, and then take them to what we call a tote on the beach that is buoyed. A barge later picks up the tote and takes it to the quay, from where it goes to the processing plant.

Each shell is then opened, the oyster meat is cut out onto a stainless steel tray, the juices fall through, and the shell goes through a chute onto a conveyor to a storage area.''

This was Barth's second visit to Ireland this year to meet members of the shellfish industry, and he ackowledged their genuine enthusiasm about how his product was sold and sharing experiences. ``When I explained the different ways oysters can be processed Ð for example, `frozen top-off' Ð the potential investment required seemed to be a negative. On the other hand, when I showed them smoked product, I could sense they thought this was perhaps something worth looking at in

the shorter term.''

On the issue of branding, Barth explained this was done geographically: ``The brand shows the bay or estuary from where the oyster comes. In most high-end restaurants or oyster bars therefore, this gives the customer the opportunity to pick and choose and to sample a variety of brands. This leads to name recognition, and it's all about creating a unique name for yourself instead of now, with everybody selling oysters in bulk to France.''

Geoduck clams Our picture shows Dan holding Geoduck clams at his shellfish farm. ``Geoduck is a high-value marketable clam, so we often hold it back and try not to harvest more than a tonne per day. It comes from the beach direct to our plant in a refridgerated truck where we weigh it, including water. Then, it's into the buyer's truck, and before he leaves I receive a cheque for up to US$30,000.

Those clams are in China within twenty-four hours of leaving here.'' Geoduck clams are the

largest burrowing clam native to North America. Their firm, crunchy texture and sweet nutlike flavour makes them a very popular ingredient in sushi; they are also delicious sauteÂd or lightly pan-fried as fritters. To farm geoducks, seed from native broodstock is first produced in hatcheries.

Up to four seeds are then placed inside 10cm diameter PVC pipes, 35cm long, set vertically in rows across a sandy beach.

The top of each tube is covered by netting against predators and the tubes are then left for up to two years when the pipes are removed to encourage the developing geoducks to burrow deeper into the substrate to depths of up to 1.25 metres to avoid predators. Three years later they will have grown to harvest weight of between 500900g.

They are harvested one-at-atime from each tube. Some native geoducks can become very old Ð up to 160 years; however, size does not equate to age, as some can reach 6.75kgs in only nine years.

Shellfish farming's carbon footprint: another reason to buy Irish!

A new report presented at the conference in Westport has revealed that a typical Irish rope-mussel producer is responsible for 33.2g of CO2 equivalent per kilo of mussels produced, which is 7.5 times less than the carbon cost of importing a kilo of mussels 15,000km from Chile.

Colm O'Gairbhith of CarbonTracking Ltd was commissioned by Kush Shellfish Ltd to examine the company's environmental impact by looking specifically at its carbon footprint. ``The initial study will obtain a baseline against which the company will develop a strategy for reducing its carbon footprint. Carbon footprinting is successfully used internationally to assess and represent the environmental impact of an activity, such as a product, city or country, or even a lifestyle. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact a given activity can have on the environment in

Environment assessments prerequisite to licensing

terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide,'' he explained. ``The emissions covered in this report are considered `Scope 1 and 2' emissions, according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and `Direct and Indirect Energy' emissions under ISO 14064:1. This covers direct fuel usage and all electricity/gas usage. Other emission sources relating to the manufacture of materials used, e.g. boats/cars/barrels, are considered optional under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol or ISO 14064:1., and as such are not included in the total emissions figures but are detailed further on in the report,'' O'Gairbhaith added.

His presentation also included background information on the development of carbon footprinting, the carbon cycle and use to which the shellfish industry could put this process.

According to O'Gairbhith, Ireland produces 70 million tonnes of CO2e, and one unit of electricity equates to 624g of CO2e or driving a mile in a 50m/pg car releases 192gms of CO2e. The increasing likelihood, according to O'Gairbhith, is that monitoring a company's impact could be used to assess performance against future legislation to limit energy use and increase efficiencies across all industries. Standards currently being developed at international level will be adopted by Ireland in the coming years, and the shellfish industry should prepare now for their introduction, he said.

O'Gairbhaith explained that the process of carbon footprinting is not confined to measuring impact by a company: ``It's about ongoing mitigation of that impact through greater efficiencies, waste reduction, and alternative energy sources, all of which could contribute to im-

proved competitiveness.''

The findings for Kush were based on examining the company's main activities. The report found that boat fuel accounts for 40% of emissions; land vehicles, 44%; sales and marketing travel, 9% and office maintenance, 7%.

O'Gairbhith concluded that the benefits to producers included a powerful message of awareness by the food producer to consumers of shellfish, whereby it helped the company to better understand its own cost base through understanding energy flows. In addition to legislation, it should be noted that Enterprise Ireland announced on May 29 that carbon footprinting work will be included in the financial support currently available for Environmental Management Systems and Environmentally Superior Products. The full report from is available on: www.carbontrack ing.com/previous_work.htm

A two-year delay in renewing approximately 250 aquaculture licences has suspended further development in the Irish aquaculture industry, delegates at the conference were told.

