Inshore ireland vol 11 nr 3 (jun jul) 2015

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

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MARItIMe InDuStRY AWA R D S 2015

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2015 patrols to target hideous practice of crab de-clawing - pg 8

June/July 2015 Vol 11 Issue 3

ONLINE EDITION

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

Seafood industry urged to embrace ambition and innovation to achieve global status by 2025 For the first time ever all the different stakeholders in Ireland’s Maritime future will gather for the inaugural Maritime Industry Awards. More than 65 companies, organisations and bodies present will celebrate excellence in Maritime endeavours and witness the presentation of 15 stunning trophies to Ireland’s maritime leaders.

The very best in Maritime will be at the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin 4 on June 18th for the most important night in the 2015 maritime year and we invite you to join in too.

To book your place:

info@maritimeawards.ie or 01 407 0595

To sponsor one of our categories:

kevin@eventstrategies.ie or 01 407 0594

Sponsors to the awards benefit from national media branding, comprehensive event branding and VIP seating packages.

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Supporters

Gery Flynn, Gillian Mills

I

The Maritime Industry Awards are devised and organised by

reland’s seafood industry could be generatiing €2 billion a year in total revenues and supporting up to 11,000 jobs by 2025 – but only if it develops critical mass and scale; implements innovation and suceeds in attracting new talent, a conference of seafood leaders and investors has heard.

Trade Media Supporter

Addressing the BIMorganised Leadership and Scale conferecne, Eddie Power of Green Isle Foods said that such optimistic predictions were ‘realistic and achievable’ and all that was necessary was ambition and the will to do it.

“Ireland’s green status and food island image, and above all its geographic location in the most productive fishing grounds in the EU, are clear indicators of just how much potential there is to turn us into a golobal seafood producer. We have www.eventstrategies.ie, info@eventstrategies.ie 01 407 0594.

the natural opportunities to process 500,000 tonnes within a decade”, he declared.

Consolidation

But he cautioned that Ireland’s seafood industry would only reach its full potential if there was further significant consolidation and co-operation.

“Irish seafood companies will have to develop critical mass and scale if they are to be competitive in the global market place. And the industry will require an

export-oriented mindset and a commitment to creating added-value, as well as a new capacity to invest in the technology and innovation to provide sufficient scale to exploit by-product.”

Power’s initial impression of Ireland’s seafood industry was of fragmentation, comprising about 170 mostly small companies with a turnover of roughly €1 million a year.

“In many cases these operate in an environment where State supports are widely dispersed and the

companies themselves are orientated mainly towards the home market only.

There also seems to be low sustained profitablility in most sectors, and critically, there seems to be a limited ambition overall for further developent,” he said.

A consequence of such inadequacies he believes has made the industry uncompetitive on a European scale, and not exploiting catch in Irish waters. »» page 1

HRH The Prince of Wales met An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and Marine Institute CEO Dr. Peter Heffernan where he talked about Ireland’s seabed mapping and international collaboration on Ocean research.

Photo: Andrews Downes XPOSURE

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inshore ireland June/July 2015

News

Landings obligation on course to create ‘un-level’ playing field Gillian Mills

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The practice of ‘slipping at sea’. The net is never taken from the water - it is opened to release the fish, the majority of which are already dead. These fish are not counted for and the extent of the damage is not known.

Marine Institute Foras na Mara

Our Ocean - A Shared Resource Ár n-Aigéan - Acmhainn Comhroinnte Ireland’s National Agency for Marine Research and Innovation An Ghníomhaireacht Náisiúnta um Thaighde Mara agus Nuálaíochta

www.marine.ie

embers of the European Association of Producer Organisations (EAPO), supported by Europêche ‘are in an exclusive position in relation to the implementation of the landings obligation and are more relevant to this process than many other industry organisations.’

This observation is contained in a joint Position Paper that also refers to Council Regulation 1379/2013 on the common organisation of the markets which states that a key role of all producer organisations is to promote viable fishing activities while reducing unwanted catches.

The need to ensure a certain amount of economic stability in order to foster such viable activities will be one of the prime concerns of POs through the transition period and into the full implementation of Article 15 of the Common Fishery Policy 1380/2013.

‘To avoid wholesale destruction of fishing communities and fish stocks, EAPO and Europêche must be considered as pivotal in the decision making process.’

And it adds that regional groupings and Member States individually ‘ are in the unfortunate position of being required to reach agreement within unwieldy time constraints.

It is accepted that this timeline is prescribed by the regulation and that regional groups are well advanced in decision making for the initial year of implementation in the demersal fisheries.

‘The need to facilitate a phased approach has, inevitably, led to definitions of fisheries that do not necessarily reflect a fisherman’s reality and – while it is understandable that Member States might, in light of the short time period given to them to make these decisions, view this as the most easily implementable mechanism in the long term – this approach will prove cumbersome and intensify the negative outcomes of the implementation of the obligation.’

Appropriate options

Integration of the landings obligation may require minimal adjustment for some fisheries but will be problematic for highly mixed fisheries, where catch composition can vary due to absence of pattern or explanation, rather than temporal or spatial factor, the Paper notes.

‘This leads to a plethora of problems when considering appropriate policy options…and

many of the critical policy and technical aspects remain unclear or indeed unknown. It is impossible for fishermen to take measures to future proof their business or for managers, such as POs, to future proof their management mechanisms.’

‘What can be predicted is that the quota for certain species will be exhausted prematurely creating chokes, although the scale of this problem cannot be predicted with any certainty.

Flexibility required

Speaking to Inshore Ireland, Francis O’Donnell, IFPO, says the plan lacks flexibility outlined by the Irish industry as being ‘critical’ whereby the fisher elects in advance of the fishing trip what fishery they will be targeting: “The elective approach offers major advantages in

“What can be predicted is that the quota for certain species will be exhausted prematurely creating chokes” terms of control and risk analysis. The track record methodology contained in the draft plan causes major problems for the Irish and European Fleet as vessels often change fishing patterns, depending on fishing opportunities,” he said.

For example, a vessel that has refitted and is now targeting prawns may be subject to a landing obligation in year one for whiting even though the vessel is not targeting this species.

The vessel may be fishing alongside another vessel, both targeting prawns, but only one is required to land this species in year one.

“This system has the ability to create an ‘un-level’ playing field. Most of all it is not what stakeholders want and may in fact lead to increased mortality for species such as nephrops.

“Fishers will now be required to land all but 7% of all nephrops caught when ICES themselves build in a survival ratio of 25% post discarding in their annual advice,” he warned.

inshore ireland June/July 2015

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Comment

Debate continues on how to implement effective coastal zone management

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ast year, Inshore Ireland reported the lack of a robust and effective all-island policy of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and the Heritage Council’s conclusion that up to 2005 there had been no advances in policy or legislative developments in this area since the publication of a draft policy for Ireland in 1997!

At the time we branded Ireland’s approach to ICZM as ‘chaotic and shambolic’ – noting that progress was hampered by a plethora of government departments, local authorities and national agencies - all seemingly with roles, no matter how small, in the management

of the coastal zone.

Our interview then with Dr Anne Marie O’Hagan of the Beaufort Laboratory – a recognised expert on the law of coastal management – revealed that politicians were not progressing an imaginative and workable coastal zone policy for fear of upsetting a variety of vested interests. But it wasn’t as simple as pointing the finger of blame at politicians for putting local issues ahead of the national interest, Brussels too has a case to answer for the confusion and lack of progress in coastal governance.

