Inshore Ireland Vol 7 nr 6 Dec 2011-Jan 2012

News from the coast and inland waterways

€2.20/£1.90 Bi-Monthly

Farming the Deep Blue: from concept to reality page 18

December 2011/January 2012 Vol 7 Issue 6

INFOMAR 2011 CONFERENCE - pages 14-17 News...........................................pages 2-5 Your View..................................pages 6-7 Sea Safety Campaign...................page 12 Marine Mapping System.......pages 22-23 Marine R&D...........................pages 24-25 End Of Year Review............... page 26-27

Sea safety awareness campaign highlights the importance of lifejackets Gery Flynn and Gillian Mills

A

safety awareness campaign spearheaded

by BIM, and backed by Irish Water Safety (IWS) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) includes dramatic real-life accounts of rescues and lives lost at sea and the importance of wearing a lifejacket.

Jason Whooley, BIM’s CEO says that despite seven fishermen losing their lives at sea this year to date, there still appears to be a laissez-faire attitude to safety in the fishing industry, particularly around wearing lifejackets.

“I’m sincerely asking all fishermen to wear their lifejackets. It could be the difference between life and death, it’s that simple,” he says.

According to BIM, a fatality rate of 88 per 100,000 for Ireland’s fishing sector means it is now 48 times more hazardous than other occupations.

“Wearing a suitable lifejacket is the single most effective measure a fisherman can take to increase the chance of survival if involved in a manoverboard,” he contends.

“Despite being a legal requirement, it is not something that is taken seriously enough in the fishing sector, he adds.

Lightweight and compact

Part of the awareness campaign points to the range of lifejackets that fishermen can choose from to suit their method of fishing.

According to Whooley, a key message BIM will drive home is that some of the new lifejackets on the market are now extremely light and compact and would not interfere with work on deck at all: “Along with our partners we aim to change this mentality through a targeted and ongoing safety campaign. I am delighted that Noel O’Sullivan, who has personally survived an accident at sea, and Alan Fanning who recently lost two friends in a fishing accident, are helping us drive this important message home.”

Media campaign

The safety campaign will be mounted in broadsheet media, regional broadcasts, and online through the BIM website (www.bim.ie), Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube.

»» page 12

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny signing the visitor’s book during the official launch of IMERC (Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, in the presence of (l to r): FOCNS Commodore Mark Mellett DSM; Michael Delaney, Head Of NMCI; Valerie Cummins, PhD, Director IMERC; Prof Anita Maguire BSc PhD, VP for Research and Innovation; Minister Simon Coveney; Peter Coyle, IMERC Chairman.

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inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

News

Irish fishermen face major losses if Commission quota proposals are upheld Gillian Mills

M

inister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD has presented to the Dáil a Sustainability Impact Assessment of the EU Commission proposals for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for 2012, representing the first time that such a process has been adopted.

The Programme for Government provides that a Sea Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment, based on consultation with stakeholders will be brought before the Dáil annually before EU fisheries negotiations commence.

“As soon as the EU Commission brought forward its proposals for 2012 TACs and quotas I asked stakeholders to provide

their comments. I have now reviewed these along with the expert contributions from the Marine Institute and BIM”.

The Sustainability Impact Statement reviews all the stocks of importance to Ireland, taking account of the scientific advice. The statement also sets down the economic importance of stocks and the likely impacts from a socio-economic perspective.

“It is very clear from the analysis undertaken by BIM that the current proposals could have significant consequences on our fishing industry and our dependent coastal communities.

Potentially there is a loss of €16m for the fleet operating in the Celtic Sea, a loss of €5.3m for the fleet in the Irish Sea and €1.2m loss in the northwest. This equates to losses in the order of €60 to €65m for coastal communities when direct cost and indirect costs (processing, net making etc)

Capital’s port to double its capacity in thirty years Jehan Ashmore

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are also taken into account.”

Minister Coveney added that whilst the state of fish stocks cannot be compromised, “this can not mean that a simplistic approach is taken and automatic cuts are applied” in the absence of full stock analysis.

Meanwhile the Marine Institute has published its annual fish stock review which also gives the latest scientific advice on the state of fish stocks exploited by the Irish fleet and managed under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Fishing opportunities in Irish waters amounted to 938,000 tonnes in 2011 and had an estimated landed value of €1bn. Ireland’s share represents 21% by weight and 17% by value.

MI stock book available at http://oar.marine.ie/ bitstream/10793/669/1/ The%20Stock%20Book%20 2011.pdf

Marine Institute • Foras na Mara

Do thairseach chuig taighde mara, monatóireacht, forbairt teicneolaíochta agus nuálaíocht

www.marine.ie Your portal to marine research, monitoring, technology, development & innovation

ublin Port Company has unveiled its draft Masterplan (2012-2040) with a core objective of doubling capacity over the next three decades, from last year’s 28m tonnes to 60m by 2040. The project is set to cost between €400m and €500m.

During last month, the proposals were put on public display in the port’s head office, to encourage public observations on the draft and associated Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA).

Prior to the draft’s publication, a consultation process took place during the Spring when stakeholders at statutory, community and commercial levels were invited to make submissions, resulting in over 220 responses. (see www.dublinport.ie) Objectives include: • safe operation of port approaches, development of

infrastructure and services for ships, goods and passengers to meet future demand • optimisation of port estate through rationalising distribution and location of certain: Ro-Ro, Lo-Lo (incl. ferries), cruise-ships, liquid/ bulk-cargo and storage areas with reconfiguration of facilities as required • recover lands not being used for critical port activity and re-use for such activity • develop quaysides adjacent to deep water to their maximum • use new and developing technologies to increase throughput to its maximum • identify configurations for extending berthage and storage that mitigate impact on adjacent environmentally sensitive / designated areas • provide adequate water depth to accommodate larger/deeper draught vessel Submissions were also invited by the December 9 closing date.

These will be prepared and reviewed for the final Masterplan due for publication in early 2012.

Cruise ship docked at Alexander Basin, Dublin port

Consultant required to Compile report on FrenCh oyster seCtor The Aquaculture Initiative (EEIG) has secured European Fisheries Fund support from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), and is looking for an experienced consultant to prepare a report outlining the range of approaches and strategies undertaken by the French industry and authorities into the impacts resulting from the emerging herpes new variant virus OsHV1 .

The aim of this report is to inform the oyster farmers and regulatory authorities as to the current situation in France, how it has been responded to, and provide indications of a way forward for NI industry to deal with the threat.

Detailed TOR is available at www.aquacultureinitiative.eu or from the contact details below.

Last date for applying is 20th January 2012. Applications addressed to Martin Flanigan, Aquaculture Initiative, Innovation House, Down Business Centre, 46 Belfast Road Downpatrick BT30 9UP, N. Ireland.

Phone (0044) 028 44619 660, e mail: flanigan@aquacultureinitiative.eu

Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway +353 91 387 200 +353 91 387 201 institute.mail@marine.ie

Foras na Mara Rinn Mhaoil, Uarán Mór, Co. na Gaillimhe

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

3

News

Commissioner’s objective to ban all discards is “superficial and a PR driven approach” Gillian Mills

I

reland has taken a lead role in the debate on dumping fish at sea, by publishing an audit of Irish fisheries on a stockby-stock basis for demersal species and proposals to mitigate discarding.

According to FAO figures, the Northeast Atlantic has the ‘second highest discard level world-wide, estimated to be 1.3m tonnes, the majority being attributed to the EU fisheries.’

Launching the study, Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said the Atlas of Demersal Discarding would inform the process ‘to achieve real change and a significant reduction in discarding with the new Common Fisheries Policy.’

But he cautioned that other member states fished the same stocks in the same areas; used similar gear and operated under the same market conditions, and called on them to also publish their figures.

“I have consistently said that discarding is a complex issue…It will only be when the full extent of the available international data are complied can we collectively make informed decisions on a coherent EU-wide discard policy, underpinned by a focussed suite of measures to significantly reduce and ultimately eliminate discards.”

The Atlas is divided into four sections: • overview of Irish catch sampling (1995-2009) • Irish discarding patterns by species (maps and tables

synopsis by species by métier • t echnical methods to reduce discarding (selective gear / species selection) and • reducing discards in Irish fisheries (two case studies: otter trawl fishery targeting mixed whitefish species in the Celtic Sea and the nephrops métiers) Welcoming the publication, Sean O’Donoghue, chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) said the Atlas was a “positive step” in addressing the problem, in contrast to the EU Commissioner’s stated objective of banning all discards, which he said demonstrated a “superficial and PR driven approach to the issue”.

He added that forcing fishermen to land fish that has no prospect of sale and which had to be transported great distances for processing into fishmeal was “totally unacceptable, uneconomic and most importantly, will not contribute to the sustainable exploitation of stocks.”

But he too cautioned that the Atlas was only based on analysis and catching of the Irish fishing fleet which accounted for just 15% of the fish landed from waters where the Irish fleet operates.

The same problems apply to French, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, UK and other fleets, accounting for 85% of the landings in the same areas, he said.

Mr O’Donoghue added that Ireland should be given credit for leading “the real debate” and that reasoned dialogue was called for so that the EU could take “measured, practical decisions in the lead-up to the new Common Fisheries Policy”.

Top 10 Commercial Fish Species Landed (by weight) from 2003-2009 caught by Demersal Gears.

Species

Discards

Landings

Total Catch

Discard Rate

Annual Average Discarded

Nephrops

11,194

51,808

63,312

18%

1,599

Haddock

34,532

28,773

63,306

55%

4,933

Whiting

23,246

19,410

42,656

54%

3,321

Megrim

6,230

14,902

21,132

29%

890

Hake

6,521

12,422

18,942

34%

932

Monkfish

2,756

12,276

15,032

18%

394

Cod

1,140

8,848

9,988

11%

163

Plaice

9,912

3,973

13,885

71%

1,416

Saithe

468

2,963

3,430

14%

67

Witch

2,278

2,271

4,549

50%

325

Total

98,277

157,645

255,922

38%

14,040

Annual Average

14,039

22,251

36,560

Top 10 Non-Commercial Fish Species (by weight) from 2003-2009 caught by Demersal Gears.

Species

Total Catch

Discard Rate

Annual Average Discarded

Lesser Spotted Dogfish

12,863

100%

1,835

Grey Gurnard

12,211

100%

1,744

Dab

5,973

100%

853

Blue Whiting*

5,244

100%

749

Forkbeard

3,255

100%

463

Poor Cod

3,031

100%

433

Scad*

2,820

100%

403

Boar-fish*

2,086

100%

298

Argentinidae*

1,890

100%

270

Long Rough Dab

1,292

100%

185

Total

50,665

Annual Average

7,238

7,238

*These species are targeted in pelagic fisheries without significant discards.

What causes discarding?

It is driven by economic and/or legislative reasons. Lack of marketing opportunities, minimum landing size and restrictive quota limits can all result in discarding. The practice represents an underutilisation of marine resources and may significantly affect stock productivity. The majority of EC fisheries are controlled and monitored based on the fish ‘landed’ rather than the fish ‘caught’. Consequently, the most cost effective way to deal with unwanted by-catch [the part of the catch that is captured incidental to the target species and as such may have some economic value] by individual vessel operators has been to discard. Currently, there is no financial benefit in avoiding discarding as there is no individual cost to fishers associated with discarding.

Legal requirement (FIF) Under current EU law, discarding is a legal requirement to adhere to quota restrictions and legal minimum landings sizes. The FIF has opposed (on record) any reduction in mesh size for gillnets off the Irish coast, introduced by the EU as being anti-conservation and leading to higher levels of discarding of small hake by non-Irish vessels who utilise smaller mesh sizes allowed.

Measures to reduce discarding (FIF) • seasonal closures for cod fisheries off the North and southeast coasts (already yielding major improvements in Celtic Sea cod stocks) • seasonal closure Dublin Bay prawns fishery on the Porcupine Bank (adopted by EU in 2010) • seasonal closure for Dublin Bay prawn fishery in the Irish Sea (commenced in 1999) • mesh sizes greater than legal limits set for monkfish and prawn fisheries • adoption by some vessels of selective ‘Swedish Grid’ to target prawns which eliminates as far as possible cod, haddock and whiting but with some practical and economic difficulties.

• introduction of escape panels to allow majority of juvenile haddock and whiting to pass through trawl nets

Discarding, an Irish perspective

I

reland’s proportional share of TAC of the top 10 most economically important commercial demersal species in the waters around Ireland in which Ireland has a TAC allocation In Ireland, in common with most European fisheries, the majority of discarding is associated with the capture of fish that are either below the minimum landing size, fish for which there are no commercial value or where the quota has been exhausted.

Discarding contributes to the overall fishing mortality at stock level. Therefore, for benefits to be felt at stock level, it is necessary that those fleets that make the highest contribution are the primary focus for discard reduction plans.

While a given fishery may have relatively high discard rates, if the catch or effort associated with the fleet is small in comparison to other fleets, then the benefit of reducing discards will be minimal. In order for a more informative view of the scale and impact of discarding at a stock level, it would be necessary to include all the internationally available data.

The attached table shows the relative Irish share of the international TACs for ICES divisions VI and VII (the waters around Ireland). This illustrates that the quota share to Ireland is roughly 25% of the total allowable catch (landings). In order to understand the relative contribution Ireland makes in relation to other countries in terms of total catch (landings plus discards), a discard Atlas of all EU fisheries would be a very positive and informative step to help tackle the issue.

Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year from all at Bord Iascaigh Mhara www.bim.ie 49902 BIM Inshore Ireland ad 2.i1 1 1482 BIM Inshore Ireland ad.indd 1

16/11/2010 15:41:31 24/11/2011 16:39:02

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inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

News

250 jobs identified for Killybegs region but dependent on prevailing conditions

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‘high level’ group charged with stimulating job creation in the Killybegs region has delivered a report to the marine minister Simon Coveney TD outlining the potential of 250 jobs over a three-year period. Minister Coveney convened the group in June following the Economic Report for the European Commission, which assessed the status, development and potential diversification of Killybegs as a fisheries dependent community (full report II vol7.4) The group comprising representatives from the Irish seafood sector; tourism; education; enterprise and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was tasked to identify potential jobs across key areas including

seafood; ancillary services; offshore supports; tourism and marine leisure and green economy/renewable energy.

Underpinning conditions

130 potential jobs were identified within the seafood sector on the back of expected increased access to raw materials such as blue whiting and boarfish, along with a concerted focus on value adding opportunities.

A further 24 jobs were identified in ancilliary services ‘if collaborative opportunities between various companies can be enhanced and their abilities promoted,’ according to the report.

The offshore sector could generate 20 jobs, ‘however competitive service provision and appropriate skill resources are deemed fundamental to achieve this,’ the report adds.

Close on 50 jobs

Consultation on the Impact of CFP Reform Proposals The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD is launching consultation with stakeholders on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

This consultation will form a vital input to Ireland's negotiating framework for the CFP Review and follows on from the regulatory proposals published by the European Commission in July.

Submissions are invited from the seafood sector, the wider fishing community, environmental groups and any other parties to comment and submit proposals on this stage of the CFP reform process. Submissions can be forwarded by post to Roni Hawe, CFP Consultation Seafood Policy and Development Division, Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Clonakilty, Co. Cork or electronically via the web portal www.fishingnet.ie Background information and documentation is available on the website and all submissions received, subject to legal and editorial considerations, will also be published on the website to broaden the debate.

The closing date for this call for submissions is 31 December.

email: info@agriculture.gov.ie www.agriculture.gov.ie

Inshore Ireland is published by IIP Ltd

were identified within the tourism/marine leisure area ‘if a co-ordinated marketing strategy is developed, whilst the green economy and renewable energy area offers the potential to create up to 40 jobs’.

Launching the report, Minister Coveny added that this “pilot approach of coordinated, developmentally focused activity” which is concentrated on natural resources “has delivered results that will drive economic

development and job creation in the Killybegs region.”

Sean O’Donoghue, chair of the group said he was “very confident that the concrete initiatives identified” will redress the “significant job losses that Killybegs has suffered in recent years.”

He added that this “new integrated approach developed across the five key sectors has already proven its worth with almost 80 of the

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney with Sean O’Donoghue, KFO; Cecil Beamish, DAFM; Seamus Neely, County Manager, Donegal County Council; Jason Whooley, BIM; Paul Hannigan, Letterkenny Institute of Education; Jim Parkinson, offshore and ancillary services; Niall O’Gorman, Donegal Fish Merchants Association and Conor Fahy, Enterprise Ireland.

250 jobs already announced mainly in the seafood processing sector. “ The Group also identified constraints negatively impacting on job creation, singling out the need for to establish a Killybegs Harbour Management Committee “without delay”.

Members of the High Level Group are: »» Sean O’Donoghue, Chairman, Chief Executive, Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Ltd »» Seamus Neely, County Manager, Donegal County Council »» Jason Whooley, Chief Executive, Bord Iascaigh Mhara »» Paul Hannigan, President, Letterkenny Institute of Education »» Jim Parkinson, Representing Offshore and Ancillary Services »» Niall O’Gorman, Representing Donegal Fish Merchants Association »» Cecil Beamish, Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine »» Conor Fahy, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland »» Michael Gallagher, BIM, Secretary

IMERC to bring maritime exploration and exploitation to a new level on a world scale Gillian Mills

D

evices to harness wave energy from the Atlantic Ocean; development of green ships; autonomous submersible vehicles; acoustics in the marine environment and sustainable development of our ocean resources are amongst the target areas for innovation in the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC), launched last month by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

An Taoiseach commended UCC, CIT and the Irish Naval Service for their vision in developing a new research and commercial campus in Ringaskiddy Co Cork. The initial phase will see delivery of 70 new research jobs by 2014, with industry suites, incubation units and enterprise centres to be developed as part of an

extended campus adjacent to the National Maritime College of Ireland by 2016.

Addressing delegates, An Taoiseach said the day represented the beginning of a “prosperous new era of maritime exploration and exploitation” where Ireland stood “on the cusp of new discoveries and innovation once unimaginable”, in areas such as marine energy, fisheries, transport and biology.

The IMERC partnership between University College Cork, the Cork Institute of Technology and the Irish Naval Service, is aimed at bringing together researchers, teaching staff, and naval service personnel.

“IMERC is characterised by the way that these three institutions are mobilising their best minds to focus on new research and economic opportunities for maritime Ireland,” An Taoiseach added.

“The leaders of these institutions, Dr Michael Murphy, President of

UCC; Dr Brendan Murphy, President of CIT and Commodore Mark Mellett, Flag Officer in Command of the Naval Service, have done a tremendous job in bringing this about,” he said.

An Taoiseach added it was his hope that new jobs in key areas of marine renewable energy; maritime security and safety; marine recreation; shipping, logistics and transport will flow from these announcements.

“I have said I want Ireland to be the best small country in the world in which to do business by 2016. These new maritime announcements will greatly enhance Ireland’s reputation as a place of innovation and research which will make our maritime resources more attractive to new domestic and international investment.

“We are now only beginning to comprehend the opportunities the sea can offer us. It’s time we grabbed that opportunity with both hands,” he said.

Editor

Features Editor

Advertising

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Gillian Mills

Gery Flynn

Durgan Media

mills@inshore-ireland.com

flynn@inshore-ireland.com

01 235 4804

091 844822

Gillian Mills Gery Flynn

info@durganmedia.ie

074 91 94477

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

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

5

Comment

Was Fine Gael’s stance on climate change legislation just a pre-election sop?

P

hil Hogan has made it clear that water is top of his agenda as Minister for the Environment, and is determined to act with all due haste. With 42% of treated water ‘unaccounted for’ due to a leaky network, and the prospect of largescale extraction from the Shannon in order to meet demand in the Dublin region, this focus is not a surprise.

What is surprising however is that action on climate change isn’t getting the same priority. Apart from the scientific, moral, and international imperative to act, Ireland’s changing climate will exacerbate our already growing water challenge. In the next couple of decades we are likely to see more erratic rainfall patterns with longer drought periods and also more ‘monster rain’, leading to the sort of flash flooding we have seen in recent months.

Climate law u-turn?

Minister Hogan caused consternation recently when he announced he had de-prioritised framework legislation on climate change in favour of seeking consensus with stakeholders on detailed measures to reduce emissions enough to meet our EU 2020 targets. He made his remarks as he published an internal review of climate policy, which ironically highlighted the challenge we face in meeting those targets.

The Minister’s proposal is an attempted U-turn as a climate law was promised in both the Labour and Fine Gael manifestos; it is a commitment in the Programme for Government and, as recently as September, was listed for publication in 2012. Moreover, when meeting the Environmental Pillar in May, the Minister told us directly he was determined to have the Bill passed in 2012.

The optics are bad because after that he went silent on climate change. He turned down invitations from Friends of the Earth, Trócaire and a progressive business group – the Corporate Leaders on Climate Change – to

participate in public events.

And while there was no public consultation element to the policy review, just weeks before it was due to be published four senior civil servants and the Minister attended a private IBEC seminar. The meeting, according to IBEC chief Danny McCoy, was “a timely opportunity for our members to influence the development of a climate policy framework”. McCoy was “particularly pleased the Minister will be joining us”. We’re told that in fact the Minister just made his speech and left, but we don’t know what he said.

Legislation now

Most importantly, however, it’s just the wrong plan. The Minister doesn’t want to put our 2020 targets into law until he has agreement from all the vested interests on how we are going to meet them. Great, let’s have discussions with IBEC and the IFA about what measures are best to cut pollution. But our 2020 target has been agreed at EU level and, unless you hope the EU will somehow change its mind and let us off the hook, there’s no

S

tena Line is an international transport and travel service company and one of the world’s largest ferry operators. As a leader in all its markets, the company’s strong position is a result of a combination of strategic company acquisition and constant service and product development.

The company operates in three business areas: Scandinavia, the North Sea and the Irish Sea and its route network consists of 19 strategically located ferry routes, serviced by a modern fleet of 35 vessels. The company has 5,7000 employees.

Following several years of investment and development processes, Stena Line is now a stable and profitable group that provides discerning tourism and freight customers with cost-effective sea transportation, unrivalled service and unique added-value.

During 2010, 15.1 million passengers travelled with Stena Line. The Company also transported 3.2 million vehicles and 1.6 million freight units.

On the Irish Sea this year, the company acquired the business and Belfast to Liverpool and Heysham routes of DFDS/Norfolk Line, thereby extending its Irish Sea network significantly.

The company also built a new port at Loch Ryan which opened this month at a cost of £80m and is serviced by two new superfast ferries that complete the journey to Belfast in 2.15 hours. This replaces the Belfast to Stranraer service.

At 203 metres, the ships have the capacity to accommodate 1,200 passengers, 660 cars or 110 freight units.

Stena Line also operates routes from Dublin and Dun Laoghaire(seasonal service) to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard and carries in excess of 2 million passengers annually on its Irish Sea services.

Biodiversity

Maps

reason not to legislate now.

A climate law is not about setting new emissions targets it’s about planning to meet the ones we have. It’s about making sure the Government gets independent expert advice, published before any decisions are made, and then doesn’t put off making tough decisions until it’s too late.

It’s about making sure we set interim targets between now and 2020 as 2020 is too far away to matter politically. And it will ensure the Government reports to the Oireachtas annually and that a strong parliamentary committee has the authority to hold ministers to account for their performance.

Minister Hogan has now agreed to appear before the Oireachtas environment committee to discuss a timeline for such legislation.

There is no good reason for him not to outline a plan that sees the legislative framework and the concrete measures developed and agreed in tandem in 2012.

To keep up with what happens next or to get involved yourself, check out www.foe.ie.

comment

Oisín Coghlan Director of Friends of the Earth

6

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

YOURVIEW

Is Ireland’s renewable energy programme folly, or based on fact?

T

he potential of Ireland becoming a leader in marine renewable energy research and production has received much coverage within these pages, most recently on the front-page of the last issue announcing that the world’s largest research centre – the Beaufort Centre - will be operating by 2013.

There are those, however, who challenge these claims as being ‘folly, not based on fact, and even contend some elements are questionable on legal grounds.

To debate the issue, Inshore Ireland invited a representative from opposing viewpoints; namely Pat Swords, Fellow of the Institute of Chemcial Engineers and a Chartered Environmentalist, and Peter Coyle, Chairman of the Marine Renewable Energy Association which represents many of those currently involved in the sector.

Pat Swords Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers

W

hilst looking for the supporting evidence to the Irish renewable energy programme, I instead found a litany of illegalities; failures to inform the public or provide them with their democratic right to participate in decisionmaking; deliberate dissemination of nontransparent information

leading to contracts worth billions handed out on an inaccurate basis.

To explain, not only have I over 20 years experience in the design and regulatory approval of industrial projects, since 1999, I have worked extensively in Central and Eastern Europe on EU Technical Aid projects, implementing the legislation relating to industrial pollution control and control of major accident hazards.

When I have been asked in public meetings, why it is different now to the days of communism, I explain there is a system of transparent governance, based on merit.

Non compliance

Not only would I never have the nerve to say this in a public meeting in Ireland, it is completely shocking to witness the resistance the Irish administration has to complying with the minimum standards set out in EU law regarding transparency and public participation.

The most damming example of this is Ireland’s renewable energy project, which is entirely based on a fixation that 40% of the country’s electricity can be

wind powered.

In January 2012 the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee will publish its draft findings and recommendations on my Communication ACCC/C/2010/54. This investigation is against the EU, as Ireland will not ratify this UNECE Convention on Human and Environmental Rights.

However, the Convention applies to Community legal order here since the EU ratified it in 2005. If one wants to implement a significant industrial policy or project, the public has to be provided with information related to costs / benefits / impacts and allowed to properly participate in both the policy development and individual planning decisions.

Community law ignored

Nevertheless, the EU and the Irish administration have implemented the renewable programme with total disregard to the Convention and Community law which implements it:

»» 20% renewable energy by 2020: Nice rhyme; but no economic, technical or environmental assessment completed

by EU. Member State targets assigned based on GDP »» Ireland’s electricity can be generated without any renewables for €1.7bn per annum »» The capital cost of 4,000 wind turbines, an additional 5,000 km of high voltage lines, interconnectors to the UK, smart meters, etc, is over €30bn Lucky if turbines last 15 years »» Then there is the environmental impact of this project »» Still need the thermal plants, but now these are running in a highly inefficient manner to compensate for the variability of the wind input

So, why are we doing this?

There are no figures

to answer this. The administration failed to complete the mandatory environmental assessment, and the programme was adopted without the necessary public participation.

No verification is available on emission / fuel savings to date, or estimates on savings associated with 2020 target.

Administration ignored the 2004 engineering analysis by Eirgrid, which pointed out the massive induced inefficiencies on the grid. Instead in the 2006 EU application for tariff approval, the Department of Energy put down double the value for CO2 savings – utilising ‘wind industry theoretical norms’.

Currently with 12% of Ireland’s electricity from onshore wind, fuel and emissions savings are at best 50% of this theoretical norm and no additional savings will occur if we install more turbines towards our 40% target.

Yet the programme continues with unreliable variable marine energy at €140 per MWh for wind and €220 per MWh for wave to further replace conventional reliable electricity generated at €45 per MWh. We have

It’s time for Ireland Inc to take

Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party

I

t is so easy to blame Europe. When something unpopular has to be done, it’s so easy to say: ‘It’s not us, I

wouldn’t do it myself, but Brussels is forcing me to do it.’

In that tradition, it would be very easy to disregard the analysis that Liam Cashman presented in the article carried in Inshore Ireland (August/September) in which he outlined his views on our historic failure to introduce and enforce proper environmental legislation.

We could respond by pitching the Commission as the bad guys who don’t understand the real world, are picking on us and letting everyone else off. But if we’re to be honest, we would take his analysis at face value and perhaps, just for once, admit

that the problem lies with us and not with Brussels.

I know my colleague John Gormley spent a lot of his time in office fire-fighting to repair the damage done by years of long fingering of European environmental legislation.

Thirty-five cases and counting

Whatever else happened, he didn’t want to see an Irish Government fined for an environmental breach under his watch. He had some thirty-five live cases where that prospect was very real: where we had gone to the European Court of Justice and lost; where we waited to

the very last minute before applying sticking plaster legal solutions that only stored up further problems and further infringements.

Our biggest difficulties came from any European legislation that might require us to carry out any form of designation about land. It is as if John B Keane’s play The Field has been carved into our national psychology.

No one is going to tell a single landowner that their land is of special interest, that they can’t cut it or drain it or plant it in whatever way they want. In fear of that powerful force in Irish life, we’ve always retreated to generic solutions that in the end suited no-one well.

Ineffective solutions

Rather than tackling the nitrates issue in the worst problem areas, we designated the whole country and came up with solutions that make less sense for everyone. Rather than targeting environmental support payments where they were most needed, we developed REPS on the basis that there should be something for everyone in the audience.

And please don’t take this as a rural versus urban argument. Who in their right mind would think that the pollution of our water supplies that has come from the housing sprawl we’ve

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

7

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.

essentially zero information on the environmental impact of CO2 established by the EU; no information established as to the quantity of CO2 to be avoided; no information on costs other than a blank cheque. Public consultation on the 2020 renewable programme was limited to two weeks on the Department’s website and submissions were then, in standard Irish practice, ignored with the decision taken at cabinet with no record available to the public.

Environmental benefits

EU State aid for environmental protection, such as feed in tariffs, is strictly limited to defined environmental benefits, while by-passing public participation is a clear breach of EU law. When a Member State or an EU institution fails to comply with EU law, there is an established mechanism to sue for damages. There are huge liabilities in relation to tariffs already approved; to approve further tariffs in light of the illegalities established would lead to massive legal exposure.

There simply is no legal or environmental justification for doubling the cost of electricity to fund this programme. Industry is already paying nearly twice the charges to that of France and Finland.

Massive job losses will occur as Ireland’s manufacturing industry walks to other countries with a rational and evidence based energy policy.

Scotland. If the pipeline was to suffer damage, the result would be a catastrophe for our economy and our society.

Thirdly, the evidence supporting the ‘Greenhouse’ effect is compelling and is one of the drivers behind the EU’s targets for renewable energy.

One-third of resource

Peter Coyle, Chairman, Marine Renewable Industry Association

T

here are several factors driving the interest and investment in renewable energy worldwide.

The oil resource is depleting. The major German construction company, Strabag, estimates it will be used up by as early as 2047, and natural gas too will be used up before the end of the 21st century.

Firstly, it is argued that shale gas and oil will meet our needs; however the early signs are discouraging as they are extracted using a technique called ‘fracking’ which has raised a lot of environmental concerns. (A recent ‘fracking’ effort near Blackpool in Lancashire caused a minor earthquake, according to British Government consultants.)

Secondly, oil and gas tend to be located in unstable parts of the world. Indeed, energy insecurity is a big issue for Ireland. For example, the ESRI notes that the bulk of the natural gas used to generate electricity is delivered via just one pipeline from

Ireland is the ‘lucky country’ when it comes to renewable energy. We have one-third of all of Western Europe’s renewable energy – principally wind and wave, according to Siemens.

We have the opportunity to lead the world in the complex area of legal consenting offshore, with new legislation currently on the drawing board in the Department of Community, Environment and Local Government.

Indeed, the Department is determined that development of the seabed will be conducted in a planned way and with suitable consultative and legal safeguards.

Ireland’s emerging network of research and development facilities, particularly for ocean energy (energy generated by waves and tides), at IMERC in Cork, as well as the test facility in Galway Bay and the planned test facility at Belmullet, Co Mayo, are world class.

Eirgrid is held in international regard for its work on future grid planning and is particularly featured in the field of offshore grid. Our supply chain for the emerging renewable technologies, notably in ocean energy, is developing nicely with, for example, Irish companies forming a large bloc in the international first division of wave energy conversion device

developers.

Currently, renewable energy in Ireland arises principally from wind. The growing network of onshore wind farms is necessary to meet both EU targets and to act as a modest bulwark against our current dependence on largely imported gas.

Indeed, this author was in Eirgrid’s National Control Centre one day last summer when 40% of the demand was being met by wind.

complex energy industry):

Emerging technology

Backing this up will be a supply chain to support our international energy industry; device developers; researchers; lawyers; financiers; operations and maintenance operators and many more.

Indeed, a report commissioned by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland estimates that 70,000 new jobs will be created on the island of Ireland by 2030 in ocean energy and offshore wind power alone!

Traditional institutions will also be impacted. The Naval Service, for example will have to develop a new role of providing surveillance and protection to the multi billion Euro offshore energy facilities.

Renewable energy should, and will be, surrounded by legal and democratic safeguards, and could be a major source of two of the most important rights of all: the right to have a job and to have access to electricity.

As the Chief Executive of Siemens said recently; ‘Renewable energy is the project of the 21st century.....’

Let us make Ireland the lucky country which takes a big slice of this project and change the course of our economic history.

Waves off the west coast are the most energy intensive in the world, and the technology – much of it Irish – to exploit this gift of nature is emerging rapidly. We are next door to the UK – one of the largest energy markets in the world and one that is facing major shortages which will be met from imports – and that could include Ireland.

In contrast to the UK where a major boom is underway in both the North Sea and the Irish Sea, we have not yet started to exploit the major ‘reserves’ of offshore wind – initially in the Irish Sea and later off the west coast.

Tidal energy resources are limited in the Republic but more extensive in Northern Ireland where a competition to lease the seabed to developers will be launched shortly.

(Much of the technology may come from a leading tidal device company, Open Hydro, located in Greenore, Co Louth.)

Down the line

So what will the future look like in terms of Ireland and energy? The indications are that in 10-15 years time (a short time-period in the hugely

»» Ireland will be on the way to energy self sufficiency »» Ireland will be able to overcome its traditional insecurity in energy, and »» will be a major energy exporter via interconnectors to the UK and to continental Europe

responsibility for its own shortcomings allowed across our countryside is anything but an issue for the people of rural Ireland?

Years of avoiding any potential conflict means that when it comes to the point that a problem can no longer be ignored, we all go into extreme battle mode – as is currently happening regarding turf cutting on our raised bogs.

Conflict mentality

A battle mode exists in equal measure in the environmental community due to the second strategic mistake we made by not opening up our planning and development system to proper engagement with civil society.

Finally we’re ready to sign the Arhaus Convention which should allow greater transparency and openness in the legal systems we use to protect our environment.

Nonetheless, I think we need to go further. We should start using the sort of participative democratic tools that the recent ‘We the citizens’ initiative set up across the country. This could help local communities assess the impacts and possible benefits of developments affecting their area before the official planning process begins, thus avoiding the expensive court cases that are only in the lawyers’ interest.

Short-term viewpoint

The third great failing has been our tendency to put short-term profits ahead of the longer term environmental and economic gain. As a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on marine issues for five years, I could never understand how our aquaculture licensing system could continue approving projects that appeared to be in flagrant breach of their licence conditions in relation to sea lice infestation.

Even when we pointed out that the economic return from local angling tourism was often of greater value in

jobs and wealth creation, it seemed that the certainty of the cash sale won out every time. It was this type of shortterm thinking that got us into the economic crisis that has engulfed the country.

It is now time for us to reconsider our economic model – not just in our banks and construction industry but right across every area of wealth creation in our society.

Liam Cashman details all the forms in which we have turned a blind eye; dragged our heels on legal positions and swept our failings under whatever nearby carpet was handy.

It would be so easy to shoot and blame the messenger,

especially when it is one of our own sons ‘gone native’ in the Brussels bureaucracy, where we might expect him to bend the rules a little bit for the auld sod.

But that would be a mistake.

His analysis forces us to consider some wider truths that we need to confront: That short-term profit over proper long-term planning does not pay; that prevention is always better than a cure and that you are always better engaging with people rather than hoping that their problem will go away of its own accord.

8

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Report

Photos. G Mills

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company presses ahead with plans despite opposition John Hearne

D

espite opposition from a variety of quarters, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) Ltd has formally adopted its masterplan with minimal changes arising from its latest public consultation phase.

The plan sets out how the harbour will realise its potential as a major marine, leisure and tourism destination over the next twenty years. It incorporates a range of highly ambitious objectives – from extensive retail and residential development – to the construction of an International Diaspora museum, and plans to bring cruise ships to the port.

Overall plans are encapsulated in the harbour company’s vision statement: ‘Dún Laoghaire Harbour will be recognised as an exciting marine, leisure and tourism destination of international calibre; one which elegantly integrates the local town with an historic 200 year old harbour, and which offers a striking blend of modern amenities mixed with a traditional marine ambience in a Dublin Bay setting, making it one of the most beautiful man-made harbours in the world.’

Twenty-year vision The masterplan, which was formally adopted on October 4, sets out a twenty-year vision for the harbour. Ahead of the formal adoption of the plan, the company ran a phased public consultation process, which in the first instance sought ideas to inform the first draft. The second phase invited submissions following the

publication of that draft.

These submissions came from a wide array of sources: private citizens; politicians; boat clubs; commercial entities and harbour users. The harbour company then produced a report summarising these submissions and set out how the masterplan was impacted by them. This report identifies sixteen areas on which stakeholders sought changes.

According to the report, a number of submissions highlight opposing views on certain issues.

‘One of the objectives of this report is to strike an appropriate balance between these opposing views, but also to consider how the interests of the proper planning and sustainable development can be ensured in the Harbour area.’

In nine of those sixteen areas, the DHLC rejected all possibility of change, while in the remaining seven, changes were minimal, frequently involving no more than the deletion or addition of a word or phrase.

In general, the report says there was strong support in favour of the overall concepts underpinning the masterplan and its objectives.

It also notes broad acceptance that the draft masterplan significantly improved public access to the waterfront and enhanced the public realm.

Strong support was also registered for the Irish International Diaspora Centre, the provision of which is an objective of the local authority development plan.

Cruise ships concern Several of plan’s objectives have however raised significant concerns among stakeholders.

There was a mixed response to the cruise ships initiative. While it was acknowledged that cruise

ships might bring economic benefit, concerns centre on the economic viability of such a move, as well as the adverse visual impact and the adverse impact on marine leisure activities.

A cruise ship is a substantial physical proposition. It can stand up to seventeen storeys high, accommodating up to 5,000 passengers and 2,300 crew. It’s also worth noting that Dublin port welcomed 85 liners in 2010. One has to wonder the strategic advantage to the State of competition for this business from a port fifteen miles to the south.

In refusing to change its plans, the DHLC says that the cruise ship facility will only be promoted if there is a robust economic and business case for it. This is a caveat frequently deployed by the harbour company, which adds that determining the economic rationale for a project lies beyond its remit. Nor does the port company consider how any of its proposals might be funded.

Economic justification?

Although the company says there was broad support for the construction of a hotel on St. Michael’s Pier, given the current state of the hotel industry, it’s hard to imagine how such a proposal could be in any way feasible in the short to medium term. It should be said however that this is a long-term plan, subject to review every five years.

It’s conceivable that economic conditions could change sufficiently over the life of the plan to make the hotel a realistic proposition.

In the same vein, the harbour company has refused to alter its plans for a residential

development on St. Michael’s pier, despite objections on scale and the privatisation of a public space. Again, given the fact there are forty-nine ghost estates in South Dublin, with nearly 9,500 empty or unfinished units, the economic case for further residential construction is nonexistent. Again, it’s possible that this may change over the life of the plan.

The report says the proposed International Diaspora Centre has been well received generally. It is envisaged that the centre will offer genealogical information; run Irish history exhibitions and be a ‘multi-cultural hub.’

‘It will not rely solely on the passengers from cruise liners, but will also cater for Irish visitors, overseas tourists, school groups and newly arrived immigrant communities.

The architectural design will set a benchmark for living culture centres.’

Once again, despite the fact that feasibility or funding are not considered, the masterplan has set a highly ambitious target of one million visitors per annum for the centre.

‘A target of 1m visitors per annum is a realistic target, given that the Guinness Storehouse and Dublin Zoo attract in excess of 700,000 visitors

per annum.’

In the absence of any elaboration, it’s difficult to see how the success of an attraction as long-established and substantial as the zoo can have anything to say about a proposed museum in Dún Laoghaire.

There have also been queries in relation to process, with submissions asking whether or not an analysis of submissions will be publicly made available. The harbour company has responded coyly, saying it is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. It does point out however that the public consultation process has been extensive.

‘There have been in excess of 75 meetings with stakeholders since December 2010, including user groups, interested parties, statutory authorities and Dún Laoghaire County Council.’

A copy of the masterplan and associated environmental report are available for public inspection at the offices of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Harbour Lodge, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin and on the website of the authority, www.dlharbour.ie.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

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10 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Freshwater Focus

Despite the prospect of poor weather, November beach casting can be very rewarding

Two fine Donegal bass Brendan Connolly

A

ngling in Ireland is a year-round sport. Every season has its highlights on lake, river, or sea. In autumn the trout and salmon season is closed, and with colder weather driving coarse fish into deeper water, it is time to take out the beach casting rod and head for the shoreline.

Irish beaches offer fishing all year; however autumn can be particularly good. Codling on the east coast; bass on the south coast and turbot along the north and west coasts whet the angler’s appetite with flounder being the old reliable.

Other species caught by beach casting include ray, plaice, dabs, dogfish, and pollack closer to rocks.

Angler’s delight

Bass is a favourite fish for Irish beach-casters. It’s strong fighting power and of course exquisite taste, makes it number one on the wish-list of most beach anglers.

The ban on commercial bass fishing, together with a size limit of 40 cm and a bag limit of two fish per 24-hours for rod-caught bass, are the regulations designed to stop over-fishing of previous years.

Typically a warmer water fish, bass are most common on Ireland’s southern coasts; however recent catches on the west coast as far north as Donegal are on the increase.

Maybe conservation measures,

combined with climate change and a resulting rise in seawater temperatures, are enticing bass further north.

Northwest location

Reports of recent bass catches on the northwest coast lured this Donegal angler to go beach casting.

Not having soft-shelled peeler crab, lugworms, or ragworm for bait, he visited a local supermarket and bought four whole mackerel. Using a sharp knife and a scissors he cut strips of approximately 1.5 cm x 6 cm which he then threaded onto the hook.

Fishing takes anglers to some of the most beautiful locations that nature has to offer and Donegal is no exception.

Typically these beaches are wide and long, bordered by dunes and sometimes cliffs.

On a November day at Tullan Strand, some hardy surfers bobbed about waiting to catch a good wave. A seal further out was sticking his head above the swells, taking a long myopic stare at both angler and surfers. At certain spots along the shoreline, the sand is not quite flat, but currents have shaped small sandbanks and gullies. It is here that the angler sets up the tripods for the rods.

Fishing with the standard cast of a two ounce lead at the end and three hooks above at approximately 40 cm intervals, the angler baits each hook with a mackerel strip.

Casting out he makes sure not to cast too far. These beaches are wide and shallow with a broad surf zone, and

Rods fishing the surf

Mackerel strip and coloured beads proved successful the fish are quite close in shallow water, so long casting should be avoided.

The angler sits on his fishing box and watches the rods. The rod tips bend and straighten slowly with the advancing and receding waves. But suddenly, one of the rod tips shows a fast series of twitches, stops, and then twitches again.

Reeling in there’s a heavier feel to the rod, and to his delight the angler catches glimpses of the white belly of

a flatfish coming towards him through the waves. Flatfish are not known for their impressive fighting prowess, but there’s something very satisfying about catching a fat flatfish in the white surf of a beach.

The rough patch behind the head and the relatively straight lateral line show that it is a flounder. Shortly afterwards, the tip of the other rod also shows the sharp rattle of a bite, and soon a second flounder is lying at the feet of

the angler.

Had a bass taken the mackerel strip, the whole top of the rod would be bent over, as the determined yank of a bass is very different from the fast rattle of a flatfish; however, no bass took the bait on this occasion. With one more flatfish caught, the angler went home content with three fat flounders for the frying pan, but with the firm intention of returning in quest of the elusive bass.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 11

Photo: G Mills

Fisheries

Boats unloading at the auction hall in Vigo, Spain, the world’s largest fishing port

Selection of fish at Bergen fish market in Norway

International trade in fishery products: the regulator’s viewpoint

I

nternational trade in food is an important part of Ireland’s seafood industry with exports providing the market for approximately half of seafood produced in this country.

In contrast however, the EU is a net importer of seafood and is increasingly dependent on imports of fish and fishery products to meet its needs. In 2009, the EU imported €15.5bn fish and fishery products, accounting for more than 60% of its fish consumption.

All food of animal origin, including seafood, entering the EU from a ‘third country’ must pass through a designated entry point known as a Border Inspection Post (BIP). Food consignments are subject to checks at a BIP to ensure they adhere to the required food-safety standards and have been legally caught in the case of wildcaptured fish.

Imports Third country imports of fishery products to the EU are increasing; in value terms, Norway, China and Iceland are the main suppliers. The top three species imported are salmon, prawns and pollack, while farmed freshwater species such as Pangasius have notably increased.

Food that has passed BIP checks in any EU Member State can be traded freely within the EU. Seafood enters the EU through Ireland’s BIPs at Dublin Port and Shannon Airport, originating from Philippines, Thailand, the USA, South Africa, Indonesia, China and India, for example.

Exports At EU level, exports are valued at approximately €2.5bn per annum. Some notable trade patterns include: flour, meal

and pellets bound for Norway; salmon to the USA and mackerel to Russia and Nigeria. Excluding landings by non-Irish boats to Irish ports, over half of the seafood produced in Ireland is exported. Approximately 75% of Irish seafood is exported to the EU particularly to France, Spain and the UK, Germany and Italy, while the remainder is exported outside the EU to countries including Russia, Nigeria and Egypt.

Principles of EU regulation The underlying principle of regulating food imports is one of ensuring compliance with EU standards. The European Commission’s Directorate General for Health & Consumer Protection (DG Sanco) manages the import rules for fishery products and shellfish (bivalve molluscs) and seeks to guarantee that all imports fulfil the same high standards as products from EU Member States, regarding hygiene and consumer safety, and if relevant, also to animal health status.

Import rules are also harmonised to ensure that the same rules apply throughout the EU. For non-EU countries, the Commission is the negotiating partner, and defines import conditions and certification requirements. Countries that wish to export to the EU have to be approved for that trade, and food producers also have to be approved.

The control systems and establishments are subject to audit by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU Commission and spot checks are carried out.

These reports are published on the FVO website and sometimes lead directly to the delisting of a country as an exporter to the EU. Official controls on consignments of food at BIPs place specific emphasis on documentary checks to verify that the food has been produced in an approved establishment in

a country approved to export to the EU. Verification checks The primary documents here are the Common Veterinary Entry Document and Health Certificate which have to accompany consignments. BIP official controls also include physical checks of the imported products to verify acceptability; whilst sampling and analysis are required to monitor compliance with requirements around prevalence or concentration of chemical or microbiological hazards.

The SFPA is responsible for implementing EU seafood safety legislation in Ireland, thereby ensuring that all seafood marketed in Ireland, including imports, meets the necessary standards of food safety and hygiene. SFPA maintains the register of importers of fish and fishery products, and SFPA officers have a role in supporting the work of Ireland’s BIP staff to ensure that imported seafood meets the necessary standards.

Importers of seafood or their agents must register with the SFPA. Information on this is available on SFPA’s website: www.sfpa.ie. Importers and agents are required to familiarise themselves with the various obligations necessary to allow this trade, including the requirement to give at least 24-hours notice of the intent to import fish and/or fishery products of animal origin to the SFPA and the BIP at the port or airport of entry.

IUU fishing The checks described above are common to all foods of animal origin entering the EU, and in the case of wild-caught fish entering from Third Countries, an additional set of controls is also required to prevent entry of ‘illegal, unreported, unregulated’ (IUU) fish.

IUU fishing is an increasing global problem accounting for an estimated 20% of all marine catches world-wide, valued at

roughly €10bn per annum. Of the approximate €15bn worth of seafood imported into the EU, IUU fish accounts for roughly €1bn.

The EU has driven a global effort to tackle this issue, principally by implementing an entire regulatory framework that came into effect in 2010.

The IUU regulation and its implementing rules endeavour to ensure that none of the illegally caught fish products end up on the Community market. To that end, the regulation puts in place a ‘catch certification’ scheme designed to ensure that fishery products are accompanied by verification of the appropriate authorisation of the catching vessel.

Third Countries exporting fishery products to the EU have agreed to implement the catch certification scheme. All fishery products that are not exempt from the scheme must have a catch certificate validated by the fishery competent authority in that exporting country.

The SFPA is the competent authority in Ireland for export purposes and the verification for import purposes. For consignments of imports of fishery products subject to the IUU protocol, the SFPA carries out official controls of the catch certificate, verifying the accuracy of it and the associated paperwork.

Official control of seafood exports Ireland is a net exporter of seafood and much of the SFPA’s work provides a necessary underlying infrastructure to support seafood exports.

Approval and ongoing seafood safety official controls create the basis for Ireland’s seafood to be traded anywhere within the EU. International trade in food is based upon a reciprocal trust in control systems and the SFPA’s work significantly supports market access for Irish seafood.

For exports to Third Countries, the SFPA has secured access to Russia, USA, Japan and China.

The documents required for food to enter the EU are the same documents required to ensure Irish seafood can enter Third Countries.

SFPA officers devote a lot of their time to issuing Health and Catch Certificates for Irish seafood exports. In 2010, the SFPA issued certificates to support the export of over 24,000 tonnes to more than 30 Third Countries.

Overall, a comprehensive control system is in place to support and control seafood trade from and to Ireland. The SFPA’s work helps to ensure that imported seafood meets the necessary standards and supports the market access enjoyed by Irish seafood in international markets.

Fish at the pier at Dunmore East, Co Waterford

12 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Sea Safety Campaign »» from page 1

Ian Benham, RNLI marine safety manager, says that wearing a lifejacket - or personal floatation device (PFD) – “is one of the most important things” you can do to increase your chances of survival, particularly if you’re a fisherman.

“When you’re at sea, you’re only a few feet away from something that can take your life within minutes. Cold water,” he says.

“If you fall overboard, sudden exposure to cold water results in your breathing rate, heart rate and blood pressure all immediately shooting up.

This first phase can cause you to drown within about three minutes.

“If you survive this phase, the next 30 minutes are critical, because if you’re not supported by a PFD you have to swim in order to stay afloat.

And with the effects of cold water shock on your body, your ability to swim effectively (even if you’re a good swimmer) rapidly reduces and you may drown.

“We worked with about 130 fishermen in the UK a few years ago, and contrary to comments you normally hear, the main reason PFDs are not widely worn while working on deck is because fishermen are simply not aware of the range of lifejackets and buoyancy aids now available.

“Our message is simple.

Find a PFD that suits your method of fishing and wear it while working on deck. It could save your life if the worst happens.”

Needless waste of life

Also firmly behind this sea safety campaign is John Leech, CEO of Irish Water Safety who agrees that most drownings could be prevented if fishermen wore a lifejacket or PFD.

“There are many comfortable options available today – either a buoyancy aid built into the fisherman’s bib and trousers or an automatically or hydrodynamically-activated lifejacket.

“I plead with all commercial fishermen to wear their lifejackets when they are working on deck to stop this needless waste of life.”

First-hand accounts

A key element of the safetyat-sea awareness campaign is the first-hand account of two fishermen: Noel O’Sullivan of Castletownbere, Co Cork and Alan Fanning who fishes out of Howth, Co Dublin.

Theirs are chilling stories – of lives lost and saved – and the essential role of the lifejacket.

Noel O’Sullivan’s account of his and his crew’s all-too-close brush with death experience happened when their trawler, Discovery, listed suddenly and within minutes, capsized more than one hundred miles southeast of Mizen Head in January 2007.

The seven fishermen spent two exhausting and terrifying hours in the water clinging to a partially-inflated life raft and were close to drowning before they were rescued by a passing tanker.

Sadly, Alan’s story does not have a happy ending. He tells of the disappearance in April this year of his two friends, Ronan Browne and David Gilsenan while lobster fishing from Ronan’s boat, Lady Linda off Clogherhead. After a week-long agonising search, the bodies of both men were recovered “entangled together” with potting rope.

Alan’s account of what happened to his friends is harrowing, and demonstrates the unforgiving nature of the sea and importance of wearing a lifejacket.

CH Marine’s planned expansion in 2012

C

H Marine continues to be to the forefront of the marine safety scene in Ireland and no more so than as a leader in the life-raft hire market.

2011 saw some significant developments with the company embarking on an ambitious fleet renewal programme for this service by offering some of the most competitive rates available.

Speaking to Inshore Ireland, the company’s managing direct Nicholas Bendon, said he was confident of completing the fleet renewal by the end of 2012: “To date we’ve purchased

220 new liferafts and we’re committed to more orders next year. By having one of the most modern fleets in Ireland, we hope to minimise service and operational costs, which will mean extremely competitive rental rates. I believe we offer the best in Europe, not alone Ireland.”

To facilitate increased servicing requirements for both hire and customer owned life-rafts, as well as lifejackets and immersion suits, CH Marine is expanding its service station and expects this to be operational by Q2, 2012.

As well as its extensive range of safety products and services, CH Marine is continually adding new products and ranges, and some

Noel O’Sullivan I thought I was invincible. She was my first boat and I suppose, I sometimes put safety on the long finger. I never expected my boat to turn over like that. She was a good sized boat and structurally fairly good. You’re just never prepared or expect it to happen. It’s as simple as that. We were a long way off - about 110 - miles in UK waters and the weather was good. As we were hauling in the catch however, I knew something was wrong. The boat was listing dangerously so I instructed the crew to launch the life-rafts and jump overboard. But as we jumped, the boat listed violently and capsized onto one of the life-rafts, puncturing it. It happened so fast.

I didn’t get a chance to fully put on my lifejacket. I often see people today wearing a life jacket that’s only half on: fastened with one strap but the crotch strap not properly fastened. The crotch strap goes between the legs, and a lifejacket is almost useless without it. Not having the crotch strap fastened meant my hands weren’t free because the lifejacket kept rising over my head – there was nothing to keep it down. Lifejackets are great but without the crotch strap they’re only 50% effective. It means you can’t free your hands to swim or to catch onto something that might be floating nearby. There were two of us in the water without the crotch strap properly fastened. I hadn’t had time either to make an emergency call. It was a lonely, scary feeling, knowing I hadn’t a call made. And when the others asked me, I said I had called for help. I just couldn’t bear to tell them I hadn’t. I was afraid they’d lose faith.

About an hour later I saw the light of the EPIRB. That was a huge relief. It was some assurance at least that maybe some bit of help would come somehow. Our incident started around 10am and finished about 12:20pm.

When you’re in the water for that length of time you can’t help thinking that your chips are done. It was only by thinking of family and friends that kept me going. I had plans made I thought I’d never live to see.

When hypothermia sets in there’s not a lot you can do. You fight for as long as you can but then you become lethargic. The cold is a real pain and I suppose fear then. They say fear is a great thing at least you’re alive, but I’d question that. After an hour we spotted a plane, and Lord God! what a sight, but I couldn’t figure out how to attract the plane when I was in the I was terrified going water shivering with the cold. back fishing but I All I could think was that the plan was going to fly away again, it was went back as it’s my terrifying. She was an Irish Coastguard fisheries patrol plane responding livelihood, it’s what I to the EPIRB. About an hour or so later I heard one of the crew calling know…the difference “Noel, a ship!” It was a giant crude carrier, the Front Commander, and she is, I am more aware of eventually rescued us from the water. the dangers now and I God, I was never so relieved to see a ship in my life. By then I was quite insist all my crew wear weak. I remember tying my hands to the raft, to make sure I’d be found. lifejackets. I would I’m not ashamed to say I was afraid. By then I was very, very afraid. A appeal to all fishermen UK Coastguard helicopter later brought us to the RAF base at Culdrose in to do the same’.

Cornwall.

(Hear Noel’s full story on BIM’s website www.bim.ie ) Alan Fanning I knew them both well. Ronan Browne was a young man recently married. He used to work with us sometimes before he went to work on the pelagic trawlers in Chile and the Pacific. David was a propeller engineer. He did all the maintenance work on the boats and is sorely missed around here. It was a severe tragedy, I’ll tell you that.

There are so many “ifs and buts and maybes” as to what might have happened. We can only assume that their boat capsized; that’s what the inquest said anyway, and the two boys were lost. They had a manual EPIRB in the boat, but it didn’t go off. They mustn’t have got a chance to set it off.

I was working about five miles from where they were that day. I could have been there in twenty minutes, but we didn’t know they were in trouble. That incident makes me think often of my family. I have two children – a five year-old and a seven-year old. My little girl, Lilly, is in First Class with Aideen Gilsenen, David’s daughter. Before the incident, Lilly knew I went out on a boat but that was it. She didn’t really pay much attention to it. Since this happened however she often asks me: “Daddy, are you wearing a lifejacket, it won’t happen to you, will it?”

People just don’t bother to wear a lifejacket. I’ve often come across boats out fishing – especially small pleasure craft, far out to sea. It’s only when I confront them that they might pick up the lifejacket that’s actually lying beside them. But that’s no good to you, lying in a corner, you should be wearing it. As for macho behaviour not wearing it, well that might have been the case with some of the older generation. And to be honest, I would have been like that at the start too. It’s only when you get older and have responsibilities of family life that your perspectives change completely. Wearing a life jacket doesn’t interfere with your work on board in the slightest. The lifejacket I bought here in Howth is very tidy and neat. They come down no further than your breast bone. And then the crotch strap goes down between your legs. You wear them over your oilskins and there’s no problem at all. They’re handy to work with, and don’t restrict us in anyway as regards working. €75 is what the life jacket cost me – the newer ones are €120 – it all depends on the specifications. But as far a as I’m concerned, €75 is not much to pay for something that could save your life. What price is your life any way? You only get one chance in the sea.

Now I insist on anyone who comes aboard my boat to wear a lifejacket. Lifejackets could have saved David and Ronan. It can happen to you, anywhere. It doesn’t have to be the middle of nowhere – it could be at the back of the harbour. You only have to fall and hit your head…

major projects are in the pipeline that it hopes to announce soon.

The company is particularly excited about the recent launch in Ireland of the McMurdo Smart find S10 AIS Beacon, thought to be one of the most important product innovations of recent times, by providing an excellent MOB location device for fishermen, divers and general boaters.

MOB alerts are received and displayed on local AIS receivers, on the parent vessel or other vessels equipped with AIS in the region.

Inshore Ireland will carry updated news on this company as it develops.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 13

Wearing My Lifejacket Saved My Life Noel O’Sullivan hails from Castletownbere, Co. Cork. He has fished for whitefish for 22 years. Noel’s vessel ‘Discovery’ sank 110 miles South of Mizen Head on Monday 29th January 2007… here’s his story…

‘It was a normal day’s fishing.

In fact, it was a great day as catching was good and weather conditions were perfect. It was relatively calm. We were busy hauling in the catch when I noticed she was listing slightly.

I knew immediately there was something wrong. I told the crew to launch the life rafts. As the life rafts hit the water, she listed violently and we jumped into the water. We watched as she capsized onto one of the life rafts, puncturing it and narrowly missing two of the crew.

Five of the crew sought refuge on the life raft that was still intact.

They made it to the raft as they had put on their lifejackets properly; they had fastened the crotch strap which enabled them to swim to the raft.

The remaining crew member and I had not done so and we had no choice but to cling to the other partially deflated raft. We decided that the safest thing to do was stay close to the vessel but the diesel fumes made it difficult to breathe.

Support the campaign on BIM’s Facebook page

We were an hour and a quarter in the water before we saw a plane overhead. That’s it, we thought we were saved, but the plane flew away and we were left treading the freezing water. The ships EPIRB had been activated and it was flashing in the water. I prayed the call would be answered, I prayed that I would see my family again. With no survival suit for protection, and knowing we were 110 miles South of Mizen Head, I began to despair.

“Before the accident, I didn’t take safety seriously. Now I know why it’s so important.”

After more than two hours in the water, we saw a large tanker approaching. The relief was immense. They hoisted us onboard. I cannot thank the crew of the ‘Front Commander’, the Air Corps and the Coastguard enough for saving us that day.

I was terrified going back fishing, but I went back as it’s my livelihood, it’s what I know.

Despite the accident, I still love to fish.

The difference is that I am more aware of the dangers now. To be honest, before the accident, I didn’t take safety seriously.

Now I know why it’s so important. Trust me when an accident happens at sea you don’t have time to think…

I would appeal to all fishermen to wear their lifejackets, it may save your life and the lives of your crew someday’.

Hear Noels’ full story on www.bim.ie

14 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Marine R&D

Seabed mapping data now returning value-added projects to the State Gillian Mills, Gery Flynn

O

pening the 2011 annual INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource) conference, Michael Manley, assistant secretary DCENR and chair of INFOMAR’s Board reminded delegates that its predecessor programme, INSS (to 2005), had delivered a “national asset” that provided Ireland with a data set to underpin economic, environmental, infrastructural, social and policy issues.

“There remains now a

crucially important body of work to follow, to map commercially valuable inshore and other waters outside the scope of that achieved by the INSS,” Manley said.

Wide-ranging application

INFOMAR concentrates on creating a range of integrated mapping products of the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed in the near-shore area.

“Such a data delivery strategy is intended to promote value-added products. It’s very important that the output from INFOMAR maximises its contribution to the national development effort, and to our future socio-economic prosperity. These are big ambitions. INFOMAR won’t

solve them all but can make a big contribution,” he declared.

Manley also revealed that for him personally – with a background in finance – working with INFOMAR was “a real privilege”.

The project, “is very different from my usual work in the Department, and the past year has been a learning curve. INFOMAR is very educative, but most of all it’s about getting people to realise the value of our oceans.”

Public participation

He added that publication of the ‘Real Map of Ireland [125,000 km2 marine resource] was already achieving “a far-reaching and positive impact with the public whose imagination it has somehow managed to catch.

“It’s probably because, for the first time, this map actually positions the island of Ireland in a much bigger context.

We don’t often get flattering correspondence to the Department, but the Real Map of Ireland has been very well received by the public. It has succeeded in getting people to focus on a wider definition of Ireland’s potential, rather than seeing it simply as a landmass

Michael Manley, Assistent Secretary, DCENR on an island, off an island, off the west coast of Europe.”

EU awareness

Also addressing the conference Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute highlighted the “very positive impact” INFOMAR was having in other EU Member States.

“That is something which should not be underestimated,” he said.

He revealed that during a joint visit to the Marine Institute in September

by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (Research, Innovation and Science) and Commissioner Maria Damanaki (Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) the INFOMAR project had figured high in discussions: “As a direct result of what she saw and the companies she met here, Commissioner Damanaki has instructed her senior officials that mapping underwater territories “is on the agenda”. Now that doesn’t happen every day,” he declared.

Overview of INFOMAR activities Koen Verbruggen, GSI and INFOMAR joint manager

investigation of the SS Premier wreck was undertaken, previously noted as a potential navigational hazard.

ignificantly, while charged with acquisition primarily of bathymetric and geological data offshore, INFOMAR runs two further programmes: Data Exchange and Integration as well as Value-Added Exploitation. During 2011, while continuing acquisition in priority bays and areas increased emphasis was placed on collaborative work with strategic partners.

Under the Data Acquisition programme, mapping during 2011 was carried out by the RV Celtic Voyager in the Shannon Estuary and in the Irish Sea. The Shannon Estuary approaches and navigable channel exceeding 15m depth is now fully mapped, and a detailed

Arklow Bank data

S

The Irish Sea work has now extended mapping from near shore Dundalk to offshore Arklow, including extensive mapping inside the Arklow Bank. The surveys encountered challenging weather but managed to complete the coverage and to map four shipwrecks, two of which were previously uncharted.

RV Keary worked in parallel with RV Geo to carry out shallow inshore mapping in Priority Bays – initially in Waterford and was completed ahead of the Tall Ships event.

During the event, RV Keary was open to the public and proved to be highly popular and successful in terms of outreach. Subsequently the vessels surveyed in Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay.

Stakeholder projects

The majority of the remaining 2011 mapping was undertaken in conjunction with stakeholders in support of specific sectors. RV Celtic Explorer undertook extensive mapping and sampling on the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) off Belmullet in conjunction with the SEAI Also in conjunction with SEAI, RV Keary carried out mapping off Clare, and with RV Geo mapped off Achill.

This work was specifically in support of the ESBI WestWave project which is looking to develop Ireland’s first full-scale wave energy device.

In conjunction with the Underwater Archaeology Unit, part of the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht, INFOMAR provided RV Keary as a dive platform for a wreck investigation off Burtonport, Donegal.

Simultaneously, RV Geo carried out very shallow water mapping to support

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 15

Marine R&D

Research & opportunities and international research funding from the data and programme resources.

Research Call

Tommy Furey, MI and INFOMAR joint project manager

T

he INFOMAR Programme’s marine mapping effort will focus on 26 priority bays and 3 priority coastal marine areas during its current phase (2006 – 2015), before extending operations to other unmapped regions of our coastal waters during the following phase to 2025.

further investigation of the area where two wrecks to date have been discovered.

This project represents a welcome escalation of the ongoing cooperation with the UAU who have been working closely with INSS and INFOMAR teams on upgrading wreck databases, verification of wreck locations, providing information for divers and producing ship wreck leaflets and publications.

The work, which attracted significant publicity, also represented a good practical example of interdepartmental collaboration.

EU-funded projects

INFOMAR also carried out significant mapping in support of two EU-funded projects. The RV Celtic Voyager undertook a multidisciplinary survey in Kenmare River, merging newly acquired data with existing offshore data from the R.V. Celtic Explorer to complete the SW Priority Area.

In addition to multibeam mapping, the survey involved extensive sampling and video ground truthing to support environmental/habitat mapping. The project, which includes partners from Spain, Portugal, France and UK, is funded under the InterReg IVB Programme.

Towards the end of the INFOMAR field season,

Three core programme areas run in parallel: »» data acquisition, management and interpretation »» data exchange and integration »» value-added exploitation Through the integrated and multidisciplinary approach encouraged by the INFOMAR programme, there is an expanding diversification of user groups, identifying innovative ways to leverage business opportunities

mapping was carried out as part of the INIS HYDRO project off Dundalk, funded under the InterReg IVA programme, and involving partners from Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK. This work involved the RVs Celtic Voyager, Keary and Geo and importantly will deliver not just mapping but new standards and protocols that can be rolled out across the programme and partner organisations.

Finally in addition to these EC funded mapping activities, the INFOMAR Programme also engaged with added-value activities under two further EC funded programmes: EMODNET (funded by the EC Marine Directorate

Koen Verbruggen, GSI

On October 19, INFOMAR Programme management issued a call for research proposals across a broad range of areas, identifying programme related products and services that have potential commercial value if harnessed and developed through a collaborative integrated approach.

Areas targeted included: data integration analysis and visualisation use of satellite data and aerial photography for coastal mapping, and product development in support of offshore aquaculture and ocean energy.

The technology opportunities promoted included development of biodiversity mapping techniques; integrated seabed lander platforms and ICT data interfaces in support of marine leisure, tourism fisheries and education.

is producing newly compiled large-scale mapping layers for high level decision making, and GSI are partners in relation to both geology and hydrography.

GEOSEAS: (funded under FP7is linking 26 marine geology data centres across Europe to the SeaDataNet network, including Irish centres at GSI and UCC. Importantly, these EC and InterReg-funded programmes are providing employment for six new staff between GSI and MI, who in addition to fulfilling the requirements of the specific projects, strongly augment the team delivering INFOMAR, and increase Irish marine technical capacity.

Opportunities

INFOMAR provides a marine foundation upon which future marine infrastructure, services and technology development can sustainably grow. To facilitate such growth and leverage, the value from available data resources and knowledge, marine resource management and decision tools need to be developed and implemented.

INFOMAR is supporting applied research in this space, and strongly encouraging research and industry collaboration to ensure relevance, and optimise outputs and benefits of funded projects.

The INFOMAR Research Call recently published closed on November 9 and 32 research proposals were received.

Proposals included 14 collaborative submissions, from a collection of 15 different industry partners; 15 different research organisations from Ireland and abroad, and 12 different public bodies. 11 of the proposals had a core focus on technology development.

What Next

To secure future support for the research call as part

Connie Kelleher Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht

C

onnie Kelleher, an underwater Archaeologist with the Underwater Archaeology Unit, Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht highlights the key part played by the GSI in the Rutland Island Wreck Investigation.

Discovery by local divers of a probable late 16thcentury wreck in Rutland Harbour, Donegal, was the impetus for the UAU to carry out a detailed survey and excavation of the wreck site since 2009. The 2011 season was a close collaborative effort involving the DAHG and the GSI Ireland/INFOMAR, with the National Museum of Ireland also on board regarding conservation of all artefacts found.

of the application process, INFOMAR will capture details on publications, and funding and contracts that were previously leveraged by applicants from involvement with the INSS and/or INFOMAR. This will be incorporated into a programme ‘cost benefit analysis’ to be undertaken next year, and is critical to demonstrate the spin off potential of the largest marine mapping programme worldwide.

Proposals will be evaluated on specific criteria by personnel external to the mapping programme, and project awards will be made later this month.

Each successful project will be assigned a project mentor with the relevant expertise from the INFOMAR and/or extended Marine Institute and Geological Survey of Ireland teams.

A workshop will be held in February 2012 to review project plans and to fully assess any logistical and/or technical support required for the successful delivery of the proposals. Any further opportunities for collaboration, or industry partnership or guidance, will be investigated.

Results so far, while inconclusive as to actual identity, show the wreck to have been an armed merchant, pirate or war vessel, possibly associated with the local Gaelic lordships, or could be the remains of a Spanish Armada ship of 1588. Artefactual material is pointing to an Iberian origin.

Discovery of a new Armada wreck would link the history and archaeology of the Burtonport area to the events of that ill-fated maritime campaign, with a number of the ships of the Armada recorded as being lost in the general area.

The co-operation this year between DAHG and GSI proved extremely effective - indeed indispensable – regarding the efficient operation and mapping of the wreck site itself.

Availability of RV Keary as a highly suitable dive platform was central to these positive results. Assistance of RV Geo to undertake detailed mapping of the wreck and seabed around the site, and also providing essential transport facilities, added integral information to our knowledge of the wreck site as it emerged from the seabed after some 420 years.

Involvement of GSI crew as part of the dive team, adding to overall positive also made the project all the more enjoyable.

16 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

²

11°0'0"W

10°0'0"W

9°0'0"W

8°0'0"W

7°0'0"W

6°0'0"W

6200000

56°0'0"N

Marine R&D

INFOMAR & Related Projects 25th October 2011 Mulroy Bay

6100000

55°0'0"N

Lough Foyle

Lough Swilly

Donegal

Sligo

6000000

Broadhaven

Blacksod 54°0'0"N

Carlingford Lough

Achill

Boyne Estuary (Drogheda)

Killary

Mannin

5900000

Dublin

Galway

53°0'0"N

East Priority Area

Waterford Harbour

Tralee Bay

5800000

Shannon Estuary

Wexford Harbour

52°0'0"N

Bannow Bay Dungarvan Harbour

Dingle Bay

Depth (m) 0

Youghal

Southwest Priority Area South Priority Area

Cork

50 Kinsale Bantry

Dunmanus

5700000

100

Chart Updated 25th October 2011 General Data Processing ongoing INFOMAR Priority Bays

150

INFOMAR Priority Areas E

UTM Grid Intersection

INFOMAR & Supported Projects JIBS (INTERREG IIIA)

51°0'0"N

IMAGIN (INTERREG IIIA)

200

HABMAP (INTERREG IIIA)

Disclaimer This chart is purely representational and is designed for general information and strategic planning only. Chart content is based on data available to the GSI and the Marine Insitute at the time of compilation. The accuracy of the data used, or interpolations made, is neither stated nor implied. Evaluation of specific sites will normally require further and more detailed assessments and will frequently require site investigations.

Geodetic Control Spheroid: WGS-84 Projection: Univeral Transverse Mercator Zone 29 N, CM 9 W

Background Image Land elevation derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 2000, led by NGA and NASA

0

MESH (INTERREG IIIB NWE) Scallop Survey (BIM/CMRC) Energy Test Site

7.5

15

Smart Bay

30 Nautical Miles

© COPYRIGHT, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF IRELAND AND MARINE INSTITUTE

0

15

30

60 Kilometers

250

Loop Head Survey Kowloon Bridge UWTV Nephrops Surverys MDACS (NPWS)

Related Projects Lough Feeagh & Lough Furnace (NUIG)

2500

OSi LiDAR 400000

500000

600000

700000

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 17

Marine R&D

Janine Guinan GSI Janine Guinan, a marine geoscientist with the GSI outlines INFOMAR’s role in the EU projects EMODnet and Geo-Seas.

I

ntegrated and sustainable management of our seas as a global system requires a multidisciplinary approach to understanding patterns and behaviour in the geological, geophysical, biological, oceanographic, and chemical realms.

Only by assessing and integrating data at a European level can we

Dave Parker UKHO Dave outlines the UK’s Civil Hydrography Programme

T

he CHP is the UK’s continuous and ongoing effort to systematically survey

effectively manage and monitor European seas.

In practice, marine data is acquired for single and operational purposes, as part of a regulatory requirement, or to advance scientific understanding.

The challenge is to improve marine data infrastructure by collating fragmented data to facilitate coherent, inter-operable data sets that will inform ocean management, monitoring and conservation.

INFOMAR data is contributing significantly to two EU projects through a number of work package deliverables. EMODnetGeology involves the collation and harmonisation of INFOMAR data across several themes e.g. seabed sediment; sea floor geology; aggregates and hydrocarbon resources; geological events and probabilities for delivery to the OneGeologyEurope data portal.

INFOMAR data developed through GeoSeas data products and services will be available to government agencies; environmental research and monitoring; academic researchers; offshore engineering (pipelines, platforms); sustainable energy; dredging and conservation management.

INFOMAR datasets are now available to access across Europe via online portals and web map services developed as part of the EMODnet and GeoSeas projects.

the waters around the UK to ensure safety of navigation. Under the programme, commercial contracts are let regularly by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to ensure accurate hydrographic information is gathered for updating nautical charts and publications at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

The three primary developments are: testing and subsequent adoption of multibeam echosounder (MBES) water column data (WCD) during wreck investigations ongoing testing and planned adoption of Statistical Bathymetric Surfaces as the primary bathymetry deliverable exclusive use of post processed GNSS height data and the UKHO’s Vertical Offshore Reference Frame (VORF) model to reduce all bathymetric data to the required vertical datum.

INFOMAR Research calls 2008-2011

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Multibeam echo sounder water column data collected with EM 302 from NOAA Ship, Okeanos Explorer, July 2009. Deep sea plumes observed at depths of ~1200–1900 m.

Data processed using IVS3D Fledermaus.

18 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Aquaculture News “In order to ensure this works properly, we need to get on top of the commercial side of things in tandem with the licence application. Therefore, we have to put a certain amount of trust in being successful.

“There’s no point having this major licence approved and then trying to find a commercial entity to operate it. We need to move on the two elements as closely as possible,” he declares.

Maguire says that BIM will be unveiling the proposed project to a wider fish farming audience at a conference in Norway next February, and he is optimistic there will be strong interest in the Inis Oírr project – both from an investment and management point of view. He reveals that interest has already come from established salmon producers both in Ireland and in Norway, and further afield.

“We’ve even had a Chinese delegation over here expressing interest. So we’ll have to look at all of those things to ensure the best outcome for the project,” he says.

Sea level and underwater impression

Local involvement

Enclosure cross section impression

Farming the deep blue: from concept to reality?

Gery Flynn

A

new salmon farming project earmarked for the Aran Islands could pave the way for up to 500 new jobs and double Ireland’s farmed salmon harvest which has declined since 2001 due in part to the restrictions imposed on aquaculture developments by EU nature conservation policy.

Confirming to Inshore Ireland that the farm would be sited in a deep sea location off Inis Oírr, BIM’s Aquaculture Development Manager, Donal Maguire, says it will be the first of three planned for the west coast, each with an annual harvest capacity of 15,000 tonnes of organic farmed salmon.

New concept

According to Maguire, the way this project is being handled from the start is “a new departure” for the seafood development agency.

“It’s new because BIM

will be the licence applicant for all three farms. And if we’re successful we’ll hold the licences in trust for the State, and attract commercial developers through a franchise agreement to actually operate the fish farms,” he explains.

He emphasises however that only operators who agree to conform to BIM’s strict stipulations as to how the farms should be managed will be considered.

“The concept is to increase the amount of Irish-certified organic farmed fish, which forms part of the BIM-led strategy of siting fin-fish farms in more exposed deep water sites that do not conflict with EU environmental directives.

“The fact that BIM is itself making the licence application is a first, and it’s going to be on a much larger scale than we’ve seen here before. We’re also ensuring to build in extra safeguards – above and beyond the requirements of the existing licensing system.”

each farm it will significantly speed up the entire process – something that commercial companies find to be tedious, time consuming and expensive.

“We also have rapid access to the data required to complete the licence applications, and we can get access to it a lot quicker than perhaps a commercial entity could – and there’ll be no extra cost to the tax payers,” he explains.

Maguire is optimistic that the agency could be submitting an application by the end of January next, and that a determination from the Minister could issue over the following few months.

“If the licence is granted, production could begin as soon as next July. But I can’t say exactly when. We’ve to accept that the time line is of course an absolute best case scenario, and assumes nothing will go wrong,” he emphasises.

Fast-track application

As to who will ultimately operate the farm, he reveals a number of commercial entities have already expressed interest.

As BIM will be handling all the initial groundwork for

Widespread interest

Maguire admits that mistakes were made in the past regarding Irish salmon farming, but argues that “a lot has been learned too – especially around making sure local communities are kept involved in a dialogue to ensure they are fully apprised and supportive of any developments.

“We’ve already put a lot of effort into this on the ground locally and we’ve had many meetings with fishermen – both inshore and offshore – and also with the community development groups on each of the three Aran islands.

“We’ve also had a number of meetings in Rossaveal involving fish processors and other interested parties, and we’re taking on board all of their feedback.”

Maguire emphasises that whoever ultimately runs the farm will not only be obliged to farm organically, they will also have to adhere to strict stipulations laid down from the outset by BIM. “We will be demanding the highest level of environmental and operational compliance, and additional safeguards in the terms of the franchise will go beyond the already rigorous requirements of the licence itself,” he declares.

Local labour

As for employment, he foresees full-time direct employment for up to 350 - rearing the juvenile fish, working on the farms and in processing and transporting the product to market.

A further 150 jobs will be developed indirectly to provide netting, fish feed, transportation and other

services to the farm. He also foresees annual wages of roughly €14.5m finding its way directly into the local economy.

“BIM will also organise advance training to ensure all employees have the requisite certifications and skills required to work on a modern offshore fish farm; the agency however will not have a policing role in terms of the licence, “That will stay with the Marine Institute and the engineers in the Department But we’ll have a policing role in terms of the franchise agreement. It’s the terms and conditions in the franchise agreement that we’ll be monitoring. This will allow us ensure not only the highest operational standards, but also to build in obligations such as investment in local community development and other projects.”

Cabinet backing

Responding to Inshore Ireland, Minister Simon Coveney said he was fully behind the project: “This is a really exciting opportunity for rural communities which could result in millions of euro in capital investment, job creation and spin off industries for the west coast of Ireland. If the licence application is successful, we will radically expand the output of the organic fish farming sector, worth €100m.

“My goal in tasking BIM and the Marine Institute with this project is to capitalise on a game-changing opportunity for the Irish aquaculture industry. At the core of this project is an environmentally responsible, sustainable approach which is fundamental to the success of the aquaculture industry.

Salmon statistics Irish farmed salmon production peaked in 2001 with a harvest of 23,312 tonnes. A series of complicated and overlapping setbacks since however saw production contracting to a low in 2007 of 9,923 tonnes.

The 2010 harvest was roughly 13,000.

Many long-established salmon farms have also been unable to expand production because they are located in areas of special protection (SPAs) under the EU’s Natura 2000 conservation policy and are therefore unable to expand production or renew licences.

To combat this, BIM’s strategy for the past decade has been to promote fish farm location in deep-sea sites in exposed locations– so-called ‘high-energy’ sites – that will not conflict with EU nature policy.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 19

AquaCulture News

When pigs might swim?

Stefan Kraan, Ocean Harvest Technology Ltd

T

he world’s population is increasing – and so is the consumption of pork meat. During the past 40 years, global pork production increased by a factor four – from 24.7 million tons in 1961 to 100.6 million tons in 2009 (FAO, 2011).

As is usual with such intensive farming, many disease-associated problems start to develop, resulting in increased chemical and antibiotic use throughout the industry. Bioactives in seaweeds however might be one way of ensuring the industry is more sustainable and chemical free, making pigs more of a marine mammal!

Disease and antibiotic use

Intensive pig farming is susceptible to many diseases including several bacterial diseases and parasitic worms. In human medicine, antibiotic use is generally confined to treating illness.

In contrast, antibiotics and other antimicrobials are often routinely given to food animals as growth promoters and to compensate for the sometimes unsanitary conditions on many industrial farms.

Bacteria exposed to low doses of antibiotics for prolonged periods can develop antibiotic-resistance—a dangerous trait enabling bacteria to survive and grow instead of being inhibited or destroyed by therapeutic doses of the drug. Since many of the antibiotic classes used in food animal production are also important in human medicine, resistance that begins on the farm can lead to serious public health problems.

This has already happened in the border area between The Netherlands and Germany where pigs with a type of MRSA have developed 100% resistance to tetracyclines (antibiotic) which has jumped from pigs to humans with the resulting consequences whereby no antibiotic treatment available. The same has happened in Britain with Clostridium difficile.

Recognising the potential for a health crisis, Denmark has stopped using antibiotics as growth promoters (i.e. non-medical uses). Today in Denmark, all use of antibiotics in food animals must be accompanied by a prescription in a valid veterinarian-clientpatient relationship, and veterinarians may not profit from the sale of antibiotics.

In addition, farmers, veterinarians and pharmacists must report the use and sale of antibiotics, and farm inspections are conducted regularly. The Danish government and industry data show that livestock and poultry production has increased since the ban, while antibiotic resistance has declined on farms and in meat. There are real concerns that unless antibiotics are used much more sparingly, we will soon find ourselves facing a range of serious diseases in humans and animals that can no longer be treated effectively.

Natural alternatives

With several countries now banning or voluntarily reducing antibiotic usage, an urgent need has arisen to find alternative and sustainable feed ingredients and antibiotic replacements.

Food scares in the swine industry in 2008 (Ireland) and 2011 (Germany) showing pork with unacceptable high levels of PCBs and dioxins and other bio-accumulative contaminants, demanded further action to reduce contaminant levels in feed.

Moreover, there is a growing demand for organically farmed products in many countries. In this respect, seaweeds have received limited attention; nevertheless several studies have demonstrated that seaweeds can be used as partial replacement for many ingredients, such as, vitamin and mineral mixes; binders; antibiotics, and antioxidants.

Several studies show that by inclusion of a single seaweed species can reduce certain enterobacteria, improve pig gut health and increase iodine content in meat. Furthermore, seaweed has an antibacterial and probiotic effect that helps to reduce scouring/ diarrhoea and ammonia.

Certain bioactive molecules from seaweeds like Laminaria and Fucoidan have a pronounced anti-microbial action, similar to in-feed antibiotics in piglets. This is beneficial from a performance perspective, as a lower microbial load will result in a lower energy cost to the pig. Also, the removal of harmful bacteria like E. coli helps control disease rates in piglets.

Ocean Harvest Technology

To tackle these problems, Ocean Harvest Technology has developed a specific macroalgae mix for the swine industry.

Oceanfeed™- Swine contains a plethora of natural bioactive compounds that when incorporated into the diet can

modulate several functions in the pig, and assist the control of chronic diseases and infections common throughout the pig industry.

It also allows for disease-free farmed pigs to be reared in a more natural and sustainable way, thereby easing concerns on environmental impact and sustainability.

Oceanfeed™-Swine is the first natural marine and sustainable functional feed ingredient derived from macroalgae. Nutrition plays a key role in the efficient production of pork, accounting for more than 70% of production costs. Nutrition is constantly evolving in order to ensure a cost effective supply of feeds to produce high quality pork.

Earlier this year, Ocean Harvest Technology in conjunction with Sharragh Farms Ltd conducted feeding trials using 240 pigs and Oceanfeed™-Swine at different percentages of inclusion (0.5%, 2% and 5%). The results were compared against an industry reference diet.

During, and at the end of the trial, 16 pigs were slaughtered and processed at the Dawn Pork and Bacon factory in Waterford. Intestinal samples were taken and meat samples were obtained after the pigs were processed by a local butcher (Jarlath Kelly, Tuam) and sent to University College Cork for taste analysis and packaging trials.

After a four months trial – from weaners to 100 kg pigs – the results showed a positive outcome in several ways:

Our forgotten green gold – a rich biodiversity of seaweeds on our shores with still many unknown bioactives

Happy pigs on (sea)weed

• higher weight gain, leaner meat and lower food conversion efficiency when pigs were supplemented with 0.5% Oceanfeed™Swine • significantly improved flavor, juiciness and overall consumer acceptability of the meat at 5% inclusion of Oceanfeed™-Swine • improved observed health and alertness of animals at trial site

Green, red and brown, an intertidal seaweed salad. Is this the new functional food of the 21st century?

Results on gut flora and gut development have yet to be analysed; however results so far are very encouraging for the full commercialisation of Oceanfeed™ Swine.

This strongly indicates that seaweeds could play an important role in intensive swine farming in Ireland and throughout the EU.

Traditional harvesting of seaweed in Connamara

20 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Seafood Desk

A seafood centre of excellence to drive added-value and innovation

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co-located, ‘one-stop-shop’ for seafoodrelated functions of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and BIM’s business innovation and seafood product development activities has officially opened for business.

Officiating, Simon Coveney TD, the minister with responsibility for the marine, said his department was committed to ensuring “every effort was made to position Ireland to take full advantage” of the major opportunities available to its

seafood sector. The UN estimates that world demand for seafood will rise by an extra 42 million tonnes annually from 2030.

“I am focussed on firstly moving away from selling 85% of our seafood production in commodity form, and instead developing new high-value processed seafood products.”

Minster Coveney also wants to attract a higher percentage of the near one-million tonnes of seafood caught around Ireland to be landed and serviced from here, and to “significantly expand and develop” sustainable aquaculture.

“The seafood sector is very important to Ireland and holds a key to economic recovery and

employment in coastal areas from Greencastle in Donegal to Carlingford in Louth. Contrary to some people’s perceptions, this is an industry for the future and in my view we have only begun to tap into its potential.”

In 2010, Irish seafood exports increased in value by 14% to €378m. The first seven months of this year show a further 10% increase.

Since it first opened its doors in October 2009, the centre has facilitated 330 large, medium and small seafood processing companies with product development that have sales of over €10m and currently 140 people.

Unveiling the plaque at the National Seafood Centre are (l to r:) Noel Harrington T.D; Cecil Beamish, DAFM; Cllr John Loughnan, Clonakilty Mayor; Cllr Tim Lombard, Mayor of County Cork; Tom Moran, DAFM; Cllr Kevin Murphy; Rose McHugh, BIM Chairperson; Jason Whooley, BIM CEO; Joe Walsh, former Minister for Agriculture; Minister Simon Coveney T.D; Cllr Mary Hegarty; Cllr Donal O’Rourke and Micheál O’Mahony, SFPA

Twice in a row for West of Ireland hotel Innovation behind seafood of Demi-Chef de Partie. is an ‘exceptional win’ for marketing strategy he 21 Euro-

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toques Young Chef of the Year is 23 year-old Kamil Dubanik from Knockranny House Hotel in Co Mayo.

According to sponsors BIM and Failte Ireland, this

Knockranny House Hotel as last year’s winner was also from the same hotel.

From Poland, Kamil has been in the kitchen only three years, starting as a kitchen porter in and working his way up to his current position

Seamus Commons, Head Chef Knockranny House Hotel; Helen McDaid, Failte Ireland; Adrian Noonan proprietor Knockranny House Hotel; Kamil Dubanik; Geraldine Noonan and Geraldine Lane BIM.

Knowledge Networks

safefood in association with Queen’s University Belfast have established a number of knowledge networks on the island of Ireland (IoI) to further the integration of food safety by creating linkages between professionals and enhancing broad participation across disciplines and sectors of the food chain on an all-island basis.

Aims of safefood networks • To develop multi-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional relationships between professionals interested in common food safety and food behaviour themes • To raise awareness amongst stakeholders of current food safety and food behaviour challenges and developments at all points of the food chain – including technological advances, monitoring, surveillance, regulatory developments and on-going research both on the island of Ireland and internationally • To provide an opportunity for the sharing and dissemination of current knowledge, practices and emerging issues on the island of Ireland.

To sign up and become part of the safefood Knowledge Networks please visit: http://safefood.ning.com

He recently completed an Advanced Certificate in Professional Cookery at GMIT with his recipe of roast troncon of Achill Island Turbot; Dublin Bay Prawn Tortellini; Jerusalem artichoke; mushroom, cheek, liver, Dublin Bay prawn, lovage.

The top prize is an allexpense paid stage at The Ivy in London under executive chef Gary Lee, plus a oneweek stage at the award winning Michelin star Chapter One restaurant in Dublin under the tutelage of Eurotoques head chef Ross Lewis.

In addition, each of the finalists has won a unique food experience with BIM and Failte Ireland. BIM will host a one-day practical onsite introduction in a seafood facility to experience firsthand how fish is caught or harvested, bought, and sold, and what this all means to a chef.

Failte Ireland will host a food tourism road trip; an educational 4-day food focused road trip taking in cooking time in top professional kitchens, visits to artisan food producers; tastings, demos, unique meal experiences and overnight stays with Irish food and hospitality operators.

The Euro-toques Young Chef competition emphasises training and development, with the role of the mentor being central to the process.

According to BIM and Failte Ireland, sponsorship reflects their recognition of the importance of chefs in building Ireland’s national and international food reputation, and the pivotal role that ‘local food’ plays in this and their commitment to education and development in this sector.

This year’s competition is supported by La Rousse Foods, Findlater Wine & Spirit Group, Bragard, The Merrion Hotel Dublin, The Ivy London and Chapter One Restaurant.

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welve seafood entrepreneurs from Co Donegal are the first in the northwest region to benefit from a training and mentoring initiative organised by BIM in conjunction with Donegal County Enterprise Board.

The ‘Donegal Seafood Development Programme’ follows a similar syllabus for coastal communities in West Cork and Wexford.

Aimed at start-up and existing seafood enterprises, the course is target driven and tailored to the specific needs of each company, providing them with the tools to achieve their business objectives.

Participants were mentored in business development; strategic planning; market trends, distribution and route to market, and were also advised by Bobby Kerr, CEO of Insomnia and a dragon from RTE’s Dragon’s Den. According to Donal Buckley, Business Development and Innovation Manager with BIM, the programme ensures that local seafood companies are fully informed about bringing a product to market: “We’re confident the programme will mean a boost for local seafood companies that are determined to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills

and strategically develop their businesses. The demands of the marketplace mean that businesses have to re-think and re-position themselves to ensure their products are innovative and value-added,” he said.

Michael Tunney, CEO of Donegal County Enterprise Board said they had received “very positive feedback” on how the programme had already enabled clients to develop innovative seafood products, adding value to existing seafood products or developing new domestic and export markets.

BIM is now consulting with Letterkenny IT to establish a ‘Seafood Innovation Hub’ in the northwest to provide product development facilities.

Participating companies: »» Anthony and Stephen Kearney »» Errigal Seafoods »» Fish Sales Killybegs Ltd »» Gallagher Bros Ltd »» Island Seafoods Ltd »» John and Shaun McKinny »» McBride Fishing »» Mulroy Mussels »» Olde Castle »» Premier Fish »» Sean Ward Fish Exports »» Whiskey Rock Fisheries

Aodh O’Donnell, Errigal’s Managing Director (third from the left front row) and Sandra Hennessy, BIM Seafood Quality Officer (fourth from the left) pictured with the staff at Errigal Seafood’s premises in Carrick, Co Donegal

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 21

AquaCulture News

Irish company provides international best practice in knowledge management in Europe David Murphy, AquaTT

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ublin-based, AquaTT is about to celebrate its 20th year in operation. The company was established in 1992 as a nonprofit University spin out by UCC, NUIG and GMIT under an EC programme that funded the creation of new companies to bridge the gap between Universities and enterprises across Europe.

Twenty years on, and after several highs and lows, the company is still going strong and in the past three years in particular we have broadened our services to all marine sectors. In doing so, we have increased the team from three to an expected 14 by the beginning of next year.

AquaTT has been particularly successful in developing its services within European Commission funded research and innovation projects. Europe is investing over €50bn in research in the current framework programme (FP7: 2007-2013) over a range of thematic areas.

Cost benefit scrutiny With Europe in the midst of an economic downturn however, investments in R& D are under scrutiny, giving rise to greater focus on the cost-benefits of investments generally.

The Irish EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn recently noted that since the launch of the 7th Framework Programme in 2007, “the game has changed.”

She added it has also become clear that Europe was facing an innovation emergency.

“We must prioritise innovation to ensure that we don’t fall behind our competitors and to ensure a better quality of life for people in Europe.”

In this context, the role of bridging-organisations like AquaTT has become extremely relevant whereby research consortia require the skills and competence that AquaTT possesses.

AquaTT positions itself as a “knowledge management” company sitting between the research community and the users of the intended new knowledge generated from research.

Depending on the priorities of the EC investment, the ‘users’ can range from industrial sectors who need new knowledge to aid commercial development, innovation and/

or competitiveness to policy/ decision makers who need new knowledge to ensure that legislation and directives are fit-for-purpose; or the scientific community who can use the new knowledge to further their follow-on research and ultimately deliver applied knowledge that can be used by target users..

Varied competences AquaTT’s knowledge management services vary, depending on the needs of the partnership; however our competences include dissemination; knowledge transfer; training; stakeholder engagement and project management.

The company is currently involved in 12 European 7th Framework Projects (FP7). The projects cover a broad range of marine research domains including fisheries, aquaculture, marine genomics and marine energy. The value of the EC investment in AquaTT’s portfolio of projects is €38m.

Furthermore, AquaTT where possible helps Irish scientists and companies to get into the consortia and thus to date has secured €4.5m for Irish organisations in the past three years. This international success at funding procurement has made AquaTT the most successful Irish marine focused SME in the FP7 programme.

Success indicators It is not about how much money any individual organisation secures in grant aid for research.

Whilst providing jobs for researchers is of course of benefit, the real indicator of success should be how much value each researcher then generates in terms of new businesses/jobs/policy impacts/ societal benefits etc. Ultimately the function of research should be to add tangible value to society, and sometimes this is forgotten.

Some of the most pioneering work AquaTT is doing relates to managing research knowledge from past and in-progress projects. An example is the MarineTT project, which aims to develop new methodologies and processes to capture knowledge; analyse it for potential application and to transfer any high potential knowledge effectively through tailor-made transfer actions.

MarineTT identified and surveyed over 458 Europeanfunded projects worth in excess of €1.2bn. (See www.marinett.eu for more information.)

Our team can make a

measurable impact on the current system by developing improved systems and processes for collecting, analysing and transferring research knowledge.

Ineffective knowledge transfer Too many research outputs are not effectively transferred to users who could apply the knowledge. A combination of factors include: fragmented management of the knowledge; lack of clarity as to the responsibility of scientists in the innovation process; lack of analysis to identify potential applications and primary users and many more.

We hope our work will make the knowledge more widely accessible and the whole system more transparent, which should lead to real innovation and measurable impact from the research in our projects.

The methodology applied by MarineTT has been so successful it is already being used by other projects, e.g. marine genomics for users, which is solely focused on the exciting pioneering field of marine genomics research.

Furthermore, individual member states are taking an interest, and AquaTT is in the process of transferring its ‘knowhow’ to a Norwegian agency that wants to apply it to Norwegian nationally-funded projects.

A pilot study will begin in early December in partnership with AquaTT and if successful an upscale of work is likely to occur.

Further information on AquaTT, visit www.aquatt.ie

MarineTT expert meeting for Aquaculture Research projects, AquaTT offices, Dublin (from L-R: Dr. Panos Christofilogiannis (Aquark, Greece), Dr. Gill Marmelstein (AquaTT), Ms. Debbie Buckley (AquaTT), Dr. Reid Hole (University of Nordland, Norway), Dr. Richard Fitzgerald (NUIG).

AquaTT Team 2011 (from L-R): Gill Marmelstein, David Murphy, Debbie Buckley, Marieke Reuver, Emma Bello Gomez, Olivia Daly, Paul Lowen, Gregorio Gutierrez

22 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Marine R&D

The National Biodiversity Data Centre ventures into the marine, with exciting results Dr. Liam Lysaght National Biodiversity Data Centre

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igh quality data on Ireland’s biological diversity are needed for a variety of purposes, not least the implmentation of the EU Habitats Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and a host of policy and management measures.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre, an organisation established in 2007, was tasked with

the job of establishing a national biodiversity data management system to meet this need.

A key aspect of the work of the Data Centre has been the development of Biodiversity Maps, a state-ofthe-art GIS mapping system and on-line data portal where users can access high quality data on Ireland biodiversity resource http://maps. biodiversityireland.ie Initially developed for Ireland’s terrestrial environment, a new version has just been released by the Data Centre that now enables mapping of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. It is

powered by a large national database of over 2 million species observations contained in 80 databases, ranging from 1800 to the present day. This database is growing rapidly with new data provided by State Agencies, researchers, national experts and nongovernmental organisation added on a monthly basis.

Users can browse the database by species, by dataset and dataset provider or by ‘designations’ ie selecting only those species which are afforded legal protection or are threatened with extinction. Species profiles are generated for each of the 11,000 plus species providing

all the essential information on that species, including nomenclature, taxonomy, protected or threathened status and seasonality.

This is a shared service available to all data providers to bring added value to their data. Any data added to the system will also help build up our knowledge base of Ireland’s marine biodiversity resource and assist its management for conservation.

For further information contact Liam Lysaght by email llysaght@ biodiversityireland.ie or telephone 051 306240 or www.compass.ie.

A species page is generated for each of the more than 11,000 species contained in the database. This includes information on the distribution of records for each species, its nomenclature, taxonomy, whether protected or threatened with extinction and seasonality. Central to this mapping system is the provision of dynamically generated ‘metadata’ (information about each dataset) which is essential for users to assess fitness for purpose when using any data. This presents summary information on all aspects of each individual dataset, such as the number of species and records it contains, the temporal and spatial spread of observations. Contact details are also given for each data provider if users require more detailed information on any of the datasets.

To provide additonal insight into the datasets, temporal data are presented to complement the spatial data – these histograms show the number of observations of a particular species by month and by year.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 23

Marine R&D Users can choose to plot data on the Irish National Grid for mapping of terrestrial data or on latitude and longitude for mapping marine maps.

This example shows the summary distribution information for all bird observations contained in the European Seabirds at Sea database, provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, UK. Data are presented at the 50km resolution.

Users can increase the scale of mapping to show distributions at different resolution from 50km to 100m squares. Here the distribution of Manx and Cory’s Shearwater observations off the south Irish coast are shown at the 10km resolution.

Each one of the 2 million records can be plotted at a large scale against background layers and information obtained for each record; this example shows a record of Sunfish Mola mola occurring within the Kenmare River Special Area of Conservation.

Users can also choose to zoom in to view records against OSI maps along the coast, for example, Common Seal records along the Galway coast. Clicking the information button will give the record details, making it a truly interactive mapping system and getting away from just ‘dots on maps’.

24 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Marine R&D

Taoiseach announces 92 jobs in the marine sector

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute at the RV Celtic Explorer John Joyce Marine Institute

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n Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced the creation of 92 jobs in the marine sector while on a visit to the national research vessel R.V. Celtic Explorer in Dublin. The jobs will be created in the areas of seafood processing and marine research.

An Taoiseach also welcomed the expansion of Ireland’s capabilities in the international shipping services sector, which is expected to attract additional jobs to the country.

In the seafood sector, a further tranche of investment under the Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme administered by BIM has been announced, which will see a

further €3.5m in investment this year, and generate 64 jobs.

In the marine research area, funding of €2m has been made available for an International SmartOcean Graduate Programme, created in collaboration between the IRCSET (Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology), the Marine Institute, five Irish universities and key multinationals and SME Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies to provide funding for 28 research posts.

Shipping services sector

Ireland’s emerging international shipping services sector continues to grow, underpinned by investments in new and second-hand ships over the last twelve months

by such companies as Arklow Shipping and the Mainport Group, as well as foreign direct investments by D’Amico and Ardmore shipping.

“Ireland is now recognised as an emerging power in marine research and innovation,” said An Taoiseach.

“This has been achieved through the mapping of the 90% of Irish national territory that lies under the Atlantic; the creation of a quarter of a billion Euros worth of marine research infrastructure, and the fostering of strong linkages between industry and research centres – all of which will support employment opportunities in key areas of potential growth in the marine sector,” he added.

Seafood investment

The Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme

(l to r) Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney; Dr Peter Heffernan, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tommy Furey of the Marine Institute examine the detailed seabed maps produced by the INFOMAR programme. is administered by BIM on behalf of the Department and earlier this year approved over €7m in grant-aid capital investment in the sector.

This latest tranche will deliver a further €3.5m in investment in 2011 and generate 64 additional jobs on top of the 158 jobs already announced by the Minister in May. BIM worked closely with Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta to ensure the companies that presented solid business plans with a clear focus on adding value to Irish seafood were awarded grant aid of up to 25% on capital expenditure.

The qualifying projects all exemplify dynamic ideas in new product development and innovation. The scheme is projected to result in increased sales of nearly €43m by 2014.

Marine R&D posts

Macdara O’Cuaig of the Marine Institute’s Fisheries Science Services Team demonstrates the fish species encountered on the ship’s most recent survey.

The International SmartOcean Graduate Programme (ISGP)which brings together groupings of expertise from Dublin City University (DCU); NUI-G; National University of Ireland; Maynooth (NUI-M0); University College, Cork (UCC) and the University of Limerick (UL) focuses on high quality marine and related research. It will be sponsored and co-funded by the Marine Institute, IRCSET and industry and will provide funding over the period 2011- 2015 for 22 PhD awards and six post doctoral awards.

Ireland’s emerging international shipping services sector comprises Irish-based companies that mainly operate in different

niche segments of the global shipping market. These companies typically own, operate and manage, their ships from Ireland.

Expansion in this sector has been underpinned by a number of investments in new and second-hand ships over the last twelve months.

Arklow Shipping announced it has just agreed a contract with Korean shipbuilders to deliver two new 34,500 ton vessels – the largest ever built for that company – and that in December they will take delivery of the fifth in a series of 14,000 ton ships from Korea with the final vessel being delivered in June 2013. The company has also contracted a further six ships, each of 8,800 tons, which will be built in the Netherlands for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile, RV Celtic Explorer and her sister ship, RV Celtic Voyager are on course to be the busiest national research vessels in the European Union this year. The globally significant discovery in July of new hydrothermal vents on the mid-Atlantic ridge (1,500 km away and 3 km deep) on a mission funded by the Marine Institute and lead by UCC in collaboration with NUI Galway, the Geological Survey of Ireland and the National Oceanographic Centre in Southampton (UK) as described in the October/ November edition of Inshore Ireland (see www.inshoreireland.com) will be broadcast to the world as part of the National Geographic TV Series Alien Deep, early in 2012.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 25

Marine R&D

Cutting edge computer model to predict shellfish growth and marine biogeochemical cycles

By Eimear Doyle

Chart of Galway Bay

Photos courtesy of INFOMAR programme

New marine maps show the way for Ireland’s underwater economy John Joyce Marine Institute

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xciting new developments in Ireland’s capacity to uncover its past and explore its future economic potential were revealed last month at a seminar on underwater mapping at the Marine Institute in Galway.

Speakers at this annual seminar of the INFOMAR (INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable development of Ireland’s MARine Resource) programme discussed the discovery of new and historic underwater wreck sites; the application of seabed mapping in the selection of sites for generating wave energy; the protection of fish spawning grounds, and the planning of fish farm sites.

Marine mapping initiatives

The INFOMAR programme is a jointly managed programme between the Marine Institute and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and is funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCNER).

The event also featured the latest results from a range of EC funded marine mapping initiatives and stunning underwater footage from the recent Irish mission to the volcanic vents of the MidAtlantic Ridge over 3,000 metres below the surface of the sea.

Opening the seminar, Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute said

that Ireland was leading the way for Europe in marine mapping and in laying the foundations for the sustainable management of our ocean space.

“Surveying the gateways to our ports, mapping our fish spawning grounds, finding routes for marine telecommunications cables and selecting the best sites for ocean energy generation all rely on accurate seabed mapping capability, which Ireland now possesses.”

In addition to its largescale marine mapping remit, INFOMAR’s value-added programme is co-ordinating an integrated multidisciplinary approach to the handling, processing and application of its ever-expanding marine data set.

Good response to research call As a result of its latest call for research proposals, INFOMAR received 32 submissions for studies on such subjects as the appraisal of seabed data for tidal energy generation; the integration of satellite and marine data for coastal mapping and the use of new graphic animation techniques to integrate environmental information into seabed mapping displays.

“INFOMAR is a key mechanism to unlock the economic potential of our ocean territory,” remarked Koen Verbruggen, GSI. “By linking industry and academia to the realisation of our government’s objectives and requirements around sustainable ocean development, we will strengthen Ireland’s position on this new frontier and expand our capability to deliver services and solutions to all marine sectors – in Ireland, in Europe and across the world.”

As well as looking to the future, Ireland’s maritime past will be explored in a presentation by the Underwater Archaeology Unit of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on the discovery of a probably late 16th century wreck off Rutland Island, Co. Donegal.

The wreck, which may have been an armed merchant ship, a pirate or naval vessel potentially associated with the local Gaelic lordships or the Spanish Armada of 1588, is an extremely important find that could add greatly to our understanding of Ireland’s maritime heritage.

The INFOMAR project is supported by the National Development Programme.

Image of sunken Guinness ship, WM Barkley

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COMPUTER MODEL that could advise shellfish farmers and regulatory authorities of the potential for shellfish cultivation in coastal environments and its impacts on water quality is being created at the Marine Institute to support sustainable development of the marine shellfish farming sector.

Tomasz Dabrowski has been working full-time on the EASYCO project, an international INTERREG-funded project which links the Marine Institute with partners in Portugal (project leaders), France, the UK and Spain. He is being assisted

by Kieran Lyons and Glenn Nolan who devote part of their work schedules to EASYCO at Oranmore, Co. Galway.

Together they have been focusing on the shellfish modelling aspect of EASYCO, in terms of the life cycle of farmed shellfish and their impact on the ecosystem in the shellfish growing areas of Bantry Bay. EASYCO is ‘a transverse project which aims to produce an infrastructure for Operational Ocean Modelling in the Atlantic Space’, combining research capacities from the five countries involved to forecast hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry on a regional scale with a geographic accuracy of a few kilometres. Models solutions are then downscaled to the local scale models, such as the Irish south west, to provide forecasts at high spatial resolution, typically in the region of 200m.

According to Tomasz, “the practical implications of this

Sampling in Bantry Bay

project mean that informed decisions can be made on aquaculture licensing in order to maximize harvesting yields and minimize environmental impacts of the shellfish farms, with the focus on mussels and oysters.”

Once completed, the EASYCO physical and biogeochemical models, will be run in an operational forecasting mode and will constantly update their predictions by calling on MERCATOR global ocean predictions, as well as information from the GFS (Global Forecasting System) of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in the USA to inform them about the state of the ocean and of the atmosphere.

This will create a picture of sea conditions in real time, and also predict waves, currents and tidal effects, as well as the occurrence of algal blooms three days in advance. It will be able to predict the carrying capacity of Bantry Bay (i.e. how much farmed shellfish it can support), and to examine the effects on nutrients and phytoplankton dynamics in the seawater by the inclusion of shellfish ecophysiology.

The EASYCO mathematical model is still under development and needs to be calibrated and checked or ‘ground truthed’ against existing data which, according to Tomasz involves the checking of “thousands of lines of computer code” and tweaking the model to verify its findings against local conditions.

A year-long sampling campaign in Bantry Bay has recently concluded and multitude of in-situ data has been collated for the model’s calibration and validation.

The project produces a newsletter, and further information can be found at www.project-easy.info.

26 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

2011 Year Review

Emerging growth areas are positive steps for 2012 Compiled by Gillian Mills and Gery Flynn

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hilst 2011 was another very challenging year across all marine sectors, marked by closures, job losses and reduced State investment, the past 12 months nonetheless delivered some

Koen Verbruggen, GSI, Joint Programme Manager with Tommy Furey, Marine Institute

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012 will see INFOMAR – Ireland’s national marine mapping programme, continue to deliver on mapping; data acquisition; collaboration and research across the marine sectors. While the budgetary

Stefan Kraan Scientific Director and co-founder, Ocean Harvest Technology

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eaweeds have been used in Ireland for decades for a variety of purposes; however the seaweed industry is still the

Jason Whooley Chief Executive, BIM

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011 was an extremely busy year for the Irish seafood sector. BIM’s role in driving business development and innovation in

positive signs – and in much welcomed new, developing areas.

Marine renewable energy research is an example, underpinned by the recent announced that the largest centre worldwide for this sector will be completed here in 2013. What might have warranted just a few column inches in the past now demands move coverage and often front-page status.

Ireland’s contribution to marine research is also increasingly well respected in Europe. The seabed mapping programme of Irish territorial waters by the Marine Institute and the Geological Survey of Ireland has progressed from being one of research gathering to delivering data that is now underpinning value-added activities on a wide scale.

With many fish species under threat and Ireland’s challenge

to maintain quota, emphasis has shifted from quantity to quality, witnessed by seafood companies now creating adding-value products. And seaweed, once seen as the ‘Cinderella industry’, has begun to show huge potential.

Renewed optimism is stirring too in the salmon farming sector with plans next year to locate the first of three large deep water production units off the west coast.

It is said that the best ideas often emerge in the grips of a recession, and that ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. It is heartening therefore that whilst not losing sight of the current grim realities, key players across the marine sectors who participated in this end-of-year review have all delivered a positive outlook on 2012 in their particular sector.

climate remains challenging, the programme’s role as a key enabler for offshore development and investigation is now well established.

At planning and policy level, having participated in Strategic Environmental Assessments for offshore oil and gas in the Irish and Celtic Seas and for the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan in 2011, next year will see focus move to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

INFOMAR contributes to the Department of Environment steering group for this key directive, particularly on how to measure and monitor ‘good environmental status’ relating to underwater noise and seabed integrity.

Decisions on where the vessels will operate in 2012 will be determined with stakeholders and the Programme’s Technical Advisory Committee; however focus will remain on completion of mapping in priority areas, with further work on RV CelticVoyager planned off counties Wexford Waterford and Cork.

The smaller vessels, Keary and Geo will be deployed to complete priority bay mapping in Dingle, Blacksod, Broadhaven and Foyle. These inshore waters already have LIDAR or Celtic Voyager data or both; the smaller vessels will focus on joining up these deeper and shallow water datasets.

Work in Cork Harbour is also planned for later in the year. This will be highly challenging due to its extent, and level of marine activity.

Trials are also planned for using terrestrial LIDAR acquired at low spring tides, in areas of extensive shallows and inter-tidal banks such as Wexford and Bannow. Airborne data acquired in drying areas could thus be combined with shallow water boat mapping to complete these difficult, costly and often inaccessible areas.

Ongoing positive collaboration continues with a range of strategic partners, including the UKHO who incorporate INFOMAR mapping into updated charts of Irish waters. The highlight of this cooperation in 2012 is the expected launch of a new chart for Dublin Bay – the first new chart since Capt. William Bligh was the Chief Hydrographer @1814.

Ongoing shipwreck surveying in partnership with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is also planned, and cooperation with the offshore renewable energy sector is set to develop following publication of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). device deployment sites European-funded activity will continue to be a significant part of the Programme in 2012, with extensive mapping in Dundalk Bay and in Carlingford planned – ,the latter in collaboration with AFBI, Northern Ireland. Mesh Atlantic will deliver reports and mapping from its work in Kenmare River, while the EMODNET project will deliver new large-scale mapping and a merged hydrographic DTM, via dedicated web services. The GEOSEAS project will also deliver new data sources accessible via the web, along with new standards for data exchange and interoperability, concluding in October with a conference hosted

by UCC. The Programme aims to deliver data for 2011 by the start of the next

field season in April, and to add to the web services. Research reports will made available via www.infomar. ie before the end of Q1 and with a research call at end 2011, exciting new results are expected to trickle through from mid 2012, with a focus on applied and added-value projects, many involving SMEs and private sector partners.

INFOMAR also hopes to engage in new activities of dedicated mapping and map products for the aquaculture industry, particularly regarding deepwater facilities and to participate in new training initiatives for graduates and industry.

We also plan to attend Tall Ships Dublin as well as Volvo Ocean Race finale in Galway, in addition to hosting our annual autumn seminar, in Cork.

All details on www.infomar.ie, with summaries of activities on the website blog. The INFOMAR team looks forward to another busy and challenging year and encourages potential data users to get in touch for advice or to relay feedback on the upcoming plans.

Cinderella of the aquaculture and seafood industry. Why is that?

There are diverse market application for seaweeds – ranging from food; functional foods and health supplements to agricultural applications; cosmetics; biotechnology and aquaculture.

Besides, over 600 different species of seaweed are identified from Irish waters.

Unfortunately seaweeds have never been taken seriously in Ireland, compared to fish, mussels, scallops and oysters and ample funding has gone into developing this resource.

The recession has made things worse, with BIM completely abandoning its seaweed programme. Again, it is the lack of vision or no vision at all!

Countries such as Norway are setting up large-scale programmes to develop their seaweed resources and seaweed aquaculture for integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. This is to

improve the environmental record of fish farming and progress biofuel development while Norway is a country that has large oil resources.

If we look at seaweed on a global scale it is a different storey.

Worldwide seaweed aquaculture is a growing sector. Latest figures show a production of over 15 million tonnes wet weight with an economic value of US$6.5bn. The majority of seaweed produced by aquaculture is used for human consumption and for extraction of hydrocolloids although the application for biofuels and other valuable ingredients is starting to play an important role.

Moreover, new applications of algae and specific algal compounds in different sectors, such as functional foods; cosmetics; biomedicine and biotechnology are developing. Recent trends in life style towards natural, healthy products are favourable for advancing seaweed consumption, applications and aquaculture.

Luckily the private sector in Ireland, including Ocean Harvest Technology, is rapidly developing the seaweed resources by initiating new ideas and implementing R&D programmes. It is through these initiatives that the future outlook looks good for our forgotten green gold on our shores.

Emerging markets such as functional foods and biofuel development from seaweeds will especially enhance the sector.

Bioethanol is currently produced from land-based crops such as corn and sugar cane, and the continued use of these crops will drive the food versus fuel debate as demand for ethanol increases.

Aquaculture of seaweeds is sustainable, uses less or no agricultural inputs (pesticides, fertiliser, land, water), and is not part of the human or animal food chain. Cultivated seaweeds could be used as an alternative biomass

source for bioethanol production and production of other high value added chemicals.

Seaweed biomass represents an abundant and carbon-neutral renewable resource with potential to reduce green-house gas emissions and the man-made impact on climate change. Coupled with fish farming it could even help alleviate environmental issues and recycle nitrates and phosphates.

The recent BIM initiative to create a deep water fish farm at the back of the Aran Islands to produce 15,000 tonnes on top of the 13,000 currently produced nationally should incorporate aquaculture of seaweeds. This would improve the environmental record, sustainability and carbon credits of the operation and could form part of the fish feed, creating the ultimate recycling of nutrients. Now that would be a longterm vision!

the sector was in great demand, as small to medium seafood enterprises sought to look at new ways to grow their business in the midst of recession.

They say ‘necessity is the mother of all invention’ and this was certainly the case in BIM’s Seafood Development Centre with 11 new products developed and brought to market. To ensure our seafood companies are targeting the right markets and growing their businesses effectively, four training courses in specialist business planning were delivered in Donegal, Galway, Wexford and West Cork.

With exports performing well at €333m (2010 figures), we worked with fishermen around the coast to ensure that Irish seafood can compete

against cheaper imports through our Stewardship Standard, which is independently accredited and only awarded to vessels that use responsible fishing methods. We intend to continue this process in the New Year to enable industry to brand their produce ‘responsibly fished’.

With global population figures growing and expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, worldwide demand for seafood is also growing. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimate that an extra 42 million tonnes of seafood will be required annually by 2030. This is a great opportunity for Ireland but we cannot meet this demand unless we develop our aquaculture sector.

Irish organic farmed salmon demands a high value on international

markets and through our deep sea farms project we hope to add significant additional salmon volumes in future years. BIM is communicating with all key stakeholders and working with the Marine Institute to investigate possible sites for these farms. This is an exciting development and the project will be a key focus for 2012.

I was delighted to be a member of the High Level Group on Job Creation for the Killybegs region, established

by Minister Coveney in June of this year. The group comprised representatives from the Irish seafood sector; tourism; education; enterprise and the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food and was tasked to identify potential jobs across key areas including seafood; ancillary services;

offshore supports; tourism /marine leisure and green economy/renewable energy. The group delivered its report to the Minister in November, outlining 250 potential jobs to be delivered over a three year period, 130 of which will be in the seafood sector.

As you will read in this issue, BIM, along with our partners, Irish Water Safety and the RNLI are continuing to create awareness for the importance of wearing lifejackets at sea. Seven fishermen lost their lives this year to date; safety at sea is paramount and wearing a lifejacket can be the difference between life and death.

We would appeal to all fishermen and fish farmers to support the campaign. Thank you to Inshore Ireland for their support in this issue….

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 27

2011 Year Review

Tom Geoghegan IFPEA

F

ollowing the deepening of the recession in 2009 with sluggish consumer demand, conditions experienced in main export markets for a range of the country’s fish export products - which resulted in a fall in the value of all Irish fish exports of 3.5% compared to €327m in 2008 – there was a very welcome and

Jan Feenstra MD Marine Harvest Ireland

T

he salmon industry entered into 2011 on the back of a record year in 2010.

Unfortunately, the inherent volatility and long production cycle of our industry caught up with us in mid-year when increased output from Norway and Chile exceeded global demand from that point once again.

On a more positive note, countries like Ireland and Scotland with more market-led strategies and which produced smaller increases were deservedly less affected. Their nurturing of more stable and less fragile market relationships paid dividends.

Ireland is mostly a niche producer of Irish organic salmon – a top quality product reared in pristine Irish tidal streams off our wild and rugged west coast. We have made our location a real strength in our business, yet ironically this is also a weakness and a challenge.

Some of the strengths lie in the shorter route to market and quality of how we farm, while many of the weaknesses relate to our small scale and relatively high costs of how and where we operate. Add to that the fact we are considerably behind competitors such as Norway in terms of development of our marine infrastructure, it can be difficult to see how we will ever be able to compete on price with our European competitors.

Nevertheless, niche products are also subject to the dynamics of market forces, and competitiveness must be carefully managed in order

marked increase in 2010 of 14% over the 2009 value, to €378m.

Significant growth in all main fish product categories was achieved in 2010 as follows:all shellfish exports increased by 18% to €135.5m all pelagic exports were up some 5% to €124m salmon exports further maintained their export growth of recent years, and significantly even through the recessionary years of 2008 and 2009, to reach a value of €55.5m, and all whitefish exports increased to €46m up by 13% The Irish seafood and processing industry has coped well and progressed strongly out of the recessionary years of 2008 and 2009.

Global market demand conditions in main markets abroad will continue to present challenges to the exporting industry’s efforts to achieve sustained growth in these markets.

Recessionary pressures in the EU and other markets abroad – highlighted in the EU by recent revisions downward in the projected to remain successful. In this respect, regulation and licensing continue to be key issues for attention in safeguarding and planning for our future.

It is therefore refreshing to read that our new Minister clearly recognises that Ireland has an underdeveloped marine resource; a resource that holds a tremendous potential for Ireland Inc and its coastal communities.

For the Minister to put this on the agenda is a really positive development, because we need much wider awareness of the potential the industry offers as well as greater understanding of how it can be developed.

Aquaculture licensing remains an issue but I am pleased that the decentralised department in Clonakilty is slowly but surely getting to grips with an incredibly complex legacy regulatory framework.

The reality is that with the best will in the world it will still take time but the process of simplifying and rationalising aquaculture licensing has started and is now under way.

All the indications are that new templates more readily regulated will soon be implemented. I am confident that in a few years these issues will be resolved.

Now is truly an opportune time to put the Minister’s vision of a more developed marine resource into action. But whatever we do, we must do it for the long term. Sustainability requires the coming together of responsible operators who genuinely manage their business based on fundamental values, and a regulator who understands and applies appropriate checks and controls on the operations according to relevant standards that we all understand.

Our approach must also by dynamic, constantly looking for better ways – ours is a young industry after all and full of further potential and improvements.

Against this background I am very much looking forward to working in this business in 2012, patiently optimistic that licensing will be rationalised and applied in a pragmatic and relevant manner. The business that I work in needs more licences – not simply to produce more but to produce better, more competitively and only then in due course a little more – in line with the market.

Such progress will represent the most valuable contribution to securing and building on the livelihoods of the 260 of us working in Marine Harvest Ireland into the future – come on Santa, roll on 2012!

growth targets set by Governments for their national economies – will not make the challenges facing Irish exporters any easier.

Our seafood exporting industry has the advantage in going from a position of strength competitively from its strong performance in 2010 to meet these challenges. It is very encouraging in this context to note that strong overall growth has already been maintained in the first seven months of 2011 in total Irish fish and fish product exports.

While experiencing a drop in volume terms of 8%, there has been a total value increase of exports in the seven months, of 10%, to €242m.

Meeting challenges ahead Of particular concern to the exporting industry at present – apart from the volatility of market demand conditions generally in the global market place – is the threat to the mackerel export trade valued at over €50m from Ireland to world markets, posed by very serious overfishing of

the North East Atlantic Mackerel stock by the Faroes and Iceland.

This arises from the autonomous allocations of very substantial mackerel fishing quotas to their fishermen in the absence of agreement between the North East Atlantic coastal states of Norway, Iceland and the Faroes and the EU on management arrangements for the mackerel stock.

The action of the Faroes and Iceland will result in a decrease in Ireland’s mackerel fishing quota for 2012.

Unless the protracted dispute between the parties concerned is speedily resolved, and urgent remedial action is taken, further decreases may result, with serious consequences for the valuable Irish mackerel export trade.

Negotiations involving the parties involved are on-going with a view to coming to an early solution.

To help maintain growth in our export trade in fish and fish products, it is becoming increasingly important, given the increasing number of EU/ Third Country Trade Agreements, that efforts by fishing industry representative organisations, EU

Commission trade fora and by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and other departments concerned in fish and food trade issues, should continue to prioritise developments throughout the negotiation stages of the Third Country Trade Agreements.

This would facilitate whatever action that might be required to be taken at national level in time to seek to prevent any serious threat to the Irish fish export trade, mooted or contemplated in the course of the negotiations.

The strengthening of the Quality Assurance Programmes across the range of Irish processed and fresh fish products will be a vital element in the entire industry’s efforts in meeting increasingly competitive export trading conditions on world markets.

BIM’s Quality Assurance Programmes and the Marine Stewardship Council’s initiatives play a very important role in support of these efforts.

Every good wish for 2012 from the team at Inshore Ireland

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) aims to promote compliance with sea-fisheries and food safety law by supporting and helping the industry to understand their legal obligations under this legislation. The SFPA will continue working in cooperation with the industry to further develop a culture of compliance to ensure the growth of a sustainable, profitable, and world class fishing industry in Ireland.

The SFPA is the independent statutory body, legally charged with the State’s sea-fisheries law enforcement functions.

Confidential Line: 1890 767676 Fax: +353 (0)23 8859300 E: info@sfpa.ie W: www.sfpa.ie

28 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

Coffee Break

Go to www.Printable-Puzzles.com for hints and solutions!

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44. Welshman, e.g. protector) 10. Romanov supporters 46. Marshy ground to Joanne Black, 67. City NW of Chicago 11. Point of view 49. In-line skates, for short Manorcunningham, 68. Group of players 12. Big bandleader Kay 50. Coves and bays Co Donegal and 69. Helmsman's call 13. "Later" 51. Semicolon'sIan cousin 70. They put on airs Lawler, Co 18. Spars on ships 52. "There was ___ past which 71. Upper house members: Dublin, winners of I could not see": "The 22.

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living landscape, 56. City on the Rhine, to locals which was reviewed in the October/November issue of Inshore Ireland.

inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 29

Book Review

Glorious Galway – Hookers, Currachs, Lake and River-Boats

Curach Adhmaid, an Spidéal

T

his wonderful, full-gloss bi-lingual volume which has emerged from a Heritage Council audit of the traditional boats of Co Galway brings me back to a time, pre-Volvo Ocean Race, when I spent some days travelling like a lost tourist in a small rental car around every pier, slipway, harbour, or cove discoverable. I was following the directional brown signs to the ends of long, often narrow, and winding paths, right to the outer extremities of Connemara in search of picturesque sights and evidence of western beauty from a maritime perspective.

As an exercise in exploration, the experience was superb; however if Glorious Galway had been in existence then, it would have served greatly as a reference guide to all of those places and place-names visited.

The book explores vast areas – from the river Suck to Clonfert; the Corrib to Clifden; Leitir Móir and Ceathra Rua, and the maritime playground that is Galway Bay, in very fine detail.

At the same time technical and informative, supported by drawings of immense detail, this work has all the appearance of being compiled by a team of researchers as opposed to a just a few lead by Donal Lynch. It is both a reference guide and historical account of more than 500 traditional vessels typical to Co Galway.

All sorts of boat design queries are explained: The difference between

An Cnoc, Garmna currach canbháis and curach adhmaid; the bád iomartha and the bád mór; a lobster boat or a lake boat...

So much of what is familiar to boat-lovers about Galway’s maritime background – from the Congested Districts Board (to me a kind of inverse NAMA of the 19th, established to alleviate poverty in the West of Ireland which later went on to become the backbone of the Department of Fisheries) to the hooker or sailing vessel varieties; the gleoiteog, leath bhád, zulu, nobby, and traditions of boat-building, transportation, racing, fishing, wandering –are all contained within this beautifully illustrated book.

The work is lavishly descriptive and educational throughout, bringing alive those boat types and models while charting their distribution and bringing the reader on a similar journey to my own through the immense web of lakes, rivers, bays, and waterways of Co Galway.

We can dip in to this book in many ways, as if stopping for lunch and reading a West of Ireland-brand five-star menu: “GRP-skinned boats, with transom; double gunwale; light skeleton with steamed ribs; traditionally covered with tarred canvas; constructed upside down…”

Glorious Galway is a must-have book for anyone interested in the world of boating and the understanding of a distinctive ‘man-made marine heritage’, and the

All photos courtesy of Meitheal Mara

BIM lobster boat The publishers have generously provided two copies as competition prizes: Q: Approximately how many traditional vessels are described in Glorious Galway Hookers, Curachs, Lake & Riverboats Answers by January 20, with name, address and contact details to:

Corrib lake boat

mills@inshore-ireland.com or on a postcard to 3 Hillview Cottages, Pottery Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

Glorious Galway Hookers, Curachs, Lake and River-Boats

Bád Mór

work evokes the great maritime nature of the county and her peoples.

An example of such came about during my first visit to the Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvarra

this summer where I was permitted a glimpse of the future President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, enjoying the events and even helping to transfer turf from bád mór to pier in the traditional

Published in 2011 by Meitheal Mara and Galway County Council ISBN 978-0-9567939-0-4 Cost €25; p&p €9; available at www.oceantocity.com and selected bookshops. Enquiries to Meitheal Mara, 021 4316813 or mmara@iol.ie.

manner.

This work will keep alive those great traditions for many years to come and we wish it well.

Cian Gallagher, Dublin

30 inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012

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n Friday December 16, Seascapes heads for the Arctic with tour guide and naturalist Jim Wilson, author of the recently published Fresh Water Birds of Ireland in which Jim tells Marcus Connaughton about the forbidding world of the Svalbard Archipelago; what visitors to the region can experience: the sights and sounds of a Polar region; constant vigilance and awareness of polar bears and how the area has developed.

On Friday December 23, Seascapes brings listeners some seasonal fare from Canon Adrian Empey who recently retired from the Mission to Seafarers. He was a familiar figure on his bicycle with his high visibility jacket, around Dublin Port and docks. We hear also from his successor, Dermot Desmond – an old friend of the programme through his work with the RNLI. Seascapes will also be taking a look at the year ahead with Michael Byrne of Sail Training Ireland for youth development, with the Tall Ships due in Dublin in August, and at the Volvo Ocean Race as Leg 2 from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi is underway with three boats rejoining the race for the finish in Galway in July. Friday December 30, Seascapes features our islands off the West coast and their saintly connections with Anthony Previte who takes us on a reflective journey through these historic outposts of our maritime history .

SEASCAPES – on RTÉ Radio 1 @ 10.30pm or via podcast on: www. rte.ie/radio1/ seascapes.

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inshore ireland December 2011/January 2012 31

Outside Ireland

The beach at Mbour, which ranks second in the league table of fish landings in Senegal. The first being its neighbour, Joal.

Securing transparency and sustainability in African fisheries Brian O’Riordan ICSF

O

ver 120 participants from 16 African and four EU countries gathered in Mbour, Senegal’s second most important fishing town, to celebrate World Fisheries Day on November 21 last,and to attend a three-day conference on ‘Transparency in the Maritime Fisheries Sector in Africa.’

Mbour town is the administrative capital of the Department of Mbour, whose landing centres account for 60% of the Senegalese fish catch. Here on Senegal’s southwest facing ‘Petite-Côte, 4,500 artisanal pirogues, or 25% of Senegal’s artisanal fleet, average annual fish landings of 170,000 tonnes.

Fishermen from this region have pioneered grassroots co-management and marine protected area initiatives, which conservation organisations like the WWF and IUCN are trying to emulate and replicate elsewhere in West Africa.

International instrument The theme chosen for the World Fisheries Day celebrations was ‘securing sustainable small scale fisheries’. One of the main objectives was to discuss and draft recommendations for a new international instrument on small-scale fisheries being developed under the auspices of the FAO - the Voluntary Guidelines on securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (VG SSF). Similar civil society consultations are being held

across Africa, Asia and Latin America ahead of FAO’s July 2012 Fisheries Committee meeting (COFI 30) which will launch the process to develop the VG SSF guidelines.

The event was hosted and organised by the African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fisheries Organizations (CAOPA) in collaboration with various international and local partners, with support from the FAO. Invited participants included fisheries leaders; leaders from the post-harvest sector including women fish processors and traders; civil society organisations; and local authorities. Also present were members of the West African Journalists’ Network for Responsible Fisheries (REJOPRAO), Seafood Choices Alliance Seafood Champion award winners in 2010.

Resource conservation During the opening ceremony, primary school pupils from the Abbé David Boilat Training Centre highlighted the importance of conserving resources for future generations.

They also presented pictures they had drawn depicting how fishing had become unsustainable, highlighting the need for fishworkers to stop fishing blindly and to open their eyes to future as well as current needs.

Discussions focussed on the technical, social, economic, cultural and political aspects that characterise artisanal and small-scale fisheries in African countries; those aspects that make artisanal fisheries the preferred model for the EEZ – focusing on its good practices, community based activities and co-management; and the most

serious problems facing artisanal and small-scale fisheries in the African context.

Artisanal fisheries were characterised as being small in scale, low in environmental impact, diverse and versatile, producing fresh fish for direct human consumption, for both export and local markets.

The lack of cold chain and storage facilities, and the dependence on traditional handling and processing techniques often leads to losses of product and income. At the same time it was highlighted that fishing communities are vulnerable and exposed to risks; lack access to training and education and have high levels of illiteracy.

Participants called for the elimination of destructive fishing practices and the development of good artisanal fishing practices as the preferred model for the entire EEZ without compromising sea safety or decent working conditions.

Over the following three days, around 60 participants attended a Conference on ‘Transparency on the Maritime Fisheries Sector in Africa’ also hosted by the CAOPA in cooperation with the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), TransparentSea and other partners. Participants shared and learned about how major investments in aid projects to develop artisanal fisheries were not benefitting fishing communities, and where transparency was lacking on where the aid monies end up.

Similarly, major flows of speculative transnational capital are being invested in industrial fishing operations in African waters. These may be connected to irregular fishing authorisations

for foreign fleets, or where local businessmen, government functionaries and foreign companies hide behind covert agreements involving billions of dollars.

Recent arrangements entered into in Senegal with Eastern bloc vessels that had brought thousands of Senegalese fishworkers onto the streets in protest violated the United Nations Law of the Sea and national fishery regulations.

Furthermore, these ‘sunken billions’ don’t recompense fishing communities for their loss of access to valuable food resources, or the damage done to the marine ecosystem.

The conference underlined how transparency is an emerging issue in fisheries, an issue highlighted by the FAO in its State of theWorld Fisheries and Aquaculture Report for 2010, which is being taken account of by the World Bank and other major donors that are beginning to adopt transparency programmes.

Conference participants called for standards and principles for transparency in fisheries

to be developed and adopted.

These would include making information available in local languages using simplified terminology; setting time limits for processing and responding to requests for information; making information readily accessible in the form that best suits the country where it is disseminated, and ensuring proper participation and prior informed consent in policy making and implementation.

For more information see: VG SSF Guidelines and Civil Society: https://sites.google. com/site/smallscalefisheries/ Information on VG SSF Process: http://www.fao.org/ fishery/ssf/guidelines/en The Benefits and Limits of Transparency: http://capecffa.org/spip.php?article194

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