Inshore ireland vol 11 nr 1 (feb mar) 2015

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

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February/March 2015 Vol 11 Issue 1

ONLINE EDITION

Increase in seafood exports to new and emerging markets

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pages 12&13

Does the Landing Obligation contravene existing regulations?

Gillian Mills

F

rom January 1, 2015, fishermen in certain parts of the EU targeting pelagic and industrial species, and salmon and cod fisheries in the Baltic, must land the fish they catch. But all catches of undersized fish, over quota or in excess of catch composition rules, must continue to be returned to the sea, the EU Commission has declared.

Pelagic fisheries in international waters are

also subject to the Landing Obligation with the exception of fisheries in non-EU waters where there is a legal obligation to discard in an international agreement (e.g. ICCAT rules relating to Bluefin tuna) and fisheries in the waters of thirdcountries where the law of the third-country applies.

In the fisheries under the Landing Obligation, all catches of all species (regardless of whether they are pelagic or demersal) managed through Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas - and in the Mediterranean catches subject to minimum sizes - must be

landed. (For example, vessels fishing for mackerel should also land accidental catches of demersal species, e.g. cod.)

Catches can be returned to sea after January 1 however if are they covered by the exemptions (‘de minimis’ and high survivability) defined in the discard plans.

Regional discard plans with such exemptions cover the Western waters, North Sea, Baltic and Mediterranean.

There are no exemptions for pelagic fisheries (sprat) in the Black Sea. These catches are not counted against quota but must be documented in the logbook. Catches of prohibited species cannot

Mallagh Rock, Arranmore Bay, Co Donegal, takes a beating during recent winter storms.

be retained on board and must be returned to the sea.

Industry reaction

Sean O’Donoghue, CEO of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation which represents the majority of Ireland’s pelagic fleet, believes the Landing Obligation creates an “immediate anomaly as it runs in direct contravention of existing regulations – in particular Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98, or Technical Conversation Measures regulation.”

An ‘Omnibus Regulation’ proposed to bring the conflicting regulations into line by the Council and the

European Parliament before the January 1 deadline failed to reach agreement.

While the EU Commission is expected to resolve the outstanding issues, “enforcement of the Landing Obligation requires a common sense approach,” he added.

At a meeting convened when the talks broke down, the Commission outlined the options available.

“They made it very clear that the penalty point system did not apply to the Landing Obligation [from] January 1 as it was not listed as a major offence under the »» page10

Photo: J Rafferty

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inshore ireland February/March 2015

News

Mayo seaweed harvesters to oppose application for “exclusive” seaweed harvesting licence Gery Flynn

C

onfirmation that Kerry-based biotechnology company BioAtlantis Ltd has applied for a licence to harvest seaweed in Clew Bay has led to concerns among traditional harvesters in the coastal communities of north west Mayo.

BioAtlantis’s application for a ten-year exclusive licence to harvest Ascophyllum comes in the wake of last year’s takeover of Connemara seaweed processor Arramara Teoranta by Acadian Seaplants of Canada – a move which also caused some disquiet among Connemara’s traditional seaweed harvesters.

Now, in what appears to be a widening campaign of opposition to the granting of exclusive harvesting rights, traditional harvesters in the Erris area of northwest Mayo have come together through

a series of meetings organised by local Sinn Féin Councillor, Rose Conway-Walsh.

Concillor Conway-Walsh told Inshore Ireland that the sale of Arramara Teoranta had already led to concern in coastal communities on the west coast with many seeing it as “the first step in the privatisation of seaweed and other natural resources found along the seashore”.

“The sale of this public asset jeopardises the harvesting rights of seaweed cutters and those who have used seaweed along the Mayo coast for generations. And in spite of protestations from the Government that there was no intention to sell off the State-owned Arramara it is now clear that Sinn Féin was correct in relaying information to our constituents that background discussions were taking place to push the sale through without consultation,” Councillor Conway-Walsh declared.

She urged land owners to check their land folios

to establish their seaweed harvesting rights and she called on coastal communities to work together “to ensure the rights to cut seaweed and benefits arising from processing this natural resource are held by communities using a fair trade co-operative model.

“It would be wrong of any licence to be issued prior to the ruling of the Attorney General or indeed before the Foreshore Act is published which is likely to be some time in February. So I am again asking landowners to ascertain their rights to seaweed cutting as a matter of urgency”, she added Councillor Conway-Walsh urged harvesters to contact Land Registry on 01 670 7500 to find out whether their rights are on their folios.

“If they give their folio number they will be told whether seaweed rights are on the map. They don’t have to pay anything to find out this information but if they want to then order the map they will pay €40,” she concluded.

Marine Institute Foras na Mara

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

Councillor, Rose Conway-Walsh.

Energy saving solution shortlisted in entrepreneur awards

C

o-founders of OxyMem (Prof Eoin Casey; Dr Eoin Syron and Wayne Byrne) - an Athlone-based company that has designed an energy saving solution for wastewater treatment have been shortlisted in the Business category of the 2015 David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards.

In the developed world, over 2.5% of global electricity production is used for treating and pumping wastewater.

The majority of this energy is used to supply oxygen to the bacteria that breakdown the pollutants in the wastewater.

The preferred delivery method for the last 100 years has been bubble aeration - a very energy intensive process that results in over 70% of the energy being wasted.

Prof Casey and Dr Syron of UCD’s School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering developed the breakthrough MABR (Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor) technology.

“Energy inefficiency in wastewater treatment continues to be the number one challenge for the water sector,” explained Prof Casey. The MABR technology exploits gas permeable membranes (non-porous) to deliver oxygen directly to the wastewater treating bacteria. This means that it uses at least 4 times less energy and costs less than traditional aeration systems.”

The winners will be announced on February 17, 2015. For more information visit www.oxymem.com

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

www.marine.ie Wayne Byrne, Dr Eoin Syron and Professor Eoin Casey

inshore ireland February/March 2015

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Comment

Is Freedom of Information really what it says it is?

I

n our December issue we chronicled IFA Aquaculture’s efforts through Freedom of Information (2009 and 2013)) and Public Access to Environmental Information (2013) to procure the full and final report of the SUMBAWS Project which was published in 2005.

The representative body of Ireland’s aquaculture sector had sought this scientific report because parts of it were quoted in a formal Complaint to the EU Commission in February 2009 by the environmental group Salmon Watch Ireland on the potential impact of sea lice on wild salmon stocks in Ireland.

The complaint resulted in the EU Commission launching a five-year Pilot Investigation

of Ireland’s lice monitoring programme. According to IFA Aquaculture, this investigation had a negative impact on the development of Ireland’s finfish farming sector.

In-depth study

SUMBAWS is a record of the investigations carried out by an eminent team of researchers from Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands and Norway. It provides a socio-economic evaluation of the interactions between the various salmon-based businesses (aquaculture, commercial fishing and angling) in three countries, Ireland, Norway and Scotland.

It also comprises comparable figures of the value of the various sectors, and examines in detail the costs associated with lice reduction and devises a methodology for estimating and comparing the costs and benefits involved.

With a working budget of

almost €2.4 million this should be, by any measure, a significant, worthwhile and informative piece of investigative research.

This body of work compiled by such an eminent body of international researchers would surely be of interest and indeed required reading for anyone connected with the finfish aquaculture sector in Ireland.

Notwithstanding, the formal efforts by IFA Aquaculture to unearth SUMBAWS from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have to date failed.

Elusive report

Almost four months have passed since Inshore Ireland first sought a copy of SUMBAWS from Inland Fisheries Ireland who deny having it, despite the fact that one of their senior fisheries biologists contributed to the publication.

A similar request to the

Economic and Social Research Institute – the second Irish contributor – has also failed.

Our own formal Freedom of Information Request for a copy of SUMBAWS from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was refused on December 30. We are now appealing this decision.

Salmon Watch Ireland would not reveal to this paper whether it had used a full copy of SUMBAWS or who had provided it with the information for its case. And Friends of the Irish Environment told us that SUMBAWS does not exist!

It beggars belief that a report backed by the EU to the tune of more than €1.6 million and which may contain vital information pertinent to the debate on the impact of lice on wild salmonid populations is still not readily available in this country.

The question is why?

comment

Gery Flynn

A Freedom of Information request by Inshore Ireland’ is refused

I

n a letter dated December 30, 2014, the officer handling this paper’s request on behalf of the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources states he had made ‘a final decision’ to refuse the request under Section 15(1)(a).

According to the officer, the SUMBAWS Report “was co-ordinated by University of St Andrews in Scotland who forwarded same to the European Commission’.

He notes also that as the report was funded by European Union FP5; Contract number Q5RS-2002-00730: ‘It is our understanding that it

should be requested from the European Union.”

“The information requested is not held by or for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and accordingly pursuant to Section 15(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 the Department is not

in a position to provide the report requested,’ he states.

On foot of this refusal, Inshore Ireland lodged an appeal and is now seeking a review of the original decision.

Our letter of appeal noted our understanding that the Department of Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources previously

provided the SUMBAWS Report to a third party under FoI. We pointed out too that a senior biologist with Inland Fisheries Ireland confirmed he had worked on this report on behalf of the then Central Fisheries Board.

According to the FOI Unit, a new decision may be expected

by February 11.

Launch of the Atlantic Action Plan support team

T

he support team of the Atlantic Action Plan was launched at the Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conferenc in Porto, Portugal on January 20. The event was attended by over four hundred marine Atlantic stakeholders sharing ideas on Atlantic tourism; the blue economy; the marine environment and science and technology. It offered the support team a great opportunity to meet the stakeholders and promote the Atlantic Action Plan.

The European Commission set up the support team to provide guidance and proactive support to public and private organisations, research institutions and investors. The support team is operating through five ‘focal points’ based in all the countries covered

by the Atlantic Strategy (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the UK), to help interested stakeholders to find funding opportunities and suitable partners for developing projects, as well as information about hot topics on fisheries and the key maritime sector events.

The Atlantic Action Plan objectives are in line with the EU’s Blue Growth initiative which aims to achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) has been appointed as Focal Point Ireland. Through this role, Focal Point Ireland is working to disseminate information on the Atlantic Action Plan; its research and investment priorities and

Inshore Ireland is published by IIPL Ltd

possible funding tools.

It also provides a ‘matchmaking platform’ to bring together potential project partners and to advise them on the use of EU financial instruments for projects implementing the Action Plan, including those by the European Investment Bank (EIB), or any other public or private funding channels at European, national and regional/local level.

Two national events will showcase the Atlantic Action Plan in Ireland and provide a forum to discuss projects and funding opportunities.

All stakeholders in the Atlantic marine area are invited to contact focalpointireland@ atlanticstrategy.eu, for further information or follow them twitter @ focalpointIE or visit: www. atlanticstrategy.eu

Editor

Features Editor

Gillian Mills

Gery Flynn

mills@inshore-ireland.com

flynn@inshore-ireland.com

01 235 4804

091 844822

Left to right: Ben Drakeford (Focal point UK), Federico Cardona-Pons (Focal point Spain), Amaya Vega (Focal point Ireland), Jorge Graca (Focal point Portugal), Gildas Borel (Focal point France).