ISA chairman Flor Harrington asked why the Government wasn't doing its job. Dave Donoghue from the Coastal Zone Administration (CZA) admitted to the backlog, but pointed out that the CZA relied on expert advisory input from other agencies, such as BIM and the Marine Institute to help tackle the issue.

Lack of action by some Government agencies and the former Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to develop management plans and guidelines for environmental monitoring for coastal NATURA 2000 sites led to a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in December 2007 against Ireland that has now prompted the Irish authorities to develop an environmental monitoring protocol to ensure that an appropriate assessment is carried out prior to issuing licences.

In December 2007, the ECJ ruled that Ireland had failed to transpose and apply the Birds Directive, which requires the establishment of Special Protected Areas (SPAs), and to apply the provisions of the Habitats Directive to Special Areas of Conservations (SACs) from proceedings initiated in 1998 and 2002.

Ireland was required to transpose each of these Directives into law in 1988 and 1994 respectively. SPAs are areas that

have been given special protection because of their unique variety of wild animals, plants and habitats under the EU's Habitats Directive, and are a vital part of global efforts to conserve the world's biodiversity.

Grainne O'Brien, Environmental Officer with BIM, told delegates it was not possible to give an absolute number for the aquaculture sites in SACs and SPAs. ``Most of the bays in Ireland are designated as SAC, and some are also SPA. As most aquaculture takes place in inshore waters and inter-tidal areas, it means that many of sites are located in Natura 2000 sites (collective name for SACs and SPAs),'' she said.

Under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, Ireland is obliged to prevent the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbance of the species in the SACs in so far as such disturbance could be significant.

It is also obliged under Article 2(3) to carry out an appropriate assessment of any plan or project likely to have a significant effect, such as an aquaculture site in a SAC or SPA, and agree to it only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned and, if appropriate, after having obtained public opinion. ``We need guidelines for an appropriate assessment before the European Court deadline in 26 months,'' Dave O'Donoghue added. Richie Flynn, executive secretary of IFA Aquaculture asked about the timeframe. ``Some of our members may be out of business at that stage.'' he remarked.

26

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

SEA ANGLING

* Signs of spring Ð mayfly on the hawthorn.

Photos: B Connolly

Spring time: The mayfly is up NEW leaves are bright green; the best mayfly hatch. The hawthorn bushes are covered Carrick Shore of Upper Lough by bridal gowns of delicate Corrib seemed to have a better white flowers and the birds' hatch of fly than elsewhere, so morning chorus echoes the three boats, having first tried around the lake. Aquatic in- other areas, headed for there.

Six anglers were dapping, sects are emerging from the water surface in their mil- using light floss line and 16ft lions; dense clouds of flies rods to allow the wind to carry waft up and down on the the single hook baited with the breeze Ð an abundance of mayflies away from the drifting life bursting forth. This is boats. spring time on Lough Corrib, writes Brendan Connolly.

Fish are also making use of Mating mayflies spring's bounty. Mayflies are popping up from the water surface, attracting the trout's attention. As a trout, you have to make up your mind fast Ð whether to take a mayfly or not because within seconds of the mayfly bursting out of its larval skin, it flies away.

Throwing caution to the wind, trout betray their presence with powerful upwellings of water, fans of white spray sent foot-high into the air, showing both back fin and tail fin as they porpoise towards a fly, or even jumping clear out of the water to pounce on a fly as they dive down. The riches of spring and the exuberance of the trout is what attracts the angler to the Corrib at mayfly time.

The third weekend in May was mostly cloudy with a good steady easterly breeze and unlike the previous week, these were good fishing conditions.

In three boats, a group of anglers headed out in different directions to find the area with

Some put two or three on a hook, resembling a clump of mating mayflies; others tried a cocktail of two daddy-long-legs and a mayfly as this is often very effective. One angler using the motto: `less is more', only used a single mayfly.

The morning was cool with a stiff breeze and the anglers had a number of rises.

Initially however, the trout just stripped the hook of its mayflies and somehow avoided any contact with the sharp point of the hook. Mayflies were hatching, some even landed in the boat, but few if any rising trout were seen.

After some time first one and then another fish was hooked.

This raised the spirits Ð the first fish of the mayfly season!

Although these fish put a very respectable bend in the rod tip, both proved to be less than 12 inches long, so were returned to the lake. Another angler had more luck with a nice trout of 1.5 lb. This was followed by his

partner who got a huge rise to his dapped mayfly. Thinking that this could either be a salmon or a big trout, he struck Ð it felt as if he had hit a solid rock; however, almost instantly, the line shot up into the air as the hook came out and the fish was lost.

As midday approached, the sun came out and the breeze weakened. A couple of drifts passed without any rises. It was time to go to an island and have lunch, a traditional routine during the mayfly, which includes looking for daddy-long-legs amongst the rushes.

`Less is more'

After 5 o'clock, however, things changed. First one trout rose, resolutely taking the fly down, it was hooked.

Lough Corrib trout are stronger than their size would indicate; a 1.2lb trout can take quite a while to coax to the surface or the alternative can be a broken line. Then another trout of about 1lb was hooked and carefully played.

At this stage, the motto of `less is more' was heard quite often because the single dapped mayfly was proving very successful.

As the sun dropped, adult mayflies that had mated emerged from the shore to lay their eggs on the water surface.

A single mayfly proved once more that you don't necessarily need several mayfly on a hook for a successful dap.

Courtship dance

Flies abounded, adult mayflies, as well as many other types of insects, were all doing their courtship dance above the walls and bushes.

Wandering about and searching the rushes and alder bushes, gives a unique opportunity to observe and experience nature.

One marvellous discovery was a wonderfully neat nest of a reed bunting with five tiny eggs.

Intricately woven into a tussock of reeds, it showed how amazingly accomplished these little birds are in nest building.

Back on the lake, the breeze picked up again. Drifting among hatching mayflies, a couple more trout rose to the daps but did not connect when struck Ð one of the frustrations of mayfly fishing.

* A well-conditioned Corrib brown trout.

But, the anglers in the other boats also had success. In the area that had been drifted all day, the two anglers in the second boat caught a 1.5lb and a 1.75lb trout respectively, and the third boat had a 2.5lb trout and one of 2.75lb. These were very fine brown trout. Fishing the mayfly on Lough Corrib surely is experiencing spring in all its glory.

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

27

SEA ANGLING

* A single mayfly dap Ă? less is more.

* Two daddy-long-legs and a mayfly.

* A delicately woven Reed Bunting nest.

* In for lunch.

Inshore Ireland

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28

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

MARINE R & D

Laser technology deployed to survey shallow inshore waters Rhys Barker, Tenix LADS and Koen Verbruggen, GSI,

* The survey area of Donegal Bay, completed by Tenix and Blom, which includes onshore data Ă? a unique ability of LiDAR.

AUSTRALIAN survey company, Tenix LADS Corporation, continued its history of operations on the west coast of Ireland during Spring. Using specialist aircraft-mounted laser equipment, surveys of shallow water areas and the surrounding coast have been completed in Galway Bay, the Aran Islands, Sligo, Tralee and Donegal.

The technology is known as Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry (ALB), and the work was completed under contract to the Irish government as part of the Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource (INFOMAR) project (see beige box).

ALB technology is highly specialised. It is based on using pulses of laser light transmitted from the aircraft to penetrate the water and reflect off the seabed, returning to sensors co-mounted on the aircraft. The laser light is a blue/green colour, which is the most effective in penetrating water. The laser pulses are transmitted 1000 times per second, as the aircraft flies over the survey area at about 500m above the water.

The laser pulses are placed in a row perpendicular to the direction of the aircraft flight to complete a swathe of surveyed area under the aircraft for every pass.

Complimentary technology

This technology compliments vessel-based acoustic survey technologies already deployed by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute.

Areas mapped by both vessel and plane have recently been ground-truthed using the GSI's Rib, RV Geo with video and seabed sampling.

High accuracy and high resolution acoustic systems such

as Multi Beam Echo Sounders (MBES) produce excellent maps of the seabed; however in shallow coastal waters, vessel operations become slow, inefficient and can be dangerous.

ALB technology can produce comparable accuracy of data very efficiently and safely in clear shallow water.

The water needs to be clear for the laser light to penetrate it.

The shallow water areas, being surveyed under the INFOMAR project by ALB, are joined with deeper surveys being completed with MBES to produce a complete map of the seabed.

Dual operations

Tenix has provided the INFOMAR project, with an innovative approach to this season's survey activity by deploying and utilising two ALB systems to complete the surveys. This approach, operating two ALB systems, is a first, and recognises in part the challenging nature of marine survey on the west coast of Ireland.

The majority of the areas will be surveyed by Tenix LADS Corporation using its own LADS MKII ALB system that has already proven successful in Ireland; some of the smaller, protected and very shallow areas, however, were surveyed by the Hawkeye II ALB system, owned and operated by Blom Aerofilms, a subsidiary of the Blom Group.

Although the basic operation of both systems is very similar, each has unique features that make them particularly suited in specific circumstances. The LADS MKII system, mounted in the Dash 8 aircraft, is capable of producing excellent results in a wide range of environmental conditions. This is important in Ireland, particularly on the west coast, because the majority of coastal areas are exposed to swell and offshore winds.

LADS MKII laser transmission power and complex receiver electro-optics results in a maximum water depth capabil-

* Green laser light penetrates the water, and the red laser is used to measure the height of the aircraft.

Those that work at sea and our coasts know that the sea respects...

no man-made boundaries Commissioners of Irish Lights, Harbour Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin Tel: 01-2715400, Email: info@cil.ie, Web: www.cil.ie

PARTNER agencies, the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute (MI), have been mandated by the Irish Government to execute the Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource (INFOMAR) project.

Under this programme, and its predecessor, the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS), a range of marine survey activities have been completed, including ALB surveys in 2002,

2003, 2005, 2006 and now 2008.

Previous ALB surveys were completed in Clew Bay, Killala Bay, Mulroy Bay, Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay and southern Galway Bay. Along with northern Galway Bay the Aran islands, Donegal Bay, Sligo Bay and Tralee Bay, this year the ALB surveys have been planned to provide data in the coastal zone to a water depth of between 10-20m.

At the time of going to press,

ity greater than other ALB systems. This means that areas such as the northern section of Galway Bay and the northern coast of the Aran Islands were best suited to survey using LADS MKII. The Hawkeye II system is smaller, and includes a high quality topographic capability.

It is also designed specifically for efficiently surveying small, very shallow, coastal areas, and was therefore used in locations such as Greatmans Bay, Donegal Harbour and Ballisodare Bay, where maximum water depth is between 5-10m.

Hawkeye II flight operations were completed between 23 April and 1 May, with the LADS MKII system deploying to Galway on 20 May. At the time of writing, the LADS MKII system was expected to complete flight operations on 7 June.

Remedial survey activity

The sequence of operations was planned to ensure that the LADS MKII system was able to undertake remedial survey activity if the Hawkeye II system had been unable to meet the INFOMAR project requirement of surveying to the 10m water depth contour. This integrated approach ensured the project requirement was met.

For all survey areas, the INFOMAR project will receive a high resolution digital map of the seabed topography, georeferenced images collected from digital cameras in the aircraft and maps of seabed reflectivity.

These products provide important information for a variety of applications including navigational safety of vessels, coastal zone management, coastal engineering erosion and aquaculture.

Future cooperation

Tenix LADS Corporation and the GSI aim to continue the technical development and evaluation of leading edge development in the field of LiDAR seabed classification. Cooperation between the organisations, and specialists in the field Quester Tangent Corporation (Sidney, B.C., Canada), has resulted in a new range of ALB products allowing users to classify the nature of the seabed.

Mulroy Bay has been used as a test area to determine the sort of results possible, with variation in grain size and sorting of sediment, as well as biological cover readily defined. Ongoing development will provide further data and information to the INFOMAR project. it was hoped to carry out some ALB survey work over Lough Foyle, in cooperation with organisations including the Loughs Agency, EHS, AFBI and Port of Londonderry. Commencement is dependent upon suitable tide, weather and water clarity conditions.

If it proceeds, it will provide a practical cross border demonstration of the method and the INFOMAR Project.

INSHORE IRELAND

Confidence in Irish shipping sector despite market challenges Report by Jehan Ashmore

THE Irish ports and shipping industry has witnessed `unparalled' success over the past decade, despite 'challenging global market conditions', according to Glenn Murphy, Director of the Irish Maritime Development Office, at the launch of the 5th annual Irish Maritime Transport Economist report. ``The domestic shipping and port services sector performed well last year,'' he added.

In 2007, the nation's ports handled almost 1.5 million containers, representing a growth of 6%, but slightly below the 10year trend of 7%. Overall, the Irish maritime supply chain sector handled an estimated 135 billion worth of merchandise trade in 2007, representing an equivalent of 75% of GDP, based on the value of current prices.

It was not until the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2007, that a slower volume of traffic growth was witnessed, reflecting the economy but also from the external fall-out of the US sub-prime lending fiasco, that led to the turmoil within the international financial markets, exposing Ireland's construction industry.

Bulk volume decline

In the last quarter, GDP from shipping to import machinery and building materials dropped by 11%. This slowdown is

reflected a 1% fall in bulk volumes out of the 32 million tons handled; the sector also showed a 7% decline in breakbulk commodities of which more than half experienced a fall in volume.

At the launch, John Beggs, Chief Economist at AIB, outlined the economic difficulties that were the `worst in 50 years'.

He highlighted the challenges facing the economy with the rising Euro versus the continuing decline of the US dollar, and the weakening value of Sterling. It is estimated that Irish exports will reach 2.2% of GDP this year, while 3.2% is forecast for 2009.

John Beggs also noted that the competitiveness of traditional Irish exports was under pressure from the spill-over effects of domestic demand that could yet continue into next year. 'Despite these challenging conditions, global growth will remain relatively healthy', he added.

On the other side of the world, the impact and important markets of the Asian sub-continent, in particular China, has seen continual growth in imports of laden containers. Despite the changing economic environment, the value of Irish exports to China rose encouragingly by 45% last year.

Demand for greater capacity

booming trade of exports from China has led to the demand for increasingly larger capacity vessels, particularly in the container ship-sector: `There are 10 global shipping companies dominating the global sector, so it is incumbent that Irish industries take the longer term view for the need to have 810,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) capacity container vessels. This is an issue for Irish businesses and stakeholders to address.''

Murphy however remains optimistic that extra capacity for developing the economy can be further transferred with Ireland trading internationally.

He added that, in order to meet the demands of increased vessel size, the Irish shipping sector must position larger capacity 'FeederMax' container vessels of (700-800 TEU) on the short-sea routes to link up with large global-trading 10,000 TEU vessels that dock in the major European hub ports.

Harbour Bill

The report also highlights the importance of trading further distances, and government's plan to publish the Harbours (Amendment) Bill later in the year. It is intended that the Bill will make an important addition to the Harbours Act 1996, by enabling ports to become better equipped to meet future infrastructural project requirements by granting greater flexibility.

Freight trade on the roll-on

TO investigate the reason for increasing mortality of salmon at sea, a tri-nation collaboration of research vessels from Norway, the Faeroes and Ireland is underway to study migration and distribution of salmon in the North-East Atlantic. The project, which will track small juvenile salmon from southern Europe to the Barents Sea, will involve three marine surveys during 2008 and 2009.

The project, SALSEAMerge, uses DNA technology instead of conventional salmon tags, and has already produced results mapping all of the major salmon stocks in Europe. The DNA profile identifies individual fish by analysing their natural genetic code, which can then be matched to their region or river of origin.

Speaking in Killybegs, as the research vessel Celtic Explorer prepared to depart, Dr Ken Whelan, Marine Institute and chairman International Salmon Research Board, said that some southern rivers on both sides of the North Atlantic, contained wild salmon which were facing extinction ``and no one fully understands why. There are more questions than answers Ă? that's what SALSEA-Merge is all about Ă? to provide answers,'' said Dr Murphy..

roll-off (Ro/Ro) market grew by 3%, down 2%, and handled 1.77 million freight trailers.

Regarding Load-On/Load-Off (Lo/Lo), the report indicates a clear correlation between a slowdown rdin economic activity over the 3 and 4th quarters of 2007, and activity in both the key Irish unitised Lo/Lo and Ro/Ro markets for that period.

Exports of chemical and pharmaceuticals sectors continued to grow, achieving 14% and 12% respectively. The domestic food and drinks industry also performed well, with the value of exports at 20%. The positive trend in the return to passenger sea travel was reflected, in that for the first time in four years, this sector grew 3% across all routes. The rise included passenger demand on the Continental routes, which saw the largest upturn in passenger demand reaching 7% and 5% in car volume.

Eco-based

Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, said that Ireland's involvement in the project clearly

* An Tanaiste Mary Coughlan TD, with members of the SALSEA team and Dr Peter Heffernan on board RV

Celtic Explorer. (l-r) Emmanuel Babatunde (Norway); Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, Ivor Llewelyn (Wales); Peter Heffernan (Marine Institute); Dr Ken Whelan (Marine Institute and International Atlantic Salmon Research Board); Malcolm Windsor (North Atlantic Salmon Trust) and Jens Christian Holst (Norway).

signified the role that Irish scientists were playing in `ecosystem-based' management of valuable marine stocks.

Commenting on the `multimillion' Euro project, Minister Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, said that conservation of the wild salmon stock was `totally dependent' on scientific advice: ``If that scientific advice ends at the estuary, and ignores the oceans, we are going to find it very difficult to manage our stocks against a backdrop of

increasingly poor marine survival,'' he said.

Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, outlined the importance that scientific research plays in support of ecosystem-based management: ``These range from monitoring the effects of harmful algal blooms to support the shellfish industry; identifying novel species and offshore production technologies for the aquaculture industry, or monitoring the abundance of traditional marine and migratory fisheries that are increasingly under pressure.

29

MARINE R & D

* China's booming economy behind demand for greater capacity, particular in container ships for Dublin and other Irish ports.

Why are salmon dying at sea?

According to Glen Murphy, the

June 2008

``SALSEA Merge is a unique partnership of geneticists, ecologists, oceanographers and ocean modellers, who have pooled their talents to address a vital issue. We expect to see more programmes of this type in future,'' he said.

The 5.5 million project is funded by the EU, with significant contributions from interested parties, including the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) and the TOTAL Foundation.

Information can be accessed at www.salmonatsea.com.

* Irish exports are expected to reach 2.2% of GDP.

Photos: G Mills

30

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

COASTLINE NEWS

The Boyne Canoes: from strength to decay in a decade

By Darina Tully THE boats found on the Boyne Estuary are a Scandinavian style pram locally known as `canoes'. The style of the Boyne Canoes is similar to that which can be seen working around Oslo harbour in Norway. Sadly, within a decade, the vibrant fishery on the Boyne has gone from strength to decay; around 60 `canoes' were involved in two major fisheries Ă? the salmon draft fishery and mussel fishery.

The mussel fishery was located in Mornington at the mouth of the Boyne. The method of fishing used was unique Ă? the only comparison was

Conway, North Wales.

Fishermen used 18ft rakes to rake the mussels from the seabed, which they landed in the canoes. The mussels were then brought ashore and riddled into different sizes; small shells were returned to the river. This mussel fishery was very environmentally-friendly and provided an alternative to the salmon fishery.

Dredging programme

In 1998, the curator of folk life at the National Museum of Ireland recorded the mussel fishing and, in the same year, Drogheda Port started a dredging programme at the entrance to the Boyne and the fishery

was subsequently `postponed' for a few years. Attempts were made to reseed the mussel beds but without success. The boats and equipment now lie decaying on the banks.

There is over 5,000 years of evidence of fishing on the Boyne going back to the Neolithic period. All the great monuments on the Boyne, including Newgrange, have yielded evidence that indicate a once prolific viable fishery.

Medieval manuscripts from local monasteries list many of the fisheries, weirs and licences as part of their property. Draft net fishing has a long history and goes back to at least the 16th century. The Boyne canoes

* Boyne canoes now lie idle along the banks of the river.

are shown in early 19th century engravings and are portrayed in a wonderful guild banner, now kept in the Milmount Museum in Drogheda.

The canoes used in the salmon draft fishery had a short deck at the stern to carry the large draft net; this fishery took place in the spring and summer months. For conservation reasons, however, this fishery and all salmon activity on the Boyne was stopped in 2007.

An agreement was subsequently reached that no fishing would take place until spawning salmon reached 15,000, then access would be granted to both anglers and nets men This year, spawning salmon numbers exceeded 15,000 and the anglers were allowed return to `catch and release'. Nets men, however, have been denied access and say that agreements made in good faith have not been implemented fairly.

These fishermen are deeply disappointed and are planning a `protest day' of fishing in July to highlight their situation.

While the author's interest is in the history and archaeology of traditional boats, one cannot look at these craft without being aware of the current factors that affect the continuity of maritime and boating heritage.

* Canoes in a 19th century guild banner.

Photos: D Tully

Green Team announces crew for Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09

tel:1850 60 90 90 24:7 Confidential Emotional Support

We can help you see the way forward

www.samaritans.ie jo@samaritans.org

FOUR Irish sailors, Damian Foxhall, Co Kerry (watch leader); Justin Slattery, Co Wexford (bowman); Ian Moore, Co Antrim (navigator) and Scott Millar (trimmer/driver) are amongst the Green Team crewmembers in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09. They join Tom Braidwood Australia, (trimmer/ driver); Andrew McLean, New Zealand (bowman); Phil Harmer, Australia (trimmer/driver); Freddie Shanks, Britain (bowman) and Ian Walker, Britain (skipper).

The shore management team also includes three Irish experienced yacht professionals: Johnny Smullen, shore manager; Johnny Mordaunt, technical co-ordinator and James Carroll, boat captain.

Overseeing sailing matters for the Green Team is TP52 Patches owner Eamon Conneely: ``We are very fortunate to have secured the calibre of people that we have. We will be adding three more squad members including the second watch leader in due course but I am pleased with the current mixture of youth (4 under 30s) and Volvo 70 experience. In Damian and Justin we have proven offshore winners and the team will be turning to them for a lot of advice in our preparation as well as during the race,'' he explained. ``It is my intention to have a squad of 12 sailors plus the media representative which is the minimum we need for both the offshore and inshore races.

Nobody's place is set in stone and everyone, including me, will have to earn the right to represent this team. We will

* Ian Walker, skipper, Green Team; Eamon Conneely, director of sailing and Damian Foxall, watch leader in Gosport at the team announcement.

Photo: Ian Roman/Green Team bring in extra help as and when we see fit. It is a long race and it will take a heavy toll on both mind and body'' explained

Walker.

The team, along with 15 shore crew and boatbuilders, is already hard at work at Endeavour Quay, Gosport, Britain preparing the Volvo Open 70 for sea trials. Once initial sea trials are complete, the Green Team will sail to Ireland for an official christening in Dublin in July. The team will then be based in Galway until leaving for Alicante at the end of August.

THE VOR 2008-09 marks the 10th event.

Starting from Alicante in Spain, it will, for the first time, take in ports in Asia.

Spanning 37,000 nautical miles, and stopping at around 11 ports over nine months, the VOR is the world's premier yacht race for professional racing crews. The first race left England in September 1973 and was originally known as The Whitbread Round the World Race.

INSHORE IRELAND

June 2008

31

OUTSIDE IRELAND

Irish company tests `processing category' to maintain fishing rights AS a desert country, Mauritania, situated where the Sahara meets the Atlantic Ocean in Northwest Africa, may not immediately be associated with fishing; however, off its 750 kilometre coast is one of the world's richest fishing grounds near to Europe, writes Pieter Tesch. ``The reason for this is the

dislike both fish and the sea.

Fishing was only practised with canoes by small communities on the coast that were ethnically linked to the peoples of Tropical Africa to the south.

When approached in the late 1970s

by

China,

the

Soviet

Union, other Eastern-bloc countries,

and

rights

Spain

after

for

global

fishing

agreement

cold Canaries Current turning

on the imposition of 200 miles

warmer off Mauritania, result-

excusive

ing in nutrients rising up from

(EEZ), the Mauritanian govern-

the seabed, and attracting nu-

ment as good as give the rights

merous fish,

away.

shellfish species

economic

zones

and other marine life,'' explains

As

Dr Ad Corten, a Dutch fisheries

droughts

scientist seconded to the Maur-

mated herds of camels and other

itanian

national

fisheries

re-

livestock,

search

institute

(IMROP)

in

into

the

disastrous

of

the

forcing

the

Sahel

1980s

capital

the

decipeople

Nouakchott,

the northern port of Nouadhi-

originally

bou.

village and the port of Nouad-

``A similar situation is found

ninsula,

are

realised

rich

fishing

a

little

oasis

the

they

government

had

to

use

the

grounds, but not easily accessi-

national fishing resource much

ble from Europe, unless with

more efficiently to benefit the

large freezer trawlers,'' added

country.

Dr Corten who has been work-

* The Mauritanian government now intends to modernise the domestic fleet, and to create better port facilities.

hibou on the Cape Blanc pe-

off Namibia and Chile, which equally

only

The first fisheries agreement

now intends to modernise the

budding offshore oil and gas

Atlantic Dawn in 2000.

fish

domestic

industry.

Over time, the domestic arti-

capital's port, and was built by

city, to create more value added

the Chinese in the early eigh-

exports and much needed em-

ties, is one of the ports which is

ployment.

to be modernised.

southern Mauritania and neighbouring

and

and Mali.

the

majority

have

had

search

no

for

of

Mauritanians

interest

fish,

in

in

fact

the they

but

also

allowing the stocks to become scientifically

managed

with

octopus,

thus

African

absorbing

migrants

countries

of

from

Senegal

When the EU fisheries treaty was

renewed

in

2006,

the

underdeveloped,

but

it

only became independent from France when it left in 1960, leaving

very

little

behind.

Where were we less than 50

tial of the Category 11 pelagic

said Lorcan O'Cinneide, who

aim that it would lead to more

fisheries, comes at a time when

visited Mauritania as the Pre-

another leading Irish company,

sident of the Federation of Irish

Tullow Oil, has become a major

Fishermen last year.

and exported from Mauritania.

Sidina,

very

ny's decision to test the poten-

Sidi

Ould

potential

trawlers was created with the

first

Mohamed

enormous

gory 11 for pelagic non-freezer

fish

trawler,

see

The Atlantic Dawn Compa-

Mauritanian fisheries minister,

freezer

``I

here. Mauritania may still look

For this reason, a new Cate-

European aid. In 1999, Ireland's pelagic

create

Nouak-

ting

fishing vessels in the demersal sectors,

to

on the beach just north of the

only the door to more European pelagic

and

facilities.

cular onshore processing capa-

Department

As Moorish camel nomads,

fleet,

port

Mauritanian industry, in parti-

fishing industry and the Dutch Development and the EU.

better

larger inshore species, and potmany

International

sought

with motorised canoes netting

signed in 1987, opening up not

for

he

commitment

chott,, where canoes still land

jects jointly sponsored by the

was

but

and

from the EU to modernise the

European

Commission

caught,

assistance

sanal sector expanded rapidly,

particular Mauritania, on pro-

the

Mauritania's

The Mauritanian government

wanted the EU to pay more for

between

and

in

made it clear that he not only

fleet in Mauritania, followed by

ing for years in West Africa, in

Mauritania

stakeholder

Veronica, joined the European

being

processed

onshore

years after our independence?''

Fishing in the Persian Gulf

By Brendan Connolly

on an island surrounded by the

PICTURE the scene; camels in

waters, located less than 200

30ft

sand dunes; expensive cars on

km from The Tropics, do have

by

wide motorways; hotels remi-

good sea fishing.

were quickly streaking across

with rods, hand line and bait.

On

Persian Gulf. And yes, these

board,

Domie

Fabay's

fiberglass

boat,

powered

twin 200hp outboard, we

niscent of film sets; oil fields;

A number of angling opera-

the azure blue waters of Abu

skyscrapers displaying the most

tors offer tropical game fishing

Dhabi harbour, looking back at

advanced

trips for large species such as

a surreal mix of dhows (tradi-

metre ski slope with real snow,

swordfish

tional Arab boats) and a skyline

and

normally come equipped with

of

with trees, all individually irri-

their

own

buildings.

gated Ă? it seems nothing is

gear.

But

impossible in the United Arab

leisurely approach, and booked

from

Enirates.

its

a three-hour fishing trip from

The Persian Gulf, carrying with

capital, Abu Dhabi, is located

the Beach Rotana Hotel, armed

them fine sand from Iran and

architecture;

miles

of

To

avenue

add

to

a

600

flanked

this,

and

tuna.

heavy we

Anglers

sea

took

fishing a

more

super During the

modern the

high-rise

winter,

winds

sweep

across

north

Iraq. These sand storms are like a fog, and can even obscure the sun. This sand also fertilises the Persian Gulf, acting as nutrients for the algal plankton that feed the fish.

About two miles offshore we started to troll two rods using plug baits. Domie told us we were trying for medium sized fish such as hammour, barracuda or even small tuna which, for us, were all very exotic fish.

Almost immediately we saw a disturbance on the surface; shoals of fish were breaking in an attempt to escape from pre-

* The azure blue waters of Abu Dhabi harbour.

Photos: Elizabeth Morrow

dators below.

We trolled in that direction and spotted a group of dolphins

you

chasing fish, and from time to

waters, you simply don't know

time jumping clear out of the

what will appear. There are so

water. The characteristic dorsal

many species that it could be.

fin of the Indo-Pacific hump-

Gradually, the fish came closer,

backed dolphin could clearly be

and its shape first indicated a

seen,

more

small shark. As the fish got

normal dorsal fin of a second

close to the surface, it swirled

dolphin species.

and turned slightly on its side,

as

well

as

the

After we had a look, Domie

* Brendan Connolly with a cobia.

hook

showing

a

a

fish

silver

in

tropical

and

light

headed away from the dolphins,

brown stripe running down the

and as we crossed the shipping

length of its' body. It was a

channel, one of the trolling rods

Cobia!

jumped. The second rod was

cobia put its head down and

quickly reeled in. The sustained

headed for the depths, the blue

pressure on the rod told us this

sea closed in around it again. It

was not a tiddler!

was, once more, played up into

With high expectations, the rod was slowly reeled in. When

view,

Seeing

and

this

could land it.

the

boat,

time

the

Domie

Cobias (Rachycentron cana-

plucks and tugs. Domie was the

dum) are found in the Atlantic,

first to pull in a fish. It proved

as well as in the Indian Ocean

to be a sherry. By this time we

in waters over 200C, and taste

were

good. They grow from egg to 6-

baits. Every time we pulled in

7kg in a year, which is three

the lines, we were anticipating

times the growth rate of salmon.

what new and exotic fish spe-

This makes them a very attrac-

cies we would see. We caught

tive species for fish farming.

four species of fish all togther.

all

feeling

nips

at

our

Having successfully caught a

At the end of our three hours

fish trolling, we decided to try

of intense fishing, we sat back

some bottom fishing with small

with

bits of frozen squid. About 10

powerful engines propelled us

miles offshore, we stopped and

over

drifted with hand lines over-

Persian Gulf back to Abu Dha-

board. Just a small bit of lead,

bi. A sun holiday that includes

and a single hook attached to a

fishing,

with

line held by hand; no rod, no

hour 's

drive

reel. Immediately, we felt light

really was something else!

satisfaction the

calm

a

as

the

water

ski

of

slope

two the

an

away...........it

32

INSHORE IRELAND June 2008

BIM and Irish Aquaculture

Harvesting the Best!

At BIM there is a commitment to develop an aquaculture industry we can all be proud of. Sustainable job creation in coastal communities integrating all members of the community is central to this pursuit.

Through technical, financial, marketing and environmental/quality support services, BIM is actively engaged in promoting the most up to date and cost efficient aquaculture techniques, to produce quality seafood, consistent with the needs of environmental protection and conservation.

Quality products are crucial for successful marketing.

To this end, the BIM environmental/ quality programme aims to promote the concepts of quality and environmental awareness with the development of codes of practice for finfish and shellfish, and the implementation of quality assurance schemes.

Financial support for pilot and commercial aquaculture ventures is available through European and BIM grant schemes for both existing farmers and new entrants.

So, what does all of this mean? Simply, that BIM offers a one stop shop for all your aquaculture development needs.

The financial support is complemented by technical expertise and training programmes on best husbandry practice for shellfish and finfish production drawing on home based and international expertise. BIM’s technical programme is continuing to investigate the potential of novel species and new and innovative technology. Feasibility studies, site selection and evaluation are also part of our service.

If you would like further information you can contact BIM’s Aquaculture Development Division at: Tel: +353 1 2144100/Fax: +353 1 2841123 Email: aqua@bim.ie www.bim.ie