Instead of pursuing ICZM, the EU-led preference is for Maritime Spatial Planning. Why? Because ICZM it is perceived as being a strongly environmentalbased management approach, as opposed to MSP which fully addresses economic or social aspects.

According to Dr O’Hagan, MSP is favoured in Brussels as a driver that will increase economic investment by providing more certainty for developers.

MSP is viewed as one of the cross-sectoral tools essential to maximising the opportunity for economic growth from the ocean, thereby being more attractive to industry.

Slow progress

An article in this issue by Christina Kelly from the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queens University confirms that progress, while slow is nevertheless underway.

She suggests too that management of Irish estuaries and coasts is still conducted in a fragmented manner with no national policy for integrated estuarine and

coastal management or marine spatial planning.

And she points to the lack of a single marine body with overall responsibility for Irish estuaries and coasts, and points to at least 34 government departments, agencies and bodies with responsibility for estuarine, coastal and marine management in the Republic of Ireland alone!

Ahead of any plaudits however the article identifies some of the obstacles still to be overcome.

Nevertheless, there is a sense of optimism, underpinned by a forthcoming workshop (see page 6) funded by the Environmental Protection Authority.

It’s all very well having an integrated marine policy underlying the Our Ocean Wealth strategy, but it will be a major challenge to implement it effectively at the sea-land interface.

comment

Gery Flynn

Valentia MRSC marks 100 years of service

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plaque paying tribute to all members of the Irish Coast Guard who have served at the Valentia Marine Rescue SubCentre has been unveiled by Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport at a ceremony commemorating 100 years of service.

Valentia MRSC covers the southwest and western Atlantic coastal area and has served as the first point of contact for the liners and cross Atlantic vessels transiting to and from Europe to America since 1914.

“When I look around this state-of-the-art centre at Wireless Point, it is difficult to imagine it was from this very

Incidents of note at Valentia: • 1915: RMS Lusitania torpedoed off Old Head off Kinsale: 1,959 passengers and crew; 1,195 lives lost, 764 survivors • 1942: SSGH Jones 40 survivors rescued off Azores, adrift 6 days. Faint signal picked up by Valentia staff • 1949: American Skymaster Aircraft 39 survivors • 1954: KLM Air crash at Shannon: 28 survivors 28 dead • 1958: KLM Flight 607-E: 100nm W of Shannon: No survivors 91 passengers 8 Crew: 34 recovered • 1973: Vickers Submersible Recovery: all crew rescued • 1979: MT Betelgeuse/ Whiddy disaster: 50 lives lost 27 recovered • 1979: Fastnet Race. Yachting disaster 18 lives lost • 1985: Air India all on-board lost their lives. 132 bodies were recovered; 197 lost at sea • 1986: Kowloon Bridge: all 28 crew rescued • 1989: M/V Yarawonga: All 30 crew rescued • 2000: St Gervaise: No survivors, 2 recovered • 2011: Fastnet Race YT Rambler: 21 crew rescued • 2012: FV Tit Bon Homme one survivor, 5 recovered • 2013: SV Astrid: 30 crew rescued

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location on May 7, 1915, that some of the last messages to Lusitania were transmitted using only Morse Code.

Throughout two world wars, the station also provided a lifeline and communications link to shore.

“Our seas and inland waterways can bring tragedy as well as joy, and we remember all who have lost their lives in an around our coast, and acknowledge the sadness of that loss for their families and friends.”

The last two years were the busiest in many years in terms of emergency responses, reaching 2,628 with the Valentia centre coordinating 940 of these incidents.

Dear editor

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favour Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company being dissolved and the future administration and policy direction of the Harbour being brought under the direct control of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

I am calling for meaningful discussions to commence immediately with the union

Editor

Features Editor

Gillian Mills

Gery Flynn

mills@inshore-ireland.com

flynn@inshore-ireland.com

01 235 4804

091 844822

(l-r) Jerry O’Brien, Radio Officer, Valentia Coast Guard; Minister Paschal Donohoe and Chris Reynolds, Director Irish Coast Guard

representatives of the workers currently employed by the Harbour Company, in order to secure the best deal for all employees and to ensure that their pension entitlements are protected.

I would ask the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Board not to submit its application for a Cruise Ship Terminal until its Master Plan undergoes a statutory period of public consultation, considered, with or without amendments, and adopted for inclusion in the Sales & Marketing sales@inshore-ireland.com

087 290 2045 085 747 5797

County Development Plan 2016–2022, in the interest of proper planning and sustainable development for the area.

“No future development should be permitted within the harbour, pending confirmed funding and resolution for future governance of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

For webcast of Council debate (18/05) go to: www.dlrcoco.ie Your sincerely, Cllr Victor Boyhan.

Design

Durgan Media info@durganmedia.ie

074 91 77893

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

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€240m package “demonstrates” commitment to seafood sector

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doubling of investment in Ireland’s seafood sector to 2020 “demonstrates our commitment to growing and developing the sector,” remarked marine minister Simon Coveney when launching a €241m programme comprising €147m from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and €94m government funding.

“Seafood is widely recognised as a high growth area of the Irish economy and has the potential to grow to €1bn by 2020.

Currently the sector is worth approximately €850m with exports growing by 70% since 2009 to €540m.”

He added that the investment package would provide capital to assist seafood enterprises to sustainably grow their

production, add value to seafood exports and create much needed employment in coastal communities. He noted however there would be differing views on how the funds should be invested and which areas should be prioritised.

“Following a detailed process of analysing investment needs of the sector, I am proposing to invest €42m to implement the new Common Fisheries Policy, to include measures to develop more selective fishing gear and supporting the new discards ban.”

Minister Coveney also proposes to invest a further €6m to revive and sustainably grow inshore fisheries; €30m to sustainably develop the aquaculture industry and implement a new national plan for aquaculture [announcement due shortly];

€12m to grow seafood-based economies through FLAGs, and €41m to grow markets, develop the seafood processing industry and

develop new value-added products.

A further €10m will support implementation of EU environmental law “to help

protect vulnerable habitats and species and ensure that our seafood sector continues to operate and grow in a sustainable manner,” he said.

L-R; Michael Keatinge, Fisheries Development Manager BIM, Milos Korinek, Fishmonger Scally SuperValu; Minister Simon Coveney TD; Dr Susan Steele Chair SFPA; Tara McCarthy Food & Beverages Director Bord Bia; Peter Heffernan CEO Marine Institute and Cecil Beamish DAFM Clonakilty

Donegal teens crowned Youth Entrepreneurs 2015 for ‘seaweed treats’ business

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our transitionyear students from Coláiste na Carraige were among the 1,000 participants from low income communities who set up 600 businesses as part of this year’s Foróige Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) programme, generating a collective turnover of €250,000.

Mary Kate Carr (15); Aimée Byrne (16); Rebecca McShane (16) and Ronan O’Hare (15) are from the Glencolmcille area.

Their business ‘Milseog na Mara’ (Desserts of the Sea), offers healthy alternatives to jellies and chocolate mousse by using a type of locally sourced seaweed – Carrageen Moss – as the main ingredient.

“Our idea came to us when I got sick and my family made me a cold remedy

using Carrageen Moss. Not only did I get over the cold quickly but I realised this jelly-like substance could be used in alternative ways to make chilled desserts and jellies,” said Mary Kate.

Market gap

Market research carried out by the group found that the only other Carrageen Moss product available was dried seaweed and as such there was a gap in the market for their products.