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inshore ireland February/March 2015

News

Slow Food celebrities break link to farmed salmon boycott Gery Flynn

T

wo prominent members of the Slow Food Ireland movement have distanced themselves from a call by environmental watchdog, Friends of the Irish Environment, to

boycott farmed salmon saying they had not been contacted in advance of the campaign.

Food journalist and publisher Sally McKenna of the Bridgstone Guide and Darina Allen, founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School, told Inshore Ireland they did not support the pre-Christmas call to boycott

smoked Irish farmed salmon.

A press release issued

by Friends of the Irish Environment in the run up to Christmas welcomed Slow Food International’s opposition to intensive fish farming and its contention that open-net pen aquaculture was not a solution to over fishing.

Sally McKenna and Darina Allen state that no permission was sought to use their names

‘In Ireland, Slow Food counts amongst its members Bridgestone’s Sally McKenna and that icon of Irish sustainable food, Darina Allen. To have the support of these top names in Ireland in our campaign to bring about sustainable aquaculture is a real boost, the FIE statement says.

No permission

When asked by Inshore Ireland however where they stood in relation to FIE’s call, Sally McKenna and Darina Allen said they had not been asked for permission to link them to the boycott, and that this paper’s enquiry was the first they knew of the issue.

Sally McKenna added that while standing by Slow Food’s contention that open-net aquaculture was not the solution to the problem of overfishing, she did not support the campaign by Friends of the Irish Environment to boycott farmed salmon.

“The Christmas season is a time of critical importance for Irish salmon smokers.

To mount a boycott would destroy the livelihoods of salmon smokers and their staff who live in coastal communities.

“Nobody from Friends

of the Irish Environment contacted me before using my name on a press release suggesting I was in favour of the boycott,” she confirmed.

In a written response to Inshore Ireland, Darina Allen declared she fully concurred with Sally McKenna’s response and sentiments and “could not express it any more succinctly”.

She added that Slow Food Ireland’s name had been referenced and used by both sides in this debate “without express permission” from Slow Food Ireland.

“Slow Food is not a political football, and permissions need to be sought before any government submission or press release uses its name”.

The FIE press release also quoted Richie Flynn of IFA Aquaculture describing the call to boycott farmed salmon as “reckless posturing, an ill-thought out and malicious protest, and an act of sabotage against marine communities”.

Speaking later to Inshore Ireland Richie Flynn said the attempt to boycott Irish farmed salmon was “an irrelevant, lazy and desperate stunt to mislead consumers and hurt people who actually work for a living”.

The Irish Boycott Farmed Salmon campaign responds

T

he statement by two of Ireland’s leading food celebrities to Inshore Ireland that they do not support the boycott of farmed salmon came as a complete surprise to the Boycott Farmed Salmon campaign, which in the last two years has grown into an international campaign supported by food outlets, including those of Slow Food members in Ireland.

Perhaps the individuals involved are not familiar with Slow Food’s policy on farmed salmon - or the meaning of the word ‘boycott’.

The Slow Food policy was made crystal clear last year by Piero Sardo, President of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, when this issue arose over the proposed Galway Bay mega-salmon farm and the implication taken by some from the Environmental Impact Statement contents that Slow Food supported the project.

‘Open net pen aquaculture is not a solution to the problem of overfishing: It

damages natural ecosystems on a local and a global level, including wild stocks, habitats and water quality.

Feeding carnivorous salmon in farms means other wild species must also be harvested, resulting in a larger carbon footprint - since the fish feed must be fished, processed and transported.’

Slow Food devotes a specific listing to farmed salmon in its ‘Not On My Plate’ section of its website which makes it clear that ‘salmon is anything but a sustainable fish’ (including wild Atlantic salmon); those who claim to be following the sustainable principles of Slow Food should surely support Slow Food’s public positions.

It is not up to Slow Food’s Irish celebrities to determine which of that organisation’s policies they will adhere to and which they will not. Members of Slow Food, with all the market credibility and advantage that this prestigious

name confers, have no choice but to ensure the products they promote meet Slow Food’s requirements.

Indeed, as President of Slow Food Ireland, Darina Allen, on the Slow Food website only last year appeared to profess the greatest fidelity to their philosophy: ‘I understand that for many nowadays, it’s about survival and even though they may not be able to renew their [Slow Food] membership, many are still living their lives by the principles of Slow Food – good, clean and fair.

This philosophy underpins everything we do at Ballymaloe and the students who spend 12 weeks with us seem to feel deeply committed to spreading the Slow Food philosophy.’

Sally McKenna and Darina Allen must decide what side they are on and what message they have for the Irish consumer, over whom they hold the greatest influence.

If celebrities wish to support

the fish farming industry and its downstream activities, of course they have the perfect right to do so. But to do so while teaching and calling for people to be ‘living their lives by the principles of

Slow Food’- even to holding high office in the Irish Slow Food movement – is simply hypocritical.

If they wish to ‘break the link’ to the boycott, then they must ‘break the link’ with Slow Food.

Tony Lowes, Friends of the Irish Environment

inshore ireland February/March 2015

5

freshwater focus

The salmon that broke the duck’s egg Brendan Connolly

W

hile January and February are the darkest and coldest months of the year, anglers are beginning to stir, looking forward to the new trout season - and, of course, the imminent start of the salmon season.

Salmon angling is a strange sport; it is a gripping passion and a life-long fascination.

Fickle and unpredictable, with big potential pay-offs but also long blank periods.

Having not landed a salmon for 10 years, one angler was beginning to believe he was simply not destined to ever land one again.

Knowing where the salmon lie in the river: beside a certain stone, at the edge of a run or for some unexplained reason, in the middle of a wide pool, is a distinct advantage.

The angler had covered these lies for 10 years without landing a single fish. He felt he was stuck in a rut of just covering the water with little chance of hooking a salmon.

A negative mind-set that in theory should not affect the likelihood of catching a fish, but which left the angler with a sneaking suspicion he was not presenting the fly in the right way.

‘Mended’ line

Presenting a fly for trout fishing involves a cast down stream across river, similar to salmon fishing but followed by allowing the current to form a belly in the line to sweep the fly across the river with a relatively fast retrieve. For salmon, the line is ‘mended’

so that it is straight and without a belly - to let the fly cross the river without speeding up too much.

The angler’s lack of success had been a topic of conversation and some gentle fun-poking. Then one of his companions decided to investigate his retrieval technique more closely. It turned out that the angler had got into a habit of retrieving faster than he should.

His friend flicked out the fly, letting it cross the river without retrieving, and dangled it in salmon lies virtually without movement.

As he was demonstrating beside the pillar of a bridge, he stopped talking and without a word, handed the rod to the first angler.

There was no sign of a rise or swirl, but as the first angler lifted the rod, the line tightened and moved away from the bridge.

There was a powerful force taking the line downstream.

The angler struck and a large swirl erupted at the surface. A salmon, the first in over 10 years!

As the salmon torpedoed across the pool and back up the river, the angler let him go but kept up a constant pressure. The salmon turned at the bridge and hesitated, then turned again and went beneath the bridge and out the far side.

As the fly line was now rubbing against the concrete pillar the angler went downstream to relieve the pressure, and tried to entice the fish back again beneath bridge. Luckily, the salmon went back the way it had come and again cruised about the pool. After a while it tired and showed at the

surface, rolling over with a flash of its silver belly.

Once again it disappeared below the surface, and then reappeared. Eventually, it stayed on its side on the surface, as the second angler held open the net. There were cheers all around; however the angler maintained he had only caught half a salmon as his friend had hooked the fish.

Double prize

Heartened and encouraged, the angler strode upriver. He allowed the fly dangle, only retrieving it slowly when the current was not strong enough to keep it off the bottom.

Fishing the salmon lies in the pools and in the runs, he felt much more confident.

Coming to the head of a pool, he dangled the fly at the side of the current, close to a gabion on the bank and felt a pluck with the fly virtually stationary in the water. After a while he slowly retrieved and cast out again.

He again felt a pluck, bit nothing more. He cast a third time and kept the fly stationary beside the same gabion. This time he not only felt a pluck but a determined pull, but again no swirl or rise at the surface. He did not strike immediately to avoid

pulling the hook out of the salmon’s mouth, and allowed the fish to turn downstream and away from him. Then he struck and the salmon took off down the pool.

The angler played the salmon up and down the pool for some time. At times the salmon was out of sight in the

Southeast says ‘no more’ to fluoridation

W

exford County Council has passed a motion supporting an end to ‘outdated and dangerous’ practice of public water fluoridation in Ireland.

The motion tabled by Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (SF) called on government to ‘cease and reverse Ireland’s Health (fluoridation of water supplies) Act 1960 with immediate effect’ received unanimous support from all parties.

Wexford is the first major Irish council in 2015 to formally adopt a position of opposition to fluoridation and is the sixth major Council to do so since early 2014, following Cork County; Cork City Kerry; Laois and Dublin City.

‘The Health (fluoridation of water supplies) Act 1960 continues to inflict irreversible cosmetic and structural pre eruption damage to the teeth (fluorosis) of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country otherwise violating legally binding conditions as laid out by Justice John Kenny during a constitutional challenge to the mandatory water fluoridation legislation that took place in 1964’, a statement by Wexford County Council reads.

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A brace of salmon breaks the duck’s egg

depths, only to then accelerate through the shallow, driving a bow wave ahead. It was exhilarating stuff. The second angler joined him and also netted the second salmon.

Catching one and a half salmon within a couple of hours had truly broken the ten-year duck’s egg!

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inshore ireland February/March 2015

YOURVIEW Floating factories: the highest risk of them all Francis O’Donnell, IFPO

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n recent months we have seen the Seafisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) applying the penalty point system to a number of Irish vessels. The SFPA has recently appointed an assistant principal officer to manage this part of their remit, following an open call through the public appointments process.

At the time of writing an internal candidate has been offered the position. This is a big development and a game changer for the Irish fishing industry; it’s what I call creep control and all began with log sheets, VMS, then ERS and now penalty points. Control can be a good thing, but it has to be applied in a fair and proper

way. The process has to be transparent - a level-playingfield so to speak.

Ireland was the first country to implement a properly functioning ERS (Electronic Recording and Reporting) system - and there are member states that still do not have a system in place. The field is not level as we speak.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and Common Organisation of Markets for Fishery and Aquaculture Products (CMO) exist so that control and marketing approaches for fisheries are harmonised. It is my opinion that those objectives are not being met in Ireland.

Ireland is operating a control system for foreign factory vessels that falls short. At any given time, the SFPA is confident that a factory vessel fishing inside our 200-mile limit has quota

to be there; however they do not know how much quota the vessel has because the vessel can trade quota in ‘real-time’ (e.g. buy quota from other vessels under the same flag. This is simply unsatisfactory.

At a minimum, regular inspections should be mandatory to establish if the vessel has quota; the amount of species available to it and as part of the controls, samples should be taken from different parts of the hold for size grade evaluation. The latter measure would establish if ‘high grading’ was taking place. No one can convince me there is not a problem to be looked at here.

The SFPA has also offered an internal staff member an assistant principal position to monitor and profile vessels in terms of their risk potential. I am

looking forward to working with that person as major stakeholders in that process.

This has to be applied in the same way to foreign factory vessels and demersal vessels.

In my opinion, the SFPA has to ensure they know exactly what quota a vessel has in real- time, when fishing in Ireland’s EEZ. On another point, if an Irish vessel is unfortunate enough to receive penalty points and then appeals the decision to the SFPA appeals officer and fails to have the points removed - the owner can go to court. If the court finds that the offence which incurred the points did not happen, the points however remain on the licence holder and vessel.

This is worth repeating: the points remain on the licence holder and vessel.

It’s a fact and one the IFPO will not entertain. Penalty points on a licence reduce

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Francis O’Donnell, IFPO

the value of the associated capacity. How can a penalty apply if the court determines the offence did not take place?

I am baffled by this. No control agency can stand over such a situation, credibility is critical here.

We now have a public consultation call on administrative sanctions and an amendment to the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act of 2006 which would allow the points to be applied to the master of the vessel.

In conclusion, why would anyone support a penalty point system that is flawed, and apply it to skippers, knowing that if a court finds them innocent, the points remain with you. It is against all principles of natural justice.

This is certainly a case where fact is stranger than fiction.

inshore ireland February/March 2015

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.

Salmon extinction on the cards if licences are granted Noel Carr

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he Federation of Irish Salmon & Sea Trout Anglers (FISSTA) has been attempting to engage with the real farmers of Ireland ever since the Irish Farmers’ Association issued a report claiming 600 fish farm licence applications had been in the system for more than five years and that aquaculture could create up to 2,000 additional jobs in coastal areas, leading to €500 million in further exports.

Sadly, the creation of these new jobs will be at the expense of 15,000 jobs already created in angling tourism which delivers over €755 million to the State.

Salmon farm application Since BIM submitted an application in August 2012 for a 15,000 tonnes salmon fish farm, quite a lot has transpired to sink the initiative, in which a number of international aquaculture operators expressed interest, operating on behalf of the State agency.

BIM IS also seeking an aquaculture licence for a 5,000 tonnes farm between Inishbofin Island and Inishturk, Co Mayo, which it applied for last year but as yet no EIS appears to have been lodged.

The Ireland Against Salmon Cages group led by FISSTA has opposed the applications

Noel Carr, Secretary, FISSTA

on environmental grounds, claiming they pose significant risk to the Inis Oirr area, citing such disasters as the 230,000 salmon escape due to adverse weather conditions in Bantry Bay last February which impacts negatively on all wild salmon and seatrout habitat in the south west.

The marine report on this the largest farmed salmon escape in the world was refused

by Minister Simon Coveney, claiming it was confidential.

Habitats Directive Minister Coveney also pointed out to Independent Kerry TD, Tom Fleming, who asked about the number of aquaculture licences issued, that the European Court of Justice found that Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under the Habitats Directive. The Minister said a process was agreed with the European Commission which would lead to full compliance.

Just in case there was any decline in his enthusiasm for outdated technology of the open salmon cages, he promised that “significant progress will be made” this year in licensing around the Irish coast and that more than 200 licences had been issued in the past three years for bays, including Inner Bantry Bay; Roaringwater Bay; Killary Harbour and Castlemaine Harbour.

The ten mega salmon farm idea for over 150,000 tonnes per annum by the Minister seems very much alive as he clarified that a decision on the first of ten

controversial applications, for a fish farm near Inis Orr in Galway Bay, will be made “as soon as possible”.

Scientific debate In response to his Dáil answer, journalist Fergal Keane on RTE Drivetime (January 20th 2015), did the nation a great service by exposing part of the fishy salmon farming story against our wild fish habitat.

Every scientific report has highlighted the sealice impact but fish farm interests ignore the level of damage and our wild fish continue to die despite the scientific debate having been won long ago.

We all know more than enough to avoid farming salmon or seatrout in Irish waters that cause Amoebic Gill Disease and massive sealice infestation as the past figures prove in Donegal.

It is time to leave this open-cage fish farming industry to Scotland and Norway with productions of 200,000 tonnes and 1.2m tonnes respectively. Ireland can never compete at that level as our minuscule 10,000 tonnes of production makes the political decision not to grant any more licences at present a much easier one.

It is time to avoid any further gamble to our wild fish which supports 15,000 jobs and generates an economic impact of €755m to our west coast of Ireland communities.

The Minister is conflicted when he admits “there is always a strict separation between my ministerial role as decision-maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed.”

But we anglers know better and with such potential damage to our marine environment, tourism and economy, it must not be his decision alone.

The implications are so catastrophic that this decision must be a collective Cabinet one as the time has come for Ministers Coveney, White, Kelly and Noonan to convene a sealice summit and do the right thing by rejecting the application to grant the licence for the first of and for the entire ten fish farms off our coast.

In this case the message is simple and easy for our politicians: Do nothing and leave our wild Atlantic salmon alone.

Left to right: PJ Claffey, HSA; Sheena Notley, HSA; Martin O’Halloran HSA CEO; Minister for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash TD; Anthony Morahan, HSA; Ray Murray, BIM and Pat Griffin, HSA

Tackling the high level of fatalities in the fishing industry

F

ishermen are 40 times more likely to be killed while at work compared to the general working population, making fishing the most hazardous sector in which to work, according to the Health and Safety Authority.

From 2002 to 2013, twenty-seven incidents, mostly potting, have ended in forty-seven fatalities, averaging four-five fatalities per annum; a further fatality is recorded in 2014.

Recognising this high level of fatalities, the HSA along with BIM has produced a guidance document, Managing Health and Safety in Fishing, aimed at skippers and crew of small fishing boats. Approximately 90% of all registered Irish fishing vessels are less than 15 metres in length.

The aim of the booklet is to raise awareness of health and safety issues and to contribute to reducing the number of serious and fatal accidents.

Minister for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash has welcomed this “timely” guide for one of the most dangerous occupations.

“Fishermen work in a natural but unpredictable work environment and have difficult work conditions. Being at sea means that in many cases,the consequence of an accident is more severe than if it occurred on shore.”

HSA chief executive Martin O’Halloran added that the booklet highlighted the various roles of government departments and agencies in fishing safety; the main causes of accidents and injuries and the common hazards associated with fishing, and with specific fishing operations.

“Although the booklet is principally aimed at fishermen who operate small fishing boats, parts of it will be of interest and relevance to fishermen who work on or operate larger fishing vessels.”

According to Ray Murray, BIM, the booklet is written in an easy-to-understand format. “There are lots of useful tips on how to prevent accidents with much of the advice focusing on taking measures before going to sea.”

“Fishermen operate in a highly dangerous environment and it’s vital that the appropriate precautions are taken. We encourage all fishermen to complete the mandatory safety training courses available at BIM’s National Fisheries Colleges and at key fishing ports around our coast.”

The booklet advises on controlling risks and managing health and safety, and the importance of having effective emergency plans and providing adequate instruction, information, training and supervision to employees, especially vulnerable workers.

For download, go to www.hsa.ie. Printed copies will be distributed widely in 2015.

8

inshore ireland February/March 2015

fisheries

Coveney delivers €123m for fishermen but disappointment on some whitefish stocks Gillian Mills

T

he Federation of Irish Fishermen says the outcome of the fisheries talks last December was disappointing for key whitefish stocks in the Celtic Sea (cod, whiting and haddock) but has welcomed the small increase in the nephrops (prawn) quota.

Outgoing chairman Sean O’Donoghue was speaking following the conclusion of the annual Council of Fisheries meeting in Brussels to set quotas for European fishing fleets.

Ahead of the meeting, the FIF had called on Minister Coveney to ensure the reversal of the Commission’s proposal to cut some key Irish stocks “which were neither justified nor warranted, and if adopted would lead to the loss of 500600 full-time and part-time jobs” in the fisheries sector and ancillaries services.

“We’re satisfied to the extent possible he has delivered on this call,” he said.

And he added that the small increase in the nephrops quota would avoid some losses in employment and revenues:

“We fought tooth and nail in every available fora against the Commission’s proposal to implement huge, unwarranted and unjustified cuts; for example, 14% in nephrops - our second most valuable fishery; 64% cod and 41% haddock in the Celtic Sea.” Mr O’Donoghue added that these cuts were unnecessary and would only lead to increased discarding.

Pelagic stocks

Quota for mackerel and herring were decided in advance of the Brussels meeting.

“Our mackerel quota, our most important economic fishery for next year of 89,220 tonnes, is welcomed and is the highest since quotas were introduced for mackerel in 1987.”

The FIF however totally disagrees to setting a zero TAC for herring off the Donegal coast for 2015.

“It does not reflect the reality on the fishing grounds, or the problems of mixing with an adjacent herring stock.”

But he added that a commitment to revisit the zero TAC in February following a thorough scientific review “leaves some hope for change”.

Killybegs, Donegal

Vessels in Castletownbere, Co Cork

Photo: G Mills

Justified increases

Contrary to previous years where “unwarranted” reductions were imposed on some stocks in the northwest, Sean O’Donoghue said increases in haddock, monkish and megrim in the northwest were welcome and justified, “as are the rollover [in some] stocks notably monkfish, megrim, pollack in the Celtic Sea and the 11% increase in hake.”

The Hague Preference, which sees Ireland and the UK getting elevated quotas for a number of key species when reductions are proposed, were delivered as expected - due in part to stronger wording in the new Common Fisheries Policy.

“Without the Hague Preference we would have taken a 26% cut in Celtic Sea cod instead of 13%; however it is disappointing that the Council chose to implement a reduction in this stock given its economic importance and the positive scientific advice for the stock,” he said.

Behind the scenes

Prior to the Council meeting, the FIF had called on Minister Coveney to deliver on his statement to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine

(2/12) that he would not support cuts where additional information was available to inform decisions and where there was a real risk of generating higher discard levels than at present: “I am satisfied that Minister Coveney tried to deliver on this commitment; however the reductions are disappointing. I wish to recognise that Minister Coveney and his officials worked very closely with the industry both before and during the Council and took on board our well-founded concerns and advice.”

Ministerial delivery

Following 48 hours of talks, Minister Coveney said he was “relieved” he had managed to turn “an extremely worrying proposal into a much improved outcome for the Irish whitefish industry.

“The overall result is a long way from the Commission’s original proposal of 20% reduction in whitefish quotas, involving a direct income reduction of €18m for our fishermen.”

A proposed cut in the prawn quota of 14% was reversed, and sees a 3% increase, following scientific advice.

“This was my number one priority heading into

negotiations and it took a lot of effort to convince the Commission of the merits of our arguments.”

At a glance

Agreement also sees an 11% increase in the hake fishery and status quo of monkfish and mergrim stocks, giving a total landing value of €27m to the whitefish fleet operating in the Celtic Sea. Proposed cuts in cod (64%) and haddock (41%) in the Celtic Sea were successfully reduced “to more manageable levels” due to an Irish industry initiative to introduce new fishing gear in 2015 that will allow more young fish to escape.

“It is estimated this initiative will reduce discards of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea by some 4,000 tonnes per year - a 30% reduction in total discards of these stocks,” said Minister Coveney.

He added that the initiative would assist greatly in providing a “solid basis for the growth of these fish stocks in the Celtic Sea” and should support quota increases in the years ahead.

“The fishing industry should be commended for their initiative,” Minister Coveney said.

Minister Simon Coveney

Photo: E Buckley

Dunmore East, Co Waterford

Photo: G Mills

Ros a Mhil, Co Galway

Photo: G Mills

inshore ireland February/March 2015

9

fisheries

Dingle, Co Kerry

Photo: G Mills

At a glance North-west:

»» 20% increase in monkfish quota »» minor increase for the megrim quota »» doubling of the Rockall haddock quota »» 14 % increase in Donegal haddock for the ports of Greencastle and Killybegs

South and West coasts and the Irish Sea:

»» 3% increase in the €60 million prawn fishery which benefits the ports of Clogherhead, Howth, Union Hall, Castletownbere, Dingle and Ros a Mhil.

South-west:

»» 11% increase in hake »» no change in monkfish and megrim (€27m fishery, mainly important for the Castletownbere and Dingle

Mixed whitefish fisheries off the south and west coasts:

»» 12 % reduction in haddock »» 13% cut in cod »» 12% reduction in whiting

Celtic Sea cuts to hit heavily F

ishermen in the south west have expressed their disappointment at the “failure” of Minister Coveney to prevent quota cuts for three key stocks in the Celtic Sea (cod, haddock and whiting) which they estimate will cost the industry on the southwest of Ireland roughly €8.5m.

“It is disappointing and frustrating that the Council of Fisheries Ministers implemented these cuts ...despite the industry putting in a place initiatives for selective measures that will see a significant reduction in the number of small fish discarded,” remarked Eibhlin O’Sullivan, CEO of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) and recently appointed chair of the FIF. “We find it difficult to understand and disappointing why the Council of Ministers chose to implement these reductions, which will only lead to increased discards, the exact thing the Council and Commission have committed to eliminate.”

She added it will be hard for fishermen to accept these reductions given the abundance of these stocks on the ground and the loss of income they will experience as a result, equivalent to six weeks quota and income.

Greencastle, Donegal

Photo: J Rafferty

Mixed opportunities for deep-sea stocks

T

otal allowable catch proposals 2015-2016 for deep-sea stocks in EU and international waters in the North-East Atlantic see an increase in four stocks, a decrease in nine stocks and the status quo for five stocks, in line with scientific advice.

“Deep sea ecosystems and fish stocks are particularly vulnerable to human activities, such as fishing, and need appropriate protection. Hence, sustainable management is the only way we can ensure the future of deep-sea fisheries,” remarked European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki.

She added that while it was good news for some stocks, the situation was bleak for others. A ‘moderate’ cut of 12% is proposed for roundnose grenadier west of the British Isles, and a ‘possible’ increase of 2% in 2016, to achieve MSY. Four stocks of greater forkbeard are facing increases of 10% while other stocks (e.g. red seabream in areas west of Portugal and around the Azores) for which data is limited, will be significantly cut on the basis of the ‘precautionary approach’.

The Commission’s proposals are based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). Available data however for most deep-sea stocks are insufficient to allow scientists to fully assess the stock status, either in terms of number of fish or fishing mortality.

Background Deep-sea fish are slow-growing and long-lived which makes them particularly vulnerable to fishing. They are caught in waters beyond the main fishing grounds of continental shelves and are distributed on the continental slopes or associated seamounts.

Fishing for deep-sea species has been regulated by the European Union since 2003. Deepsea fisheries account for about 1% of fish landed from the North-East Atlantic.

Roundnose Grenadier

10 inshore ireland February/March 2015

fisheries »» from page 1

control regulation. This may change in the Omnibus Regulation,” he insisted.

“We have been highlighting the inevitability of the current legal lacuna to the EU Commission for the past twelve months. It is incredible and completely unacceptable that the fishing industry and the enforcement authorities should be faced with completely conflicting regulations.

“The EU Commission must ensure that the actions committed are carried out as a matter of urgency. I sought assurance on what rules would be enforced on pelagic fishing rounds from January 1. I also outlined the need for a level playing field on control issues across the different control agencies and the urgency for the Commission to immediately set up a Forum advocated by the pelagic industry.

“I accept the stance being taken by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) that contradictory legislation regarding the landings obligation will not be enforced,” he said.

Ministerial position

Supporting a phased introduction of the landing obligation, Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture

Food and the Marine told Inshore Ireland he welcomed its application to pelagic fisheries as a “significant first step on a challenging journey for our industry”.

Adding it would have a “limited impact on the Irish pelagic fleet”, the Minister believes its introduction “will facilitate the effective monitoring of the large freezer fleets in our 200-mile Exclusive Fisheries Zone where there are concerns about high grading of catch.”

According to the EU Commission, ‘High-grading is a practice that is no longer possible in the context of a landing obligation.

The high-grading ban will continue to apply to the fisheries that are not yet subject to the landing obligation.

Minister Coveney however expressed concern that the ‘Omnibus Regulation’ (designed to remove obligations to discard from existing legislation) has yet to be agreed but is hopeful that the European institutions will find a way forward in the coming months.

“This will be very important in advance of the next phase of the landing obligation for some demersal fisheries in January 2016. That phase will be much more challenging for the Irish industry and will be the focus of the ongoing work of the Discards Implementation Group

under the chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley,” he said.

Compliance enforcement

Prior to January 1, explicit legal prohibitions already existed for pelagic fisheries on two discarding practices - slippage and high-grading - along with an obligation to log discards.

In a statement to Inshore Ireland, the Sea-fisheries Protection Authority said the landing obligation represented a ‘laudable policy objective arising from the Irish presidency oversight of Common Fisheries Policy reform.

We will be working to ensure compliance by vessels that land in Ireland and those that fish in the Irish EZ but do not land here.’

Susan Steele, CEO of the SFPA said the obligation represented a “significant compliance challenge for fishers and a significant control challenge for authorities in the promotion and verification of compliance.”

The CFP regionalisation structure has formed a group to look at control of the Landing Obligation in EU western waters. Chaired by the SFPA for the initial six months, the work programme is expected to examine control challenges and make specific recommendations on control tools and

procedures to be used.

Monitoring, control and inspection of the Landing Obligation under fisheries legislation “will be undertaken primarily at sea as it is the act of discarding fish that creates the offence,” Susan Steele added.

Controls and inspections at sea are carried out on behalf of the SFPA by the Naval Service operating under a Service Level Agreement (SLA).

The 2015 plan specifically recognises implementation of the Landing Obligation as a priority. At landing, the SFPA will oversee the monitoring and assessment of landed catches including assessment of catch composition by size grade to ensure that the requisite landing of all fish taken on board is being adhered to.

“It is important the Control agencies involved establish a common understanding of

the inspection requirement around the provisions, to ensure that all fishers who are inspected either at sea or on landing meet with a common understanding of the control requirement that the Landing Obligation imposes - no matter where they operate or in which Member State they are licensed,” she emphasised.

“The SFPA will seek to afford fishers a common interpretation of the requirements of the obligations on them and a fair and equitable assessment and, if required, enforcement of those obligations through its work with the North-Western Working Group (NWWG) in 2015 and into 2016 when the Landing Obligation extends to demersal fisheries.”

The SFPA has issued a Fisheries Information Notice which can be accessed: Fisheries Information Notice 01-2015 .pdf.

Catch composition rules What happens with catch composition rules and mesh size rules under the landing obligation as of 1 January 2015?

From 1 January 2015, catches that exceed a certain catch composition rule must be landed and counted against the quota.

What happens to catch composition rules in fisheries where the landing obligation does not apply yet?

The current rules continue to apply.

If I am under the landing obligation can I land catches in excess of catch composition rules?

Yes, you can land such catches if you have sufficient quota to cover these catches.

What happens to catches in excess of catch composition rules for which I do not have quota?

A fisherman would either have to try to obtain additional quota from the fishery management authority, or to rent or buy quota from another fisherman.

Do the existing mesh sizes still apply?

Yes.

Minimum sizes How are minimum landing sizes dealt with under the landing obligation as of 1 January 2015?

The existing minimum landing sizes remain largely the same, except for Baltic cod and anchovy in the SouthWestern waters, where minimum conservation reference sizes have been established in regional discard plans.

What happens to fish below minimum size that are caught in fisheries covered by thelanding obligation?

Catches of fish below minimum size (undersized fish) in the fisheries under the landing obligation must be landed and counted against quotas.

Must I keep undersized fish registered and stowed separately?

The same rules that what would be necessary currently to send the fish to fishmeal or oil production apply – stored chilled or frozen in standard fish boxes or bins.

What happens to undersized fish once it is landed? Can I sell it?

These catches can be sold in accordance with the existing marketing standards (not for human consumption).

inshore ireland February/March 2015 11

fisheries

Fishermen give guarded welcome to inshore forum Regional representation Gillian Mills & Gery Flynn

A

t the first meeting of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF), the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, acknowledged that Ireland’s inshore fishermen have been poorly represented in national policy-making decisions.

“I am delighted however that inshore fishermen are buying into this opportunity to focus the priorities on what is needed to ensure the longterm future of their sector.”

Representatives speaking to Inshore Ireland welcomed the “long overdue” initiative but cautioned it was very early days: “I’m not buying hook, line and sinker into it because there’s a long way to go yet.

I see it as a positive step but there are many steps on a ladder,” remarked Jerry Early, vice-chair of the North RIFF. And while fully behind the BIM lobster v-notching system which in 2014 saw more than 33,000 lobsters v-notched and €250,000 in compensation for fishermen, “the minister’s ‘announcement’ regarding landing size legislation in a way undermined the whole process before it started,” he added.

“If this is going to work, there has to be a certain amount of trust - and this would be a real bee in my bonnet if most of the decisions are made at government level in relation to fisheries.

“Nobody knows the waters around Arranmore better than I do. And no scientist in the world will tell me what’s happening on my own doorstep,” he added.

“I am willing to give this process a chance, but big decisions will have to be made - hard and unpopular decisions will have to be made across the board.”

Building trust Congratulating Minister Coveney, Trudy McIntyre, south-east RIFF however cautioned that trust would

have to be built up between fishermen and scientists: “Through gathering realtime data and putting policies in place that suit fishermen and the Department, we will be in position to establish a sustainable future. All stakeholders need to work hand-in-hand to achieve this goal.”

Michéal Ó Goill chairperson, Western RIFF, welcomed the initiative but reiterated it was long overdue: “All emphasis seems to have been on getting bigger and more powerful boats and fishing out the stocks.

It’s great that now we have a forum for the small fishermen - to build up the fleet again because it really dwindled where a lot of the employment was on the coastal areas - especially on the islands.”

He added it was encouraging that talk from fishermen was now on conservation and stock management measures.

“They’re looking for support to stop illegal fishing, especially illegal pot fishing.

Hopefully that will start soon.”

Also noting disappointment over poor warning or discussion on the maximum landing size for lobster, he welcomed the Minister’s commitment to review the situation in a few years and to ensure better contact between fishermen and the scientists: “It will only work if all fishermen get involved, and I’d call on all inshore fishermen to get involved with their groups to ensure they get their message to the Minister.

“Minister Coveney said he will have a line open to inshore fishermen. That’s an offer we cannot take lightly and we have to make sure to use it.”

Michéal Ó Goill added he was “especially interested” in marketing Irish shellfish, especially crab, which was a recommendation of the Western RIFF: “And there’s no reason why we cannot go back to smalltime catching of mackerel and herring and sprat to get

small processing companies going on the seaboards and to get involved in selling fish during the summer to tourists and local restaurants.”

“There’s too much emphasis on marketing to France and to other countries while our own supermarkets in Ireland are selling Canadian lobsters packed and frozen,” he said.

Background The NIFF is a network of representatives from six Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (see sidebar). The inshore sector comprises fishing boats of less than 12 metres in length and total more than 80% of the fishing fleet, predominately active within six nautical miles of the Irish coast.

BIM’s interim CEO and Fisheries Development Director Michael Keatinge said the forum offered a “unique opportunity” to develop the valuable inshore fishery - not just in terms of short-term improvements but to ensure the long-term sustainability of our fish stocks.

“This in turn will protect revenue and employment in fishing-reliant coastal communities.”

He added that the core principles of the forum conservation, enforcement and collation of landings data - would enable the industry to be best placed to secure a viable future.

Challenges facing the inshore sector including the reformed CFP and protecting Natura 2000 sites, as well as feedback from the recent consultation on a proposed management plan for razor clam fishing in the North Irish Sea were also discussed at the meeting.

The objective of the NIFF is to facilitate development of a coherent inshore sector ‘voice’ by encouraging inshore fishermen to discuss their issues and to generate commonly-supported initiatives. RIFF members include inshore fishermen; environmental interests; marine leisure; marine tourism and other marine stakeholders.

The structures also provide a new opportunity for collaboration between the inshore fishing sector and their communities on sustainable strategies to optimise the income opportunities afforded by the coastal resource.

North RIFF: • Shane McGee, Operations Manager, Errigal Seafoods Ltd. (Chair); Jerry Early, Aranmore Island Fisherman, Member of North FLAG, Established DIMRO Donegal Islands Marine Resource Organisation. (Vice Chair) North West RIFF: • Eamon Dixon, Fisherman from Mayo. Chairman of Comhar Cumann Iascairi chos Chosta Iorrais, a representative body of 60 members all of whom are licenced and registered vessel owners. Eamon is also the Vice Chairman of North West FLAG Board and a Board member of Responsible Irish Fish.(Chair); Ciaran Quinn, Fisherman from Clew Bay (Vice Chair) West RIFF: • Micheál Ó Goill representing Galway Islands Fishermen (Chair); Patrick Mullins: Full time fisherman from Galway Bay Inshore Fishermen’s Association (Vice Chair) South-West RIFF: • Eddie Moore: Full time commercial Fisherman, West Kerry (Chair); Alex Crowley: Full time commercial Fisherman, South Kerry (Vice Chair) South-East RIFF: • Trudy McIntyre, Fishery representative, Dunmore East (Chair); Charlie Featherstone, Fishery representative, Wicklow (Vice Chair) North-East RIFF: • Richard Guildea, Bi-valve fisherman, Skerries (Chair); Juan Blanes, Sales Manager, Glenmar Shellfish, Dublin (Vice Chair)

Lobster landing size • Maximum landing size of 127mm • During the first two years, fishermen will be paid up to 75% of the market price for v-notching ‘oversize’ lobsters and returning them live to sea.

• The grant aid for voluntary v-notching is increased to a maximum of 75%.

TUGS & PONTOONS JACK UP BARGES WINDFARM SUPPORT VESSELS DIVE SUPPORT VESSELS MULTICATS

WWW.FASTNETSHIPPING.COM Elected representatives from the RIFFs with Minister Coveney, government officials and representatives from BIM and the SFPA

12 inshore ireland February/March 2015

seafood business

Record high growth in seafood exports to existing and emerging markets Gillian Mills

E

xport figures launched by Bord Bia for 2014 reflect a 4% increase, reaching a record high of almost €10.5 billion marking the fifth consecutive year in export growth for the food and drink industry.

Since 2009, food exports have grown 45% from €3.2billion.

The strongest performers were dairy and ingredients, €3 billion (+3%); prepared foods, €1.8 billion (+8%) and seafood, €540 million (+8%).

Announcing the figures, Bord Bia’s chief executive Aidan Cotter highlighted the significant shift in destinations with international markets: “The industry’s drive to broaden export reach to destinations outside of the EU is paying dividends with growth in emerging and international markets now driving export figures, offsetting the limited growth in our established premium EU markets,” he said.

This shift in market destination is underpinned by increases in the value of exports to Asia of €850 million (+45%) as well as significant increases to

North America, €740 million, (+18%); the Middle East, €330 million, (+11%) and Africa, €610 million (+9%).

China recorded a further increase of almost 40% to reach €520 million, making it Ireland’s second largest export market for dairy, compared to 13th in 2008.

While it remains Ireland’s most significant export market, the share of exports destined for the UK eased slightly although the value showed little change at €4.2 billion (40%) of export share.

The value of exports to other EU destinations grew by 2% to reach €3.3 billion, equating to 31% of total exports and reflecting largely static consumer price inflation across the Eurozone.

Currency gauge

Ireland`s exports benefited from the effects of a weak Euro against Sterling and the US Dollar; however a strengthening Euro against the Russian Rouble combined with trade suspensions had a significant negative impact on Irish exports to that region, with exports falling by an estimated 30% to €170 million.

Welcoming the positive results, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon

Coveney said that since 2009, food and beverage exports have increased by 45%: “Our strategy for exports is clear and our pursuit of the targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 is relentless. The speed and determination the industry displayed in shifting focus to new and emerging markets in response to static price inflation in EU markets, and the severe restrictions in the Russian market, has been remarkable.”

Events calendar

In March, Bord Bia is hosting its largest ever Marketplace International event in the Convention Centre Dublin. Some 450 buyers, including 300 overseas, are expected to participate in one-to-one meetings with more than 160 Irish food and drink companies.

A further 100 international visiting buyers are expected to participate in sector specific three-day itineraries visiting farms and factories nationwide.

In early summer, Bord Bia will issue its first annual Origin Green progress report. The agency is also hosting a Global Sustainability Forum, targeting the world’s leading sustainability professionals and industry leaders.

Seafood exports recorded an increase of 8% in 2014 to reach an estimated €540 million; however, an increase of roughly 10% in unit prices was recorded, which boosted export values. The main EU markets (France, Spain, UK, Italy and Germany) continue to dominate seafood exports, accounting for more than 50% of values. France remains the largest market with growth of almost 8%. Shipments to international markets led the growth in exports with a rise of 20% to bring the value of trade to an estimated €200 million. Export performance in 2015 will continue to depend on product supply. This is expected to remain limited for aquaculture species, and quota restrictions on wild species will prevent volume growth. Prospects for prices remain reasonably positive for most species.

Key drivers of Seafood export performance in 2014

»» Tighter volumes of key species. »» Good increase in unit prices for most species. »» Most of growth evident in trade to International markets.

Seafood Exports (Gm) 2013

2014(e)

2014/2013

€m

€m

% +/-

496

540

+8

Export markets for seafood

The main EU markets, namely France, Spain, UK, Italy and Germany continue to dominate seafood exports, accounting for in excess of 50% of export values.

The share of exports destined for the United Kingdom stood at around 11% in 2014, reflecting a lack of supply of traditional species such as salmon. The value of trade fell marginally to just under G60 million. This reflects reduced exports of both salmon and whitefish to the market.

France remains the largest export market showing strong growth of almost 8% for the year. The Spanish market showed signs of recovery with a positive growth in exports of over 4% against a backdrop of falling volumes. The Italian market continues to perform well with double digit growth evident in 2014. Exports to Germany fell by 6% in value terms due to a sharp fall in herring exports and some easing in salmon shipments.

Overall for the year, exports to other European markets showed growth of around 3% to reach G280 million or 52% of the total.

Seafood exports to International markets led the growth in exports with a rise of 20% recorded to bring the value of trade to more than G200 million.

This equates to 37% of exports. Exports to the three main markets in Africa – Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt accounted for a total of 18% of total seafood export values. The Nigerian market showed strong unit price increases of 19% up to the end

of October with volumes down by 14%. This led the value of exports to increase by 2%. Seafood exports to Cameroon increased by 21% in value terms and to Egypt by 220% over the period.

Despite the ban on seafood exports to Russia, exports increased in value by over 6% up to the end of October, reflecting strong unit price increases for Irish seafood exports into this market.

Exports to the four main Asian markets (China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan) accounted for 8% of total value sales with strong value growths recorded for the China market (+40%); South Korea (+17%) and Hong Kong (+58%) during the first 10 months of 2014.

Distribution of seafood exports 60

2013 2014(e)

50 40 30 20 10 0

12

11

United Kingdom

55

52

Other EU

33

37

Int. Markets

Source: Bord Bia estimates

Main product trends

Strong unit prices increases (+16%) were secured for the pelagic sector in 2014. The pelagic sector accounted for 78% of the total volume exported by the Irish seafood sector.

Import restrictions into the Nigerian markets and the ban on exports to Russia were some of the key factors impacting on the pelagic sector in 2014. An increase in the mackerel quota in the North Atlantic this season, as well as the additional catch into the market by the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland had an impact on the prices secured for mackerel this season.

Total whitefish exports fell by 14% in value and almost 20% in volume up to the end of October

2014. The Spanish market continues to dominate this category accounting for 50% of total export values, followed by the UK at 25% and France at 20%. Export values to Spain fell by 4% as a result of reduced volumes but unit prices held firm. Exports to the UK fell by 20% in value while France was 28% lower.

Total shellfish exports recorded very positive unit price growth increasing by around 25%, which more than offset a fall in volumes of 20%. Initially 2014 was marked by severe storms in February which caused significant damage not only to the aquaculture sector but also prevented fishing during rough weather conditions. This lead to product shortages in many categories, notably for shellfish species such as mussels, oysters and prawns. The French and Italian markets showed good value growth despite lower volumes while the Spanish market continued to show signs of recovery, increasing in value by 15%. Shellfish exports to Asia performed well with China, Hong Kong and South Korea, between them accounting for over 15% of total shellfish export values.

Salmon exports had another successful year with production increasing marginally and unit prices increasing by around 7%. The French market continues to dominate Irish salmon exports, accounting for over 56% of total sales values. The Swiss market also demonstrated very positive growth.

Final Quarter

The final quarter was more challenging as a result of increased production of competitively price salmon from Norway and restrictions on exports to Russia which has created excess supply of certain size classes in the European market. Nonetheless, the demand for organic salmon remained strong.

The salmon market was good for Irish organic salmon however in general 2014 was a difficult year for Atlantic salmon for 2 reasons: A documentary on the French TV2 station portrayed the Norwegian industry in extremely negative terms, using a statement re-quoted ad infinitum by media ever since saying that Norwegian salmon is the “most toxic food on the planet”. The second reason is the record stock of Barents sea cod which is becoming a favoured

inshore ireland February/March 2015 13

seafood business consumer choice over salmon due to competitive pricing.

Irish organic salmon fared well in the aftermath of the TV2 documentary due to organic certification and proof of low stocking densities, lack of use of anti-biotic treatments or synthetic anti-oxidants in feed and the fact that we are a small non intensive producer.

Market fragility

Production of Irish oysters in 2014 was in the region of 8,000 tonnes. Up to the end of October 2014, export values showed an increase of 17% from stable volumes. In the lead up to Christmas, there was a retraction in prices due to a number of factors including, an increased production of large sized oysters from France, the Russian embargo as well as a lack of promotional activity by the main French supermarkets in November. Fortunately the French supermarkets promoted large size oysters during the end of year festivities which will hopefully lead to healthier stocks in early 2015. However, this situation demonstrates clearly the fragility of market balance in the French market. It also demonstrates the important need to explore non-traditional markets in a scenario of increased Irish oyster production.

The French market continues to dominate Irish oyster exports accounting for over 80% of total sales but there has been an increasing focus by the main oyster producers on selling into the Asian markets.

Total mussel exports were down by 37% for the first 10 months of 2014 as a result of a drop in Irish rope mussel production due to bay closures. The bottom mussel industry also has had a significant reduction in production due to the difficulty in collection of wild mussel seed but collections in 2014 have been the highest in years and this bodes well for production in the next few years.

Outlook for 2015

Seafood export drivers for 2015 »» Product availability across key species. »» Consumer demand to drive prices. »» Strong emerging market demand to remain.

Aidan Cotter, Bord Bia chief executive and Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, announcing the 2014 export figures Export performance in 2015 will continue to depend on product supply. This is expected to remain limited for aquaculture species and quota restrictions on wild species will prevent volume growth.

It is anticipated that there will be a reduction in the quota for pelagic fish in Ireland, including boarfish which will make substantial market development work in this area difficult in 2015. Political and economic factors are likely to continue to have a very big impact on the pelagic industry in 2015.

The cod situation paradoxically is improving with the Russian embargo as the Russian fleet are holding onto their own catch of cod and Pollock for internal consumption instead of selling it on the market.

Whitefish prices therefore are expected to be more firm in 2015.

The outlook for 2015 is for the demand of organic salmon to remain strong. World production should

increase slightly but the continued development of new markets in Asia and continued growth in North America should ensure stability. It is anticipated that production in Ireland will increase only slightly and will continue to be lag market demand for Irish organic salmon.

On-going increases in production and feed costs will impact the profitability of the sector and the challenge remains of lower cost organic salmon from Norway. On a positive note, valued added salmon exports from Ireland are showing strong increases and are expected to grow further in 2015.

It will be important for the sector to continue to develop new markets outside of the traditional markets in Europe and Bord Bia will work closely with the sector to grow awareness of species such as oysters, brown crab and prawns in a number of these markets, notably in China and Hong Kong.

80

Seafood

In 2014, Irish seafood exports are estimated to have increased

Ireland exports seafood to markets worldwide. The top 5 markets are France, UK, Spain, Nigeria & Italy.

€ €540 million

8%

increase in the value of exports in 2014

25%

to Asia to reach approximately €50m, led by China which increased by 35%

12%

to Africa with almost a trebling in trade to Egypt

The estimated value of seafood exports in 2014

70% RISErts

59%

in the value of expo from 2009 (€315m) to 2014

The Irish seafood sector is worth

of total annual output from the sector is made up of seafood exports

Ireland boasts

7,500km of coastline rich in aquatic life

€800m anually

11,000

€200m

seafood exports to international markets, grew by an estimated 20% in 2014

employed by the seafood sector

63%

of Irish seafood exports are sold in EU markets

Ireland is a leader in organic aquaculture with

€650m

Bord Bia's export target for seafood by 2020

20,000tn

of organic salmon & mussels produced annually Performance and Prospects 2014-2015 | 29

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inshore ireland February/March 2015 15

Aquaculture News

Improving the health of animals using seaweeds Paddy Tamplin, Business Development Manager, OHT

T

he health benefits of animals eating seaweed has been known for many years now. Farmers know it, and animals with access to shoreline seaweeds prove it.

What hasn’t been researched fully to date however is the full extent of the potential benefits of adding specific macro algae (seaweeds) blends to an animal’s diet.

How much could we improve an animal’s health by matching a formulation of seaweeds, specifically selected for bioactive properties relevant to a specific animal, and a specific type of farming?

Seaweed mixes

Ocean Harvest Technology (OHT) based in Milltown, Co Galway, have been doing just that: researching seaweeds and developing seaweed mixes to provide the best health benefits for both dairy and suckler cows.

OHT started with a mission to replace some of the nastier synthetic diseasecontrol treatments used in the salmon industry with natural, sustainable, alternatives, and therefore provide a greener approach at the start of the food chain. This mission has lead to healthier fish and

provides safer and healthier food for the consumer.

The development and production of OceanFeed™ Salmon naturally evolved into developing and producing Oceanfeed for the agricultural industry, to which the company applies the same values.

The main motivation behind OHT is derived from a vision to produce natural products that will improve animal nutrition and health.

Ocean Harvest prides itself in producing 100% natural products with no synthetic ingredients added.

Furthermore, the seaweed used is harvested in a sustainable manner that has no negative impact on the environment. As a diverse natural product, our seaweed blends contain a high mineral and vitamin content in addition to a plethora of beneficial and unique bioactive compounds not found in terrestrial plants.

Our products are not only beneficial for animals but also the environment and the farmer’s wallet.

OceanFeed™ Bovine HPI

All farmers know the importance of nutrition.

Better nutrition means better health. That is why so much time and money is invested in consultancy and advice to develop the optimum feed ration for animals.

So, what if your animals could actually absorb more from the ration that you currently give them?

Well, the blend of seaweeds and the bioactive properties present in OceanFeed™ assist in doing just that. It helps to improve your animals

digestive tract, and in doing so aids their ability to absorb more nutrients. This leads to an increase in overall health.

The beauty of this is there is no need to change an animal’s feed, just add OceanFeed™ Bovine HPI (health and performance improver) at an inclusion rate of 70g per animal per day, to avail of all the health benefits.

The main benefits of OceanFeed™ Bovine HPI are to help improve both fertility and milk quality.

In relation to fertility, the key things our customers have experienced are more cows cleaning after calving, and cows bulling again sooner.

This shortening of the calving cycle means quicker herd growth and fewer requirements for culling cows.

In relation to milk quality, Ocean Harvest Technology has conducted two trials to measure the effect on milk quality when adding OceanFeed™ Bovine HPI to the cow’s diet. One trial was conducted on a dairy farm in Milltown, Co Galway, and a second larger trial on a dairy farm in Holland. Both trials returned milk protein increases of over 8%.

OceanFeed™ Swine

Regarding the pig producing industry, an OceanFeed™ Swine Irish trial over a four-month period showed improvements in weight gain.

Pigs were 5.5 kg heavier on average at the end of the trial, and returned a lower (average 0.06) feed conversion efficiency.

OceanFeed™ Swine also significantly improved meat taste and texture; improved gut flora and generally improved the overall

health of the animal.

A subsequent Swine commercial trial took place on a large Canadian pig farm that produces over 10,000 pigs per annum. The results were excellent, with an immediate notable improvement in working conditions due to a reduction in ammonia; higher weight gain as well as shorter production cycles and lower mortality were reported.

The most remarkable finding from the commercial trial however was that inclusion of OceanFeed™ in the diet reduced the overall antibiotic usage by a remarkable 50% compared to the reference diet.

Early results from a current trial with the University of the Philippines indicate that OceanFeed™ Swine performs as well as – if not better than – an antibiotic growth promoter diet when considering average

daily weight gain and diarrhoea frequency.

The potent action of OceanFeed™ Swine is perhaps not surprising given that numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies have already demonstrated that even single species of seaweed can reduce pathogens; improve gut health; reduce ammonia and improve weight gain in swine.

These benefits arise from the presence of bioactive compounds unique to seaweed, including alginates; laminarin; fucoidan; pigments and also vitamins and minerals that are present.

OceanFeed™ Swine is a blend of seaweeds optimised and specially formulated to deliver these benefits in a sustainable manner.

Ultimately, healthy animals means happy profitable farmers, who in turn are providing consumers with safer, healthier food.

inshore ireland February/March 2015 17

marine r&d

INFOMAR’s Hannah McCann showing the 3D “Real Map of Galway” to students Model of the Earth showing its inner layers, glowing core and tectonic plate boundaries

Niall Finn and Eoin Mac Craith from the INFOMAR survey team, using a green laser on a seabed model as an analogue for multibeam sonar

INFOMAR reaches out to young scientists Eoin MacCraith

T

he INFOMAR outreach stand was a hive of activity at the 2015 BY Young Scientist Exhibition, as part of the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) display.

With two separate models on show - one of the seabed demonstrating the physics of marine survey work, and a globe displaying the inner layers of the Earth the students were treated to an interactive display that revealed fascinating aspects of the seabed and larger global geology.

Also available were a host of postcards displaying INFOMAR seabed data in 3D as part of the Real Map series Galway, Waterford, Inishbofin - and the overall Irish marine territory. These were given to visiting students as souvenirs.

Students, teachers and members of the public all showed great enthusiasm for the mapping work being carried out by the INFOMAR vessels, and were delighted to learn that all the data are available to download for free.

Using the seabed model, staff explained how sound waves of the multi-beam sonar spread out and capture a ‘swath’ of data with each pass of the survey vessel.

With a green laser pen, which has a lens that causes the beam to split into a fan (much like the real sonar), it was also shown how the multi-beam’s footprint shrinks in shallow water – thus demonstrating why it takes longer to map areas of seabed further inshore.

The model also included other features of interest to convey the wealth of interesting features discovered around the Irish coast through seabed mapping: shipwrecks (the model contains a wreck of a U-boat, and a wreck of a vessel resembling Lusitania); submarine canyons; sand waves and hazardous rocks.

New features added to the model were a cross-section showing the geology beneath the seabed and a batteryoperated wind turbine.

Middle Earth

The model displaying the Earth’s interior was a new addition and attracted a lot of interest. With a flickering

light illuminating the inner core and the crust showing tectonic plate divisions, staff were able to explain largescale geological processes to the students and give them an insight into the deeper structures beneath the seabed.

One of the winners of this year’s BT Young Scientist geology prize, James Barry from Kinsale Community College, had recently attended the Geological Survey of Ireland and INFOMAR offices as part of his Transition Year industrial placement.

The 2015 BT Young Scientist Exhibition was a great start to what promises to be an interesting and challenging year for the INFOMAR team.

The acquisition plan will soon be published and soon after, we look forward to the arrival of a new shallow water mapping vessel Cheetah Cat, R.V Tonn (the Irish for wave).

This is a shallow draft catamaran designed to complement the work of the existing shallow water vessel R.V. Geo and will greatly enhance INFOMAR’s ability to carry out shallow water mapping in the areas that are yet to be surveyed.

Eoin Mac Craith and Sarah Kate McHugh of the INFOMAR team, with the new globe model

James Barry, one of the winners of the BT Young Scientist Geology prize, at the helm of the R.V. Keary during his industrial placement at the GSI last year

18 inshore ireland February/March 2015

marine r&d

An increasingly important maritime industry innovation enabler

Compiled by Cormac MacGarry

T

he Halpin Centre for Research and Innovation has grown 200% yearon-year since its inception in 2012 and is set to grow stronger. What has been the key to this success?

As a research centre within the Cork Institute of Technology, Halpin has been able to leverage the backing and support of one of Ireland’s premier thirdlevel institutes. Indeed, what makes Halpin a unique centre is its home, housed in the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI).

The NMCI is itself quite a unique entity as a publicprivate partnership. The private partner is the service business Coffley-GDF Suez which ensures the maintenance and running of the College building and its world-class facilities. The two public partners are the Cork Institute of Technology and the Irish Naval Service; this means the College acts as both a civilian and military maritime training college.

As the resident research centre in NMCI, Halpin’s success is largely down to this unique partnership, which has allowed it to engage in research and innovation across the maritime sector - whether

in developing education and training courses to innovating new products for defence communications - or cleaning up toxic spills at sea.

This partnership is a mutually beneficial relationship for all involved.

While the NMCI has given Halpin access to a huge network of industry and public stakeholders, Halpin has reciprocated with hard won research and innovation funding from around the world, while forging new global partnerships.

Collaboration with other CIT entities such as the NIMBUS Centre, the Faculties of Engineering and Science, and of Business and Humanities, has embedded Halpin into CIT’s research community. Continuous collaboration with the Irish Naval Service has made Halpin a force to be considered in the European safety and security sphere.

This progress has taken place in the context of Cork Harbour, where an aggressively positive attitude of cooperation has been forged through IMERC - the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster.

IMERC itself has been supported and enabled by developments in the Ringaskiddy maritime campus area such as Beaufort - a world-class marine research lab under the UCC- lead MaREI project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland’s strategic centres programme.

IMERC has mutually and significantly served Halpin’s growth by enhancing its ability to reach new contacts and incubate new ideas, particularly with industry.

With the industry credibility of the Cork Institute of Technology and the growing IMERC industry network, Halpin has gained a trust and closeness with industry: another flag on Halpin’s mast, with partnerships including BAE Systems; Sound and Sea Technology and Maersk Training to name but a few.

Cork Harbour – only a fraction of the massive deep-water multi-modal harbour.

Maritime incubator

Cork Harbour itself is one of the world’s finest resources for breeding maritime innovation and the Port of Cork aims to significantly increase its capacity through the expansion of its deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy next door to Halpin.

Given the success of 2014, Halpin has set its sights high for the coming years with two waves of proposals underway across a range of programmes including direct industrial engagement; regional research and European research programmes such as Horizon 2020.

Alongside these programmes, Halpin also aims to expand its fledgling direct industry engagement activities and win more industry contracts to directly

Halpin is partnered or in collaboration with 31 countries around the globe. support small and medium sized enterprises and Irishbased companies to deliver new products and services for the maritime sector.

Halpin’s work has involved partners in 31 countries from

the UK to Turkey, Canada and Brazil. Collaborators and customers – local, international, public and private - see Halpin as a new maritime centre of innovation excellence.

inshore ireland February/March 2015 19

marine r&d

Snapshot of projects Halpin closed in 2014 ARCOPOL

The ARCOPOL PLATFORM project builds on the success of the ARCOPOL+ project recently completed in the Halpin Centre. The project is concerned with combating oil and Harmful Noxious Substance (HNS) spills through technology transfer, training and innovation. The project’s aim is to reinforce the preparedness and response to oil and HNS spills in Atlantic Regions.

PERSEUS

The FP7 funded PERSEUS project contributed to Europe’s efforts at monitoring illegal migration and combating related crime and goods smuggling, by demonstrating an EU Maritime surveillance ‘system of systems’, and building on existing national systems and platforms, but enhanced with innovations.

DARIUS

The DARIUS project (Deployable Search and Rescue Integrated Chain with Unmanned Systems) delivered a technical system capable of integrating unmanned systems in the overall command and control cycle of both sea and land going search and rescue operations, considering various scenarios where operators require the intervention of multiple agencies in a multi-national context. NMCI’s simulator suite was used for one of these demonstrations.

Atlantic Power

The ERDF Interreg funded project Atlantic Power Cluster is providing Ireland with ample opportunity, through a signed Accord, to engage with the offshore renewables industry across Europe. The purpose of Atlantic Power is to enhance the potential for cooperation in Marine Renewable Energy (MRE – offshore wind, wave, tidal energy generation) across the Atlantic Area, which spans from Scotland, through the coasts of France, Spain and Portugal.

One of the products developed during the project was an online database of the MRE supply chain that can be used by prospective developers. Galway County Council also engineered tools for developing a social acceptance of MRE amongst local communities, while the Halpin Centre looked at the future of training for this emerging industry.

NETMAR

NETMAR involved a full-scale demonstration in the Shannon for the evaluation and dissemination of new robotic systems, sensors and networking technologies in maritime incidents endangering human life, the environment and economic activities.

NETMAR sought to exploit the fact that robotic vehicles provide new capabilities to operate in dull, dirty and dangerous environments while networking technologies enable the orchestration of existing assets with new robotic systems and sensors for enhanced situational awareness and intervention over inter-operated networks.

AUXNAVALIA +

Photo: Port of Cork

The Auxnavalia+ project aimed to enhance the innovation capacity of the shipbuilding ancillary industry through, for example, safety and security based on structured management and planning; stimulation and supporting of knowledge transfer between research centers and SMEs; securing the long-term sustainability of the sector and contributing to the Atlantic Area to become a quality global player by helping it to be more competitive in the global market.

SMACS

Rapidly changing climate in the Arctic brings new challenges in maritime safety for both indigenous and non-indigenous small craft crew. Many sailors are now drawn to explore the previously inaccessible arctic regions, but run into trouble with inadequate preparation and training for the extreme conditions which still exist. In turn, Arctic search and rescue services must deal with a greater number and diversity of small craft emergencies over a much wider geographic range.

SMACS (Small Craft Emergency Response and Survival Training for Arctic Conditions) was a Northern Periphery Programme funded collaborative international project with a primary objective to develop a safety and survival training programme, focused on the needs of small-craft mariners on commercial, fishing and leisure vessels operating in the harsh Arctic maritime regions.

The Halpin Centre, in collaboration with Cork Institute of Technology’s NIMBUS Centre and partners from Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, produced a library of training modules such as weather and meteorology; safety and survival; Arctic seamanship, and communications.

There is also a module on being a good Arctic citizen for learning about life in the Arctic and having respect for the environment. The training programme is accessible via an iPhone app through http://smacs-project.eu/ and is currently being developed for Android.

SECILE

The Irish Naval Service has allowed innovation to flourish in Cork Harbour.

SECILE (Securing Europe through Counter-Terrorism: Impact, Legitimacy, and Effectiveness) was a part-EU funded project of assembled European human rights and legal research experts tasked with exploring the true impact of European counter-terrorism policy since 2001.

In the first European project of its kind, the project looked to assess and understand the extent to which various actors have been impacted by counter-terrorism legislation in Europe – from the citizen, to the legislator, to the security services, and the domestic courts.

Managing the Halpin Centre’s role in SECILE was Lieutenant Commander Erika Downing who was able to use the opportunity to undertake a Masters in law. This is an example of how the Halpin Centre facilitates the development of personnel from the core partners of the National Maritime College of Ireland.

20 inshore ireland February/March 2015

marine r&d

RV Celtic Explorer in dry dock

photo: Aodhan Fitzgerald

Celtic Explorer leaving the dry dock

Major upgrade to scientific equipment on research vessel Aodhan FitzGerald & Rosemary Butler Marine Institute Research Vessel Operations

T

he RV Celtic Explorer is back in the water, with a new suite of hydrographic and geophysical sonar systems, installed during an extensive refit in the A&P yard, Falmouth (UK) which began work in late December under the supervision of P&O Maritime Services (Ireland) Ltd. The main work carried out during the refit was installation of state-of-the-art sonar systems for bathymetric mapping in deep and shallow waters and installation of a deepwater sub-bottom profiler.

Enhanced capabilities

Adjustments were made to the hull to fit the Kongsberg EM302 multibeam system and an IXSEA Echoes sub-bottom profiler. These systems will enhance the seabed mapping capabilities of the vessel, with the EM302 echo sounder designed to perform mapping with high resolution and accuracy to depths of 6000m.

The sub bottom profiler can operate at depths of 6000m, to examine and profile surface bedrock layers and sediments.

The vessel’s drop keel has been fitted with an EM2040 multibeam system to carry out high resolution seabed mapping in shallower waters.

The vessels positioning and motion reference systems were also upgraded to the highest

standard to allow the vessel to operate the new equipment to the required accuracy.

The 2.5 yearly refit also included major mechanical work such as removing the rudder for inspection and repair and overhauling the stern thruster. The entire vessel was painted; cabins, laboratories and common areas were refitted and minor repairs as well as an overhaul of essential systems were carried out.

Sea trials

The Celtic Explorer will complete a survey in the North Sea and Baltic Sea before beginning sea trials of the new equipment in Irish waters this month. Capability of the new equipment will be tested in the deep waters off Ireland’s west coast under the supervision of scientists from the Marine Institute’s Advanced Mapping Services (AMS) team.

Once the new systems have been calibrated and tested, they will be used extensively this year on fisheries acoustic surveys where their water column capability will be applied to study the aggregation morphology and vessel avoidance behaviour of pelagic fish species, as part of a new PhD study. The new systems will also be used to map the deep Atlantic seafloor during passage to and from Canada in April-May this year.

The new systems will also be used during two deepwater ROV surveys this year - one led by University College Cork to study cold water coral reefs and the second led by University College Dublin to study deepwater thermal vent sites on the

Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

The Celtic Explorer will deliver an intensive programme of activities in 2015 with a packed schedule to December 17. Beyond 2015, the systems will be used extensively to map the Celtic Sea, to provide valuable data for the sustainable development of Ireland’s fisheries as well as allowing Irish scientists the opportunity to play a pivotal role in future research opportunities in the deeper waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Micheál O Chonghaile, Technical Superintendant, P&O Maritime Services (Ireland) Ltd; Iulian Sandu, Steel Foreman, A&P; Bill Dwyer, P&O and Barry Kavanagh, P&O.

inshore ireland February/March 2015 21

marine r&d

The Stock Book: annual review and management advice

T

Ciaran ODonnell

Photo: Cushla Dromgool-Reagan

Linking seabed mapping and fisheries research technology to paint a bigger picture Lisa Fitzpatrick

C

iaran O’Donnell, specialist in fisheries acoustic research with Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory services at the Marine Institute, has begun a PhD research project that will link fisheries and seabed mapping acoustic technologies. By using both technologies, he aims to learn more about how fish behave during acoustic surveys and therefore increase the precision of fish stock assessments.

Ciaran’s research will focus on pelagic species (fish that swim in the water column) to see if there is avoidance behaviour during acoustic surveys, and will also

look at schooling behaviour and preferred habitat.

He will use the state-of-theart multibeam echosounder system recently installed on RV Celtic Explorer to look beyond the data normally captured during acoustic fisheries surveys, to see if some or any of the fish being targeted are moving away from the research vessel as it passes overhead.

“I’m really looking forward to the sea trials of the new multibeam this month when we’ll get a chance to use the most advanced seabed mapping technology, alongside acoustic fisheries technology. We should be able to see a much broader picture than before.

“Acoustic surveys are very targeted and focussed, and this will allow us to capture new information about what fish are

doing beyond the target of the downward-looking fisheries echosounder. It will be like getting enhanced peripheral vision of the sea around the ship.

“We’ll also be able to see if fish are moving away from the research vessel and out of the survey path and therefore this will potentially enhance the precision of our current survey methods.”

The project will bring together technology and data from fisheries and seabed mapping and Ciaran will work closely with the INFOMAR team and the advanced mapping services at the Marine Institute.

Originally designed by the INFOMAR team, the research project brings together experienced researchers including Dr Chris McGonigle and Dr Rory Quinn, University of Ulster; Dr Fabio Sacchetti, INFOMAR, Marine Institute and Dr David Reid, Marine Institute and UCC. Ciaran is a leading fisheries acoustic scientist at the Marine Institute and is chief scientist on annual surveys such as blue whiting, Celtic Sea herring, and boarfish surveys.

he seas around Ireland are among the most productive and biologically sensitive areas in EU waters. In 2014, the Irish fishing fleet’s share of Total Allowable Catches (TAC) was 313,368 tonnes, valued at €241 million. The overall value of the EU seafood production sector is roughly €23 billion, according to the Marine Institute’s latest Stock Book.

Each year in November, the Marine Institute publishes the Stock Book which contains the latest scientific information on the status of fish stocks in Irish waters.

It provides scientific information for Irish administration engaged in negotiations on annual TACs at various EU Council of Fisheries meetings and particularly the December Council meeting.

The 2014 Stock Book gives scientific advice on 73 stocks, increased from 60 stocks on the previous year, due to the addition of skate and ray stocks. It shows that 23% of stocks are above safe biomass levels while 16% of stocks are below safe levels and 60% are of unknown/undefined status.

Those stocks in the unknown or undefined category are there either because the biomass reference points have not been defined or because the data is not sufficient to provide a reliable assessment of the stock status.

Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney used this during intensive negotiations last December to deliver a €123 million package of quotas for Ireland’s fishing industry. The Minister was also successful in reversing a proposed 14% cut in prawn quotas by encouraging the Commission to follow the scientific advice and to apply a 3% increase in the Irish quota for this important €60m fishery.

Quota for haddock stocks was cut by 12% based on the scientific advice which showed the stock had been fished too heavily and a decline in the biomass. .

The majority of the scientific advice presented in the Stock Book is formulated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

The Stock Book is the result of many research days at sea; data collection and analysis by Marine Institute Scientists under the Common Fisheries Policy, and it is used as a reference throughout the year by a wide range of stakeholders.

The Stock Book has been published by the Marine Institute since 1993 and has evolved considerably in that time.

Free to download from www. marine.ie

22 inshore ireland February/March 2015

book review

The Limerick Flood of 2014

A

gripping exposé of disorganisation and unpreparedness when climate change hit Limerick. Its narrative, “home truths” and explanations will engage a wide audience.

Written by Martin Kay ― a coastal and river regeneration specialist already engaged with the people affected ― this is his story as well as theirs – and he proves himself a writer with a talent for description and explanation.

The purpose of the book, Kay declares, is to reinforce the message that climate change is a very real threat to our existence today. Not to our general existence as mankind but to our local existence as a neighbourhood here, or a village there, or even a small town in between.

‘And not to the nature of our existence in 30 or 40 years’ time, which is a different question from the one I am pursuing here, but to our situation tomorrow, or next week, sometime soon, at time when we are not expecting anything to go wrong.’

The author conducts a riveting conversation with his readers in which he takes them from a moving glimpse into the history of King’s Island in Limerick, through gripping, first-hand experiences of the flood and then into evidence of disorganisation and failures in the official sphere.

Kay then introduces his readers to a higher-level examination of the reasons why things happened than we might usually find, that is fascinating and full of insight.

Finally, he gives us a plan of action for approaching the question of our own

February 6

Last programme in the Thomas Davis Lectures on ‘Ireland’s Sailing Tradition’

by W M Nixon (pictured) reproduced in Sailing By – Celebrating 25 Years of Seascapes on RTE Radio 1 published

by The Liffey Press and RTE Radio 1 with royalties going to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Friday 13

Galway Bay Sailing Club’s Commodore Gary Allen outlines the year ahead. We also have an exclusive interview with Brian Carlin - On Board Reporter aboard Team Vestas Wind in the Volvo Ocean Race. Also in February Norman Freeman on the joys of the tango and the lure of Buenos Aires to visiting seafarers…plus all the regular features Seascapes is presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton.

Seascapes is presented and produced

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

COMPETITION The author has generously offered two copies as competition prizes.

Q: Which Limerick island is central to the author’s study?

Answers to mills @inshore-ireland.com or by post card to 3 Hillview Cottages, Pottery Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

experience of between the ‘real-life’ ‘deskbound ’ “… the missing link climate change and the ns are the people affected by and administrat ive consideratio bottomreality in which plans well the practicalities of formulated. The text captures of democratic situation and the failure of citizens. up needs in a hazardous to provide for the safety and administrat ive systems dissection of the underlying causes.

The tale rests upon an acute in documenting the way in which A book like this is essentialitself.” ‘the disconnect’ manifests of An Taisce Maynooth and President Prof John Sweeney, NUI

Lim er ick Flood of 2014 Climate Change edness and a case of Unprepar

Ceylon and educated in Martin Kay was born in He holds a PhD Scotland, England and Ireland. and his home is from the University of Limerick interest lies in coastal in the County. His special tradition. communities and the maritime

Glandore Regatta, 2013. Jolie Brise passing the Fastnet Rock West Cork.

Photo: Brian Carlin g.ie

Closing date:

March 16, 2015.

Good luck!

Martin Kay

About the Author

w w w.originalwritin

The

of 2014 The Limeric k Flood

ess of disorganisat ion and unpreparedn This is a gripping exposé ‘home truths’ Limerick. Its narrative, when climate change hit a wide audience. and explanations will engage

set down “… what was actually seems in official reports in Limerick a piece of to have been a charade, ridiculous pretence …”

Martin Kay

vulnerability, as well as challenging social scientists to get more involved in the threat posed by climate change.

The Limerick Flood of 2014 successfully converts Ireland’s own experience of this type of disaster into a narrative that can be compared with similar events across the world. ‘…the missing link between the “real-life” experience of the people affected by climate change and the “deskbound” reality in which plans and administrative consideration are formulated.

The text captures well the practicalities of bottom-up needs in a hazardous situation and the failure of democratic and administrative systems to provide for the safety of citizens. The tale rests upon an acute dissection of the underlying causes.

A book like this is essential in documenting the way in which “the disconnect manifests itself.”

Prof John Sweeney, NUI Maynooth and President of An Taisce

Published by Original Writing Ltd ISBN: 978 1 7 782327 776 4

December/January COMPETITION WINNERS Shackleton - by endurance we conquer Pat O’Connor, Douglas, Co Cork Tim Magennis, Killiney, Co Dublin

Congratulations to all our competition winners

inshore ireland February/March 2015 23

crow’s nest

Ringsend smacks unloading catch at Skerries beach by Alexander Williams

Sailing smacks from a bygone era the

crow's nest

Cormac F. Lowth

R

ingsend is a maritime village on the south side of the River Liffey in Dublin, near the heart of Dublin Port.

Throughout most of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, a large fleet of sailing beam-trawlers was based there.

This fleet of fishing vessels were collectively referred to as ‘smacks’ and their methods of operation was to exist in an almost unchanged state for over one hundred years. Their activities, which began in Dublin about 1819 and finished up just after the First World War, have gone largely unrecorded.

Unlike sailing trawlers in many British ports during the same period, which were extensively photographed, photos of the trawlers and those who were associated with them are extremely rare.

Bountiful fish The era of trawling under sail from Ringsend began with the formation of a Fishery Company in 1818 by a group of enterprising Dublin businessmen,

to exploit the rich fishing grounds off the Ireland’s east coast. The company invited investment by issuing shares.

Investors bought large sailing smacks that fished with large beam trawls from Brixham in Devon on the south coast of England. The fishery company hired men from Brixham as crew and while it folded in 1830, most of the crews and skippers stayed and settled in Ringsend with their families.

Some of the personnel who had worked for the company bought out the boats at the time of the closure and continued to operate from Ringsend and by the 1830s, the Ringsend fleet had increased to about fifty boats.

In the ensuing decades, many other crews and their boats, some built in Brixham and some in Ringsend, followed the example set by these early fishing immigrants.

A constant interchange of boats and people continued between Brixham and Ringsend that lasted until the demise of the sailing trawlers in the first quarter of the 20th Century.

Numerous descendants of this fishing community still live in the Ringsend area and many names still reflect the unique connection with Devon.

Single-masted gaffers The Brixham trawlers that arrived in Dublin early in the 19th Century averaged about forty tons. All were single-masted cutters with gaff rigs and were fully decked. Fitted with handoperated mechanical winches to haul in the trawls they had considerable advantage over other fishing boats.

The standard crew on the Brixham-type trawlers was three men and a boy, and this remained

Ringsend smack watercolour (1838) by Matthew Kenrick

Sailing trawlers at Ringsend. Cormac Lowth collection so until the very end of the sail trawling era. The local wherries usually carried a crew of at least eight.

In the early years after the arrival of the English fishermen and their boats, animosity was shown towards them by the local fishermen. This sometimes manifested itself with acts of violence and threatening behaviour, with some of the trawlers being boarded at sea by the locals to destroy the gear. To counter this threat, the Ringsend fleet was sometimes accompanied to sea by the armed revenue cutter.

Throughout the era, ancillary trades and industries developed in support of the industry. Much of the east bank of the River Dodder - from Ringsend Bridge to the start of the Great South Wall at ‘the Point’ where the Dodder enters the River Liffey - was taken up by yards for boatbuilders; sawyers;, sail-makers; rope-makers; net-makers and blacksmiths.

Two-masted ketch At the zenith of the sailtrawling era in Ringsend, the fleet comprised more than sixty trawlers. Many of the latter-day boats built locally or acquired in the south of England were given two-masted ketch rigs. As the boats increased in size to a maximum of roughly fifty-three tons and a length of about seventy feet, the ketch rig proved to be more manageable than the huge sails on the single-masted cutters.

As the 19th Century wore on, the fleet began to dwindle.

Many of the vessels simply worn out by age were discarded and not replaced. More stringent regulations regarding the certification of trawler skippers and employment conditions for crewmen and boys may have also been a contributory factor.

But competition from steam trawlers was probably the main reason for the decline. From 1900 onwards, steam trawlers began to operate out of Dublin, drawing crewmen away from the

traditional sailing trawlers.

By the onset of the First World War, the fleet had reduced to.

This conflict also drew large numbers of fishermen into the Merchant Service and the Royal Navy.

In 1919, only two sailing trawlers were registered and owned in Ringsend and by 1921, all traces of these Ringsend owned vessels had disappeared from the register, thus bringing an end a unique chapter in the maritime history of Dublin, almost exactly a hundred years after it had begun.

The sailing trawlers of Brixham clung on tenaciously into the 1930s despite huge losses to German submarines and warships during the First World War. Several were sold to Scandinavian countries and many continue to sail in the Baltic. About six of the Brixham trawlers are in existence today in Britain in a much restored condition and are used for sail training and charter cruises.