“We realised that our target market could also be segmented into people who have a keen interest in health food and unique, quirky artisan products,” she continued.

The group used Facebook (milseog na mara) and twitter @milseognamara) to promote their business and were so successful that they trended fifth in Ireland.

The jars of jellies and chocolate mousse cost €3 and are available at select country markets. Since Milseog na Mara was established last October, the business has generated an income of €438.

The group is now hoping to expand its business.

“Our product has a huge potential for development as it’s so versatile. We’re currently looking at healthy ice lollies for children further down the line.”

Commenting on their win, Mary Kate said: “We’ve gained so many valuable skills through the Foróige NFTE programme and from setting up our own business – though the biggest lesson is you get what you put in. It’s been a fantastic experience overall and to win is the icing on the cake – we’re thrilled!”

CEO of Foróige Seán Campbell paid tribute to the

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News

Stakeholder consultation

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he Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, published a draft Seafood Development Programme and related draft SEA Environmental Report for public consultation on 27 March 2015, with a closing date for submissions of 1 May. Some 56 submissions were received, commenting on a range of issues. Eleven commented on proposed supports to the catching sector; twenty-three on aquaculture; four on data collection and control; eight on FLAGs and five on processing and marketing.

Comments on the catching sector related to CFP implementation; decommissioning and environmental protection.

There was widespread support for specific measures for the inshore sector.

Eleven submissions on aquaculture were from aquaculture and other seafood enterprises, calling for higher levels of support to development and resolution of licensing difficulties.

There were mixed views from stakeholders on the proposed stock insurance

scheme with some supportive and others opposed.

State enterprise development agencies Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta highlighted the growth potential of the aquaculture sector and in particular seaweed aquaculture.

Submissions from three environmental NGOs opposed open-cage salmon farming in favour of land-based closed containment systems.

Four FLAG groups made submissions, calling for FLAG funding to be increased to 10% of the overall fund.

Four of the five submissions on processing and marketing were from the fisheries Producer Organisations.

These focused in particular on calls for an increase in funding for PO production and marketing plans.

The Minister is currently examining all of these submissions and will be finalising the draft Programme shortly with a view to submitting the programme to the European Commission in June for its adoption.

All submissions will be published on the website of the Department.

participants but said more support was needed to sustain the level of participation in the programme.

“NFTE is an incredibly important programme to Foróige but it has proven difficult to secure sustainable corporate funding. This has reduced the capacity of the programme from over 1,500 participants to just under 1,000 this year.

“However, Foróige recognises the need for

this programme, based on the proven results and the popularity of NFTE among young people. Foróige remains committed to youth entrepreneurship and will continue to deliver this programme to as many young people as possible,” he said.

The group will now go on the represent Ireland at the European Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Awards taking place in Budapest in November.

Booms and light beams replace bed nights as lighthouses open their doors to tourism Gillian Mills

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‘new experience to take your breath away’ – that’s the promise from Great Lighthouses of Ireland – an EU-funded tourism initiative featuring twelve lighthouses around the entire coastline of Ireland.

Launching the project, Pascal Donohoe, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, said our maritime heritage was a great source of pride.

“The Great Lighthouses of Ireland initiative is a unique and exciting collaboration between many people and organisations, each with different and specialist skills who have come together to create something exceptional.”

And while advances in technology and automation require less physical infrastructure, “providing safe navigation will remain paramount and foremost in our operations”

remarked David Delemar, chairman of the Commissioner of Irish Lights.

Seven of the twelve properties have existing or proposed accommodation while others are visitor attractions, offering unique experiences and an understanding of the role of lighthouses through time as a backdrop to local maritime and seafaring history.

“Through Great Lighthouses of Ireland we have brought together a group of people who are deeply rooted in our coastal communities and are hugely committed to our lighthouse heritage,” remarked Yvonne Shields, CIL chief executive.

“The project presents an opportunity to protect the future of a subset of historic maritime properties by developing alternative uses that will benefit visitors, support tourism and create employment and enterprise opportunities in local coastal communities,” she added.

New wave of visitors

CIL secured €2.5m in funding

Co Kerry, Valentia

under the EU INTERREG 1VA for Phase 1 of the All-Islands Lighthouse Project , comprising a cross-border development of properties at St John’s Point (Donegal); Fanad Head (Rathlin West) Blackhead (Antri+m) and St John’s Point (Down).

“I am confident this project will attract a new wave of domestic and overseas tourists and will have long-term positive impacts on the local economy on both sides of the border,” remarked Lorraine McCourt, director of Special EU Programmes Body (SEUBP).

The project is supported by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland and is partnered with the Irish Landmark Trust; the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Forbairt Fhanada Teoranta; Hook Heritage Ltd; Clare County Council, Ballycotton Lighthouse Tours; Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Valentia Island Development Co and Clare Island Lighthouse.

Co Mayo, Clare Island

Great Lighthouses of Ireland Co Antrim, Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre

Co Wicklow, Wicklow Head

Co Cork, Ballycotton

Co Down, St John’s Point

Co Clare, Loop Head

Co Wexford, Hook

Co Cork, Galley Head

Co Donegal, St John’s Point

Rebecca McShane; Ronan O’Hare; Mary Kate Carr and Aimee Byrne - Transition Year students at Coláiste na Carraige, Co Donegal. All-Ireland winners of the NFTE 2015 award for their mini business Miseoga na Mara, which offers a healthy seaweed alternative to sweet jellies and hot drinks for flu remedies made from Carrigeen moss.

Co Donegal, Fanad Head

Co Antrim, Blackhead

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inshore ireland June/July 2015

YOURVIEW

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.

Plethora of government departments ‘responsible’ for coastal management!

Christina Kelly, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen’s University

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s Inshore Ireland has been reporting since 2005, the management of Irish estuaries and coasts is currently conducted in a fragmented manner.

There is no national policy for integrated estuarine and coastal management, or marine spatial planning. And there is no single marine body with overall responsibility for Irish estuaries and coasts.

Currently there are at

least thirty-four different government departments, agencies and bodies with responsibility for estuarine, coastal and marine management in the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland however, is not unique in using this sectoral approach to management.

Historically, international and European legislation was introduced to deal with sectoral issues concerning the environment and to generally represent a reactive response to specific problems such as environmental disasters.

This mainly sectoral approach to environmental management however has resulted in fragmented governance arrangements whereby only the priorities

of one policy area are taken into account (i.e. fisheries, transport, shipping, pollution etc.) with little regard for cross sectoral or cumulative impacts.

Notwithstanding, this sectoral approach is being replaced by a more integrated policy at the European level.

As reported in Inshore Ireland (April/May 2014) the EU proposed a Directive establishing a framework for Marine Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management.

Since then, the EU adopted a Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive; however reference to Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) was removed from the title.

Whilst the MSP Directive

still stipulates that it will contribute to promoting the sustainable development, use and growth of maritime and coastal resources, it specifies that the legislation shall only apply to marine waters - not coastal waters. This may pose a risk of further fragmentation in relation to estuary and coastal management on a country-wide basis where no national policy exists such as in Ireland.

Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that the Irish Government is realising that more integration is necessary, as set out in Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland.

New legislation therefore has the potential to enforce policies that focus on various inter-related policy goals. The pending Foreshore Bill which will replace the outdated 1933 Foreshore Act, if formulated appropriately, could be invaluable, but is already over two years in development.

On the other hand, if current proposals under the General Scheme of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Draft Foreshore Bill) are realised, it may represent a lost opportunity to effectively address and minimise the complexity that exists within current governance structures.

As drafted, responsibilities for estuarine and coastal management are divvied up among a range of different government departments, agencies, local government and public bodies. The implications of continuing with this fragmented approach can result in conflicts or complementarities among social, economic, and environmental objectives being given little consideration with the result that many estuarine and coastal activities are constrained,

and overall environmental quality, or economic growth is hampered.

As part of IMMERSE, a proposed framework of integrated EMMS has been developed. This framework is based on the principles of integrated environmental management and has been informed by a review of integrated processes related to estuarine and coastal management and an analysis of international case studies.

The proposed framework for EMMS will be the first developed for Irish estuarine and coastal areas. Its robustness and rigour will be tested by piloting it within two case studies: the Shannon Estuary and Dublin Bay. This aspect of the research will involve close working with key stakeholders within both regions.

In this context, a workshop event will take place on June 25, 2015, in the Shannon region for a number of invited stakeholders. This will allow the IMMERSE project team to pilot the proposed framework of EMMS within a collaborative environment.

The framework will then be refined, based on this case study experience and trialled in Dublin Bay towards the end of the summer. The final outcomes of the case studies will allow the research team to reflect upon the experience and lessons learned; refine the framework and recommend a specific framework of EMMS which can be replicated on an island-wide basis and may be used to address the lack of integration in Irish marine and coastal policy.

Further information on the IMMERSE project is available on the project website: http://bit.ly/IMMERSE and on Twitter@IMMERSE14

Integrated Management and Monitoring of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems (IMMERSE), is a research project aimed at informing an integrated Environmental Management and Monitoring system (EMMS) for Irish estuarine and coastal ecosystems. It is funded by the EPA’s Research Programme and conducted by Christina Kelly under the supervision of Professor Geraint Ellis and Dr Wesley Flannery at QUB. The methodology for the EMMS is applicable on a national scale, and aims to align with the requirements of EU legislation including the Water Framework; Marine Strategy Framework; Marine Spatial Planning; Habitats; Birds and Floods Directives. The project will be completed in January 2017.

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Report

Three-quarters of Irish bathing waters are of ‘excellent quality’

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Before…

Annual beach clean in Ardgroom Marian Lynch

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or the past 23 years, a group of concerned locals have undertaken an annual clean-up of Caus beach, three miles outside Argroom on the Beara peninsula. What started out with myself and my daughter Helen, then aged 3, and husband Ger collecting bags along the road and bringing them to the dump, has grown to 21 people who care about their surroundings.

I would like to thank those who couldn’t be in the picture due to cleaning other areas at the same time: Gert and Lotte Vox; Kathy Lynch; Marianne Kloppe; Laura Hatton; Simon Harrison and Ger Lynch. Hilde Heinz; Renee Vandenbosch;

Jill Harrison and Brendan Lynch were all unwell and Paul and Charmian Arbuckle were unavailable this year.

Andrew and Ann Leahy were on holidays and I stuck a note to their gate during my early morning doggie walk that day, asking them if they would like to join us. I also met Sheila Harrington that morning and she offered her assistance new enthusiastic members.

We make the most of the day so “It’s not all work and no play.” We are cleaning and chatting and having the laugh while still getting on with the job. Each year we take turns meeting up in a member’s house afterward for refreshments.

Last week when I was putting the last of the rubbish on the heap (it is twice the

size now since the photo was taken) I met a group of French tourists picnicking in Caus and they were wondering what I was doing. I explained about An Taisce and the Annual Spring Clean and they stood back and admired our handiwork and said how they had seen so many people cleaning the roads throughout Ireland and wondered what they were doing.

They were amazed that so many were so interested in their environment and grateful and appreciative of our work and loving our wonderful country. They said that nothing like that ever happened in France.

I felt proud to be Irish and living in such beautiful surroundings, it is a joy to have it clean.

reland’s bathing waters continue to be of a very high standard, with 94 per cent of identified bathing areas meeting new stricter EU standards, according to an EPA published report: Bathing Water Quality in Ireland (2014).

Seven bathing waters (1 inland, 6 coastal) failed to comply with the minimum mandatory standard and were classified ‘poor’ quality. New standards are almost twice as strict as those previously applied, and pollution sources are mainly linked to the impacts of wastewater discharges. The assessment was undertaken using data from the 2011-2014 bathing seasons rather than just the annual data as in previous years.

“Overall, the quality of Ireland’s bathing waters continues to be very good and new standards introduced in 2014 provide a much higher level of protection for bathers,” said Dr Matt Crowe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Assessment. Ireland currently has 136 identified bathing waters.

“Disappointingly, seven identified bathing waters have been assessed as being of poor quality. The relevant local authorities and Irish Water have put management plans in place to tackle the main pollution risks at these beaches.

The test will be whether or not we see the necessary improvements in water quality at these beaches,” he added.

Identified bathing waters are sea, river or lake waters, widely used by the public and are monitored, managed and assessed under the requirements of the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Regulations.

“Ireland has many superb beaches and while monitoring them all would be quite impractical, the EPA would like to see an increase in the numbers of identified bathing areas,” remarked Peter Webster, EPA senior scientific officer.

For the first time, the report also includes details of other waters that are monitored by local authorities, located in smaller or less popular locations and many are monitored on a voluntary basis.

“While they do not come under the legal framework of the Bathing Water Regulations we feel it is important to let the public know about their quality and we would like to see many of them included in the national programme in the future.” »» In 2014, 94% of bathing waters (128 of the 136 bathing areas) complied with the new stricter EU minimum standards and were classified as achieving at least ‘Sufficient’ water quality status »» Three quarters of bathing waters (103 of 136 or 76%) were classified as being of ‘excellent’ water quality »» A further 11% (15 of 136) were classified as being of ‘good’ water quality »» 10 bathing areas (7.4%) were classified as being of ‘sufficient’ water quality. These waters remain vulnerable to episodic pollution which means they are potentially at risk of being classed as ‘poor’ at some future stage. »» One new bathing water (Trá Inis Oirr) was added in 2014.

This water had been monitored by Galway County Council for several meets the ‘excellent’ standard. »» Seven waters (5.1%) failed to meet the minimum required standard and were classified as being of ‘poor’ quality The summary report Bathing Water Quality in Ireland - A Report for the Year 2014 and map of the quality of Ireland’s bathing water sites are now available.

Bathing season: The bathing season in Ireland, is designated as being from 1st June to 15Th September.

Assessment: From 2014 onwards bathing water compliance requires assessments to be undertaken using a statistical methodology using data covering a four year period as opposed to previous annual assessments based on percentage compliance. The new standards are approximately twice as strict as previous ones.

Classification: Bathing areas are currently classified in one of four categories namely ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’ or ‘poor’. The mandatory requirement is for ‘sufficient’ quality.

Any waters graded as ‘poor’ require management measures to be put in place to identify and eliminate the sources of pollution. …and after

8

inshore ireland June/July 2015

Fisheries

Inshore fisheries patrols programme to target crab declawing

T

he Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority will shortly recommence its seasonal inshore patrols. This year, the authority will be particularly targeting the practice of crab declawing, as well as compliance with regulations regarding the sizes of crab, lobster and whelk that can be harvested.

Since 1 January 2015, national regulations on lobster sizes have included a maximum1 and minimum size, in recognition of the important role that very large lobster play in the reproductive potential of stocks. Regulations governing size are part of a range of conservation measures to help secure the long-term sustainability of Ireland’s valuable crab, lobster and whelk fisheries.

Regulations are already in place regarding the minimum size that can be harvested - to ensure these species can reach maturity and have an opportunity to reproduce at least once and contribute to the next generation. Only lobsters with carapaces greater than 87mm in length can be fished while there are two legal minimum landing sizes: 130mm and 140mm for Irish brown crab²

depending on where fishing is taking place.

Declawing³ of crabs meanwhile is another important threat to Ireland’s crab stocks. The illegal practice involves one or both claws of a live crab being pulled off manually. The crab is then usually returned to the water where it effectively can starve to death as it can no longer feed itself.

“The inshore fleet is the backbone of many Irish coastal communities with the inshore fisheries contributing most significantly to the livelihoods of the largest number of Irish fishermen. Considerable work is being done at national and regional levels through the National Inshore Fisheries Forum and the network of Regional Inshore Forums to develop these fisheries,” remarked Susan Steele, SFPA chair.

She added that the SFPA “is committed to creating a level playing field» and supporting a culture where compliance is the norm.

We know from the SPFA Consultative Committee the important role that a targeted inshore compliance strategy can play in supporting the sustainable management of these fisheries and helping to safeguard their future

for the benefit of consumers, producers and, importantly, the coastal communities.”

The inshore patrols will continue until October/ November, weather permitting, and are being undertaken with the support of Inland Fisheries Ireland as well as the Naval Service and Air Corps.

In 2014 the SFPA under undertook 20 inshore patrols

across the south, west and northwest coasts during which it inspected 82 vessels.The infringements identified by SFPA officers included discovery of undersize lobster and crayfish following keep pot4 inspections.

Illegal salmon nets were also located in three areas, which were hauled by officers and passed to Inland Fisheries Ireland for further action.

The sale of lobsters with carapaces greater than 127mm in size is now prohibited. The carapace is the largest segment of a lobster

Notes: 1 The sale of lobsters with carapaces greater than 127mm¹ in size is now prohibited. The carapace is the largest segment of a lobster 2 Crabs are measured across the widest part of their shell.

3 As well as being an animal welfare issue, the declawing of crabs can mask undersized catches where the bodies of the crabs are not available to measure 4 Crab and lobster are fished using pots or creels that are baited and placed on the seabed.

Many pots may be attached to a single string which is marked by a buoy at each end. The pots are allowed to soak for a number of days before being hauled.

It is common industry practice to store captured lobsters in ‘keep’ areas such as dedicated submerged cages or sea-water tanks, to facilitate viable storage of live animals to meet ongoing customer demand within an unpredictable catch patterns. Short-term storage is acceptable to SFPA but retention of undersized lobsters even if they are stored in a keep and not placed on the market, is not acceptable.

Crab clawing: reprehensible, incomprehensible and defies logic Norah Parke, KFO

A

ll bona fide brown crab fishermen will welcome the recent statement from the SFPA regarding its upcoming schedule of inshore patrols if only for its intention to eliminate the reprehensible practice of clawing crab.

This completely crazy action

of pulling off crab claws and discarding the crab body is incomprehensible. Why do some fishermen think it is acceptable to destroy the livelihood of others - probably their neighbours – so that they can land a box of crab claws?

Is it stupidity or ignorance or as simple as lack of adequate storage on their boat? Do they not have a buyer for whole crab? Are there buyers who deliberately buy crab claws? Many questions but

who has the answers?

Poor reputation

Of course not all crab bodies are discarded; sometimes the crab bodies are packed and stored separately and make their way into the bait trade.

Unfortunately, Ireland has already earned a reputation for supplying such undersize, poor quality bait which probably originates from the practice of clawing crab.

The entire fishing industry is struggling to come to grips with the introduction of the Landings Obligation with very few exceptions. One of those exceptions is crab; due to the case made that crab not fit for market is returned alive to sea, the ‘no discards’ rule does not apply.

Should the current level of crab clawing be subject to greater scrutiny, that slight advantage might be lost. Similarly, the Seafood Standard developed by industry and BIM at considerable cost, could be

completely compromised along with the status of the ACRUNET Transnational Brown Crab Standard.

The many good reasons why clawing crabs should not be condoned are regularly reported, they include: poor quality; damage to reputation; a cover for undersized crab; health hazard; spreads disease in the crab population, the list goes on.

Rising anger

There is however a ground swell of anger growing among crab fishermen who are reminded on a daily basis when they haul pots full of de-clawed crab. Nobody likes to be constrained by rules and regulations but when the SFPA inspect responsible, compliant fishermen this season, it will be largely down to those at sea who have no respect for an industry working might and main to improve quality, keep stocks sustainable and cling on to whatever economic viability remains.

Now is the time for all those with the best interests of the brown crab industry at heart to come together and support efforts at all levels: fishermen, buyers, processors and State agencies to eliminate this unacceptable practice for good.

Next time you’re enjoying crab claws in your local restaurant, ask the provenance of the product, and if you know this de-clawing is going on, contact your local SFPA officer in confidence: »» Castletownbere: 027 70439; castletownbere@sfpa.ie »» Ros an Mhil: 091 572405 Rossaveal@sfpa.ie »» Killybegs: 074 973 1264 Killybegs@sfpa.ie »» Dunmore East: 051 383135 Dunmore@sfpa.ie »» An Daingean: 066 915 2122 Dingle@spfa.ie »» Cork, Mahon: 021 451 5439 sfpa@info@spfa.ie »» Howth: 01 8321910 Howth@sfpa.ie »» FMC Ireland: 021 437 8752 fmcireland@defenceforces.ie

inshore ireland June/July 2015

9

Fisheries

Appeal is lodged against planning permission sought

by Killybegs company Edward Fahy

A

n Tasice has lodged an appeal against BioMarine Ingredients Ireland Ltd – the jointventure project between the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation and Biomarine Science Technology of Norway.

The proposed plant will process 50,000 tonnes of raw material annually, much of which will consist of a single species for which Ireland has the bulk of quota.

The objection is based on the following reasons: Essentially, this plant will process fish for industrial purposes i.e. for use as materials or ingredients in other manufacturing or enterprises rather than for immediate human consumption Insufficient information has been provided on the raw material required to keep the plant in operation or how it will operate The single species that has been identified as the principal raw material is unlikely to prove adequate Past experience suggests that when such plants are established, the imperative is to supply raw material wherever possible and at whatever cost with inevitable consequences of overfishing, considerable damage both pelagic and demersal fisheries, thus affecting the livelihoods of others who make a living from the sea Bio-Marine Ingredients Ireland Ltd will undoubtedly prove a magnet for grants and it may enrich a few individuals but those limited gains will be made at the expense of marine coastal communities generally and, on past experience, the loss will not be confined to the immediate vicinity of Killybegs.

Raw material The species identified as the main source of raw material is boarfish Capros aper. Boarfish is believed to be undergoing a population explosion. Ireland’s quota is two-thirds of the EU Total Allowable Catch.

Boarfish however has a brief history of exploitation; its first catches registered at 120 tonnes in 2001, peaking at 144,000 tonnes in 2010 since when they have declined by approximately half.

Whereas fishing mortality (F) appears to be increasing,

total stock biomass is currently declining and the status of the stock has been described as ‘unknown’.

Despite these indicators, the TAC for 2014 was set at almost the peak catch level (134,000 t). Past experience would suggest this is unjustifiably optimistic.

No information on seasonal variations in plant operation although a seasonal moratorium on the operation of the boarfish fishery in order to protect other species is recommended.

Previous experience The industrialisation of the fishing fleet in Ireland which commenced with the formation of BIM in 1952, has serially exploited a number of species whose biomass has been fished down.

Invariably, each was initially greeted as a saviour of the industry and each exploration of new possibilities was accompanied by construction of new vessels funded by grants from national sources and the European Commission.

Fish stocks cannot be relied on to provide a constant supply of raw material, particularly when they are over-exploited and such is the way Ireland has managed its marine resources Stock abundance can fluctuate considerably from one year to another and even a relatively long history of stock management does not necessarily facilitate a more stable harvest yield.

Boarfish landings have fluctuated considerably over its brief history and in the context of other industrial species are very small.

On past experience, it is inconceivable that this one species should provide the basis for “the largest marine food ingredients plant in the world”.

Likely source of raw material One of the two ‘corner stones’ of the Common Fisheries Policy (2014-2020) is elimination of discards (fish that are unsaleable because they are immature or over-quota and are captured incidentally – collaterally – in the course of fishing operations.)

From 1 January 2015, such catch must be retained on board, landed and counted against quota. Previously, such fish were simply returned to the sea; now their ultimate disposal will be

reduced to fish meal or similar product.

Although there has been much public support for the discard ban, there is now considerable doubt about the consequences of the new regulations which many scientists regard as unenforceable, unworkable and liable to create more problems than they solve. This apprehension is not assuaged by the administrative arrangements surrounding the introduction of the new rules.

A ‘Discard Implementation Group’ set up by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine will monitor the introduction of the Landing Obligation.

Similar committees have been established in other member states of the EU. Unusually, in Ireland, environmental NGOs are not permitted to participate, despite having requested membership.

Non-industry scrutiny is considered necessary in order to objectively ascertain how the Landing Obligation is being implemented and to safeguard against abuse of the new regulations.

What is specifically feared, against the background of an industry that has a record of exceeding quotas, misreporting catches and flouting a variety of regulations, is the creation of a market for discards which means they will be targeted rather than by-caught.

Conclusion The stated official purpose of fisheries policy is to create jobs in peripheral coastal regions but nothing is done beyond stating as much.

Fisheries are renewable resources but are of finite extent and, at the present time, virtually all are overworked and performing less than optimally. Depleting fish stocks usually enriches somebody, in the short term at any rate, but it may greatly impoverish much larger numbers of others. This plant fulfils the criteria for such a venture.

Note: Asked to comment, a statement to Inshore Ireland from BII says it has dealt comprehensively with the issues raised and could not undermine the process by commenting publicly at this stage.

Herring effort in VIa South

Francis O’Donnell, IFPO

A

t the instigation of Minister Coveney, and reflecting the concerns of industry, the following joint statement was agreed by the Council of Ministers and the Commission at the 2014 December Fisheries Council:

Herring in VIIbc and VIa South

In view of the decision of the Council to set the TAC for this stock at 0, following scientific advice, the Commission will evaluate this TAC, should the herring benchmarking by ICES change the scientific assessment substantially. If that were the case, the Commission will consider whether it is appropriate to propose, as soon as possible after the completion of the benchmarking exercise, an amendment of the TAC for 2015.

Up-to-date position

A benchmarking exercise took place in February 2015 but it was subsequently found that the data used to conduct that assessment was flawed. Consequently, a new benchmarking exercise is being conducted with a new assessment expected at the end of May. Accordingly, there is no scope for the Minister to request a mid –year review of the VIaS TAC of 0 until ICES provide this advice at the end of May.

Issues arising

In the first benchmark, ICES found that it was not possible to make assessments separately for VIaN and VIaS herring stocks. That is not to say that ICES considers these to be the same stock, it is just that at present, they were unable to separate them.

This situation is not expected to change by the current work on

benchmarking; consequently for the next few years, at least, it appears there will be ICES advice for a combined VIa TAC only.

Any possibility of an inyear review of the VIa(S) TAC will only be considered by the Commission after the ICES assessment is complete. At this stage it is not possible to predict what that assessment will show, i.e. an improvement in the overall combined stock, or a deterioration.

One aspect that appears to be clear however is that the new assessment will concern itself solely with the new combined stock. In effect, that means that there will be no new specific information with regard to VIa (S).

If ICES advises a TAC for the combined stock, the issue of how this will be distributed /made available in respect of the VIa S fishery and the VIa N fishery will be a matter for negotiation. In the TAC and quota Regulation, the VIaN TAC for 2015 is set at 22,690 and the VIaS TAC is set at 0.

ICES will issue advice, based on the new assessment, for 2016 in June of this year. This, it appears, will be for a combined TAC. It is very unclear how this new combined advice will be dealt with at EU level in terms of allocation of shares (currently Ireland holds 91% and NLDs holds 9% of the VIaS TAC; for the VIaN TAC, Ireland holds 15%; UK holds 60% and NLDs, Germany and France hold the balance).

It is very clear that no Member State will willingly give up quota in any negotiations on allocating shares on the basis of a combined TAC .

The Minister will review ICES advice as soon as it is available in the context of making a request to the Commission for an in-year review of the TAC in line with the Council Statement set out above.

Negotiations will be required on new arrangements to share a combined stock ― both in the context of new combined advice for 2015 and for 2016. This will need to be done at both industry level (through the Pelagic Advisory Council) and at Member State level.

This will be a key priority as soon as the new ICES advice is available.

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inshore ireland June/July 2015 11

Freshwater Focus

The A-Z of angling in Irish waters Brendan Connolly

A

ngling 2015 has started. Anglers have already caught their first fish of the season and are making plans for the coming months. But, where should we concentrate our efforts; where are the hot spots?

There is one source of angling information for the island of Ireland that is unequalled, and that is the Annual Report of the Irish Specimen Fish Committee.

Like all good things in life, this report is free-of-charge and can be obtained from: www.irish-trophy-fish.com, or: The Irish Specimen Fish Committee, Inland Fisheries Ireland, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24 (01- 884 2600).

The Report lists 16 freshwater and 70 marine species, giving details of where and when the specimen fish were caught.

As many anglers will already

know, the specimen weight for a species is not the largest of that species that was ever caught, but is a very large individual of that species of which not many are caught.

For example, the largest bream ever caught in Ireland was 6.07 kg (13.38 lbs), but the current specimen weight for bream is 3.402 kg (7.5 lbs). The specimen weight is established by the Committee and will be increased if many specimens are caught, or will be decreased if few or no specimens are captured for that species.

Specimen size is in most cases based on the weight of the fish; however for a number of particularly elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), the length of the fish is measured on a suitable measuring device with an end stop if you wish to make a claim.

Measuring mats for this purpose can be purchased from Inland Fisheries

A specimen mullet on a measuring mat

Ireland: http://shop. fishinginireland.info/index. php?main_page=product_ info&products_id=133.

Details on how to claim a specimen fish and complete the claim form can be had from the website (http://irish-trophyfish.com/wp-content/ uploads/2015/02/313028Irish-Specimen-Fish-ClaimForm-2015.pdf ).

In addition to the mine of information in the report, a Specimen Fish Atlas is currently being designed and will feature trends over the years. An intriguing trend that the specimen fish programme has revealed is the increasing frequency of new fish species caught in Irish waters.

Trigger fish were a noteworthy oddity in the 1980s but during 2014 two specimens were caught - one as far north as Killybegs. In recent years species such as blackmouth dogfish, black bream, and thin-lipped mullet have been added to the list of eligible species.

Gilthead bream were added to the specimen list in 2007, and during the 2014 season, 12 specimens were caught. Golden grey mullet was added to the list on 2005 and 29 specimen were caught during 2014.

Identification of some species involves genetic testing. Rudd/roach hybrids and allis shad and twaite shad are tested to establish whether they are hybrids.

Irish anglers demand new investment for rivers Noel Carr FISSTA

A

s we await Government response to FISSTA’s notice of new legal proceedings, the campaign against the ten mega fish-farm plan of Minister Simon Coveney took another giant step forward recently when all the major angling federations signed up to a document that demanded a new investment in our rivers, and declared war on the plan of open net cages in Galway Bay and nine other locations along the west coast.

Our Federation was delighted to unite and campaign on

like-minded issues under the facilitation of IFM chairman Eamon Cusack, recently decided in Dublin. The document outlined issues in which all the signatories agreed on and to oppose the salmon farming policy of Minister Coveney and especially the plan that we all fear will wipe out our wild Atlantic salmon.

This agreement is timely in that Inland Fisheries Ireland had sought public and stakeholder submissions to guide the board in compiling its new five-year corporate plan 2015-2020 to comply with the 2009 IFI Act. This document sends a unified message to the State managers of angling and conservation to increase their effort to return our fisheries to abundance under a new found vision.

At the signing event in Kilmainham, FISSTA Chairman

Paul Lawton stated: Speaking in Kilmainham, Paul Lawton, FISSTA chairman paid tribute to all involved, especially the facilitator and the the federations for “supporting our anti-fish farming campaign.

“I acknowledge the very hard work by all who attended the thirteen meetings to agree the text of this historic document that will be sent to all relevant State bodies and ministers immediately.”

FISSTA is calling on all colleagues to “engage intensely with the Government so that a favourable outcome for all is achieved,” he added.

“It is now almost two years since Tourism Development International confirmed Irish angling was worth over €750m to our economy and we are concerned that as yet not one

Fishing hot spots If you want to catch a specimen carp (over 12 lbs) you could do worse than go to The Lough in Cork. If you are looking for rudd/bream hybrids, go to the Inniscarra Reservoir also in Cork. And if you are targeting specimen seatrout, then Lough Carra in Kerry is your best bet.

Kenmare Bay in the south is good for specimen greater-spotted dogfish, while north in Ballycastle and Red Bay in County Antrim are good for spur dogfish. A massive 48 specimens of painted ray were caught in Youghal.

For shad there is really only one place and that is St Mullins on the Barrow River where 37 specimens were caught, but only from the beginning of April to the last week in May. The area around Cong is most promising for specimen brown trout - both from lakes and rivers in the Loughs Mask and Corrib, and in the Cong Canal.

Not only are the locations and times of the year recorded in the report it also refers to bait used, making this invaluable in planning fishing expeditions.

Some anglers specialise in targeting specimens and are real specimen hunters.

For some anglers catching between one and five specimens is good for a lifetime of fishing, but some others have been awarded over 10 specimens, and some even aspire to the

cent more has been sought as an investment plan to open our closed rivers.

“We demand that plan and investment so that our 87 closed rivers will once again be open to catching a salmon,” he said.

In the context of recent angling history where memories of the 1987-90 rod war have not waned, this was a major development that proves our lobby is gaining huge momentum since our first public awareness meeting in May 2012 in Galway.

FISSATA was the first federation to oppose the State plan and to bring it to public attention. Since then it has raised the issue at every NASCO meeting and will be doing so on behalf of salmon anglers nationwide.

We hope that this ill thought out plan will be scrapped in time to announce it at the forthcoming June NASCO meeting in Canada.

Background *The following angling federations signed the historic document February 2015.

FISSTA - Federation of Irish

heady heights of catching 10 specimen fish from 10 different species!

A number of species are excluded from the specimen award list on conservation grounds. These are common skate; undulate ray; monkfish; porbeagle; eel, and bluefin tuna.

Sustainable angling is just as important as sustainable fishing, and in this respect the Specimen Fish Programme gives important information and records trends that are needed to preserve fish populations.

The Specimen Fish programme is an invaluable free service to all anglers, freshwater and marine, and can help focus efforts in the best possible locations and at the best possible times.

Consulting the Annual Report is a must for any angler.

Salmon and Sea-Trout Anglers TAFI - Trout Angling Federation of Ireland IFPAC - Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs EFSA - European Federation of Sea Anglers IADA - Irish Angling Development Alliance NCFFI - National Coarse Fishing Federation of Irelan SSTRAI - Salmon and Sea Trout Recreational Anglers of Ireland NARA - National Anglers Representation Association In a separate development, FISSTA welcomes the intervention of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in protecting wild salmon when they seized illegally placed stake nets and delivered them to Inland Fisheries Ireland for further action.

It is good to see cross-agency cooperation in the eradication of illegal netting and FISSTA hopes this new found goodwill continues throughout the season when illegal netting tends to get out of control due to shortages of IFI staff.

12 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Aquaculture

Natural, organic and sustainable aquaculture feed that benefit the consumer

Stefan Kraan, OHT

O

cean Harvest Technology’s momentum continues apace with its latest achievement of receiving the Agri-food sector innovation award at this year’s Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards.

OHT is the first to market with a range of 100% natural, organic and sustainable, patented formulas for the animal and aquaculture industries, replacing many of the synthetic and potentially harmful ingredients found in animal and aquaculture feeds.

The company’s proprietary product range naturally enhances the animal’s immune systems and dramatically boosts development and welfare by reducing the need for antibiotics and synthetic feed supplements.

Multi-beneficial

Oceanfeed Salmon improves the health of farmed salmon, repelling parasitic sea lice while improving the taste and texture profile and raising Omega 3 fatty acid levels by up to 30 per cent. The impact of recent sales in Scotland and the Nordic region contrast with the extreme measures being adopted by salmon farmers there to control sea lice infestation Oceanfeed Swine is a fully organic feed replacement for potentially harmful synthetic additives - especially antibiotics, organic acid and growth promoters, currently being phased out in certain regions.

Interest in this product has led OHT to pursue distribution agreements with some of the largest global bioscience businesses.

“After more than eight years of development we are now marketing seven OceanFeed formulas that are unique to the animal and

aquaculture industries. We’re experiencing tremendous interest in our products around the world, and we’re proud of our manufacturing and distribution partners.

We see the next 12 months as a period of tremendous growth and expansion for OHT,” remarked Stefan Kraan, Ocean Harvest CEO and co-founder.

Over the past five years, OHT has grown from a single headquarters in Ireland to having a strong market presence in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia as well as having bulk production facilities in Vietnam.

Background

The farmed fish industry has experienced some dramatic changes over the last decade, most of which have seriously impacted the levels of beneficial Omega 3 in farmed salmon by replacing expensive, non-sustainable fish oil with cheaper plant oils containing the less desirable Omega 6 oils.

Two Omega 3 oils, EPA and DHA, are important for consumer cardio-vascular health with a number of reported benefits; however fatty fish like salmon may not have any beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids left.

Since recommended daily intake (RDI) levels are not met by the general population, fish feed ingredients that

increase EPA and/or DHA concentrations in farmed salmon are being increasingly sought after.

Improved lipid profile

Seaweeds have great potential as a fish feed supplement and contain high levels of n-3 PUFAs. Our invention shows that the effect of supplementing (at 10-15% inclusion) a novel proprietary blend of marine macro algae called Oceanfeed™ in the feed causes the salmon lipid composition to significantly (p<0.05) increase with elevated levels of EPA and palmitoleic acid, as well as lower levels of linoleic acid.

The findings show that seaweed supplementation improves the lipid profile of farmed salmon with an increase of 30% in EPA. We are currently the only company worldwide providing these proprietary macro algae feed ingredient mixes called Oceanfeed, to tackle a variety of disease issues - not only in the farmed fish sector but also in the swine, beef, dairy, equine and poultry sectors.

While there are a few companies using a single seaweed product (bladder wrack) as it is a commodity type of seaweed, this seaweed however negatively impacts protein uptake and digestion and is therefore not really suitable in animal feed.

Some larger companies are currently producing oils from micro algae with high levels of Omega 3. The cost of these oils however for large-scale use in fish farming is still a factor of ten more expensive compared to conventional fish oil.

OHT’s product actually stimulates the fish itself to make Omega 3 out of the Omega 6 plant oils provided in the fish feed. Therefore, instead of providing the oils, we push the fish to make it themselves as explained in the European Journal of Lipid Research and Technology (September 2014). This technology improves Omega 3 levels by 30%, making it once again a healthy fatty fish.

After decades of using chemicals, colorants, growth promoters, antibiotics and other less desirable ingredients creating bacterial resistance and issues with RMSA for example, we have developed Oceanfeed to tackle these issues and replace these chemical ingredients with a sustainable natural resource - i.e., seaweeds.

Replacing chemicals ultimately leads to healthier animals with less chemical loading and ultimately to healthier food products for the consumer.

Today’s consumer is very concerned about chemical ingredients and is looking for healthy alternatives.

The OHT team (l-r): Dr Simon Faulkner; Aoife Lardner; Dr Stefan Kraan receiving The Irish Times Innovation award for Agri and Food from Declan Troy (far right), Assistant Director of Research, Teagasc

inshore ireland June/July 2015 13

Aquaculture

Is proposed aquaculture insurance scheme State aid in disguise?

Gery Flynn

F

riends of the Irish Environment is urging the government to reconsider the proposed introduction of a Statebacked aquaculture stock insurance scheme for losses resulting from environmental, biological or health related events, describing the move as ‘incomprehensible in environmental terms and foolish in economic terms’.

Conversely, the proposal, which is included in the draft Seafood Development Plan 2014-2020, is seen by aquaculture producers as a welcome safeguard against exceptional losses due to natural disasters; climatic events; water quality issues; diseases or pest infestations and the destruction of production facilities.

In a letter to marine minister Simon Coveney, Friends of the Irish

Environment (FIE) criticises the proposal for offering ‘below cost insurance to a loss making industry with a poor track record.

It is incomprehensible in environmental terms and foolish in economic terms and is also contrary to the purposes of the GREEN measures to be funded by the European Commission.‘ “The Minister proposes to underwrite insurance of up to €2m for operations that suffer losses of up to 30% of their annual turnover for ‘natural disasters’, ‘adverse climatic events’, and ‘diseases in aquaculture’,” Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment told Inshore Ireland.

“We are questioning the stated rational for this proposal that there are so few insurance companies providing this service the ability of individual businesses to ‘shop around’ is very limited and means the price of [aquaculture] insurance is high in

comparison to the level of cover given. It might even be seen as State aid, with all that implies.”

The FIE letter also draws attention to what it sees as an unfairness in the proposal by pointing out that ‘residents in areas where flood relief had been completed by the State itself are unable to get insurance. Surely, if the State is going into the insurance business against ‘adverse climate events’, the government should start with residents, not fish.’

Asked to comment on the FIE letter, Richie Flynn, IFA Aquaculture Executive said it was a rather “inept reaction” to a regulation agreed for all of Europe in 2014 after long discussion in the Commission and Parliament.

“By setting out to deliberately mislead the public, [FIE] only succeeded in confirming their woefully badly researched campaign is just a front to undermine coastal communities.”

Long-term funding resolution of non-Gaeltacht islands continues as interim measure is secured

C

omhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann / Ireland’s Irelands Federation has welcomed the announcement by Joe McHugh, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs that funding will continue for the non-Gaeltacht Islands Community Development Offices.

A funding mechanism with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government ended in March but continues from mid-May to the end of 2015 under a scheme with Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann recognises that resolution has taken concentrated interdepartmental discussions and co-operation, and appreciates the efforts of the relevant ministers, their officials and deputies.

“After a year’s struggle we have finally secured funding for the Island Community Development Projects to continue the vital work across the islands. Continuation of the services provided through the Island Development Offices is paramount to the needs of the islands they serve.

“We will work through the rest of 2015 to secure a new programme from 2016 to 2021 as part of Government policy to secure the islands into the future,” remarked Simon Murray, vice chair of CoE and spokesperson on behalf of the non-Gaeltacht islands.

Máirtín Ó Méalóid, Cathaoirleach of Comhdháil said it was a “great relief” for all involved that the matter has been resolved in a positive way.

“The importance of the work that the Island Development Offices, staff and committees carry out cannot be over emphasised. It is vital that a long-term secure solution is put in place so that the islands can plan for the future.”

Parliamentary Question The matter was raised in Dáil Éireann when Clare Daly TD asked Minister Coveney if there was actuarial expertise in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’ and if he had ‘availed of actuarial expertise in determining that the State could provide insurance to aquaculture more cost-effectively than private insurers, or if it is envisaged that such insurance would be provided below cost thereby constituting a State aid.’

Minister Coveney responded:

‘No actuaries are currently employed by my Department. In the event that such expertise is required, it can be sourced externally. On 27 March 2015, I announced plans for a new €241m development programme for the seafood sector for the period up to 2020, co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. I am inviting submissions on that draft Programme by 1 May 2015.

‘The draft programme proposes investment of €30m in a number of measures specifically intended to support the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector.

‘One of these measures relates to aquaculture stock insurance and would be implemented under Article 57 of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (508/2014).

‘In framing that Regulation, the EU co-legislators stated in Recital 54 that ‘recognising the risk of investments in aquaculture activities, it should be possible for the EMFF to promote business security by contributing to aquaculture stock insurance, thereby safeguarding the income of producers in case of abnormal production losses due, in particular, to natural disasters, adverse climatic events, sudden water quality changes, diseases or pest infestations and the destruction of production facilities.’

‘In the draft Programme it is proposed that this measure would supplement and complement commercial insurance arrangements, not replace them. I am interested to hear the views of stakeholders on this particular measure, and I will be considering carefully any submissions received.

‘In relation to State Aid, Article 8(2) of the EMFF Regulation provides that payments made by Member States pursuant to, and in conformity with, the Regulation shall comply with State Aid rules’.

14 inshore ireland June/July 2015

IFI Corporate Plan

Cheekpoint fishing heritage project submission to IFIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corporate plan 2015-2012

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he fisheries goals for Inland Fisheries Ireland should protect and conserve sustainable heritage fisheries methods as a part of conservation of the resource and to realise maximum addedvalue through heritagebased tourism as part of an artisan food chain.

Supporting References

River Suir Heritage Audit 2014 Vol 4 Heritage Tourism: under fishing recommends in addition to considering that angling is an under-utilised heritage tourism resource, angling needs to be promoted as a part of a wider package.

The Waterford Estuary Area Community-led Mapping and Audit of its Natural & Heritage Resources 2014: recommends a comprehensive Marine Heritage Plan including the protection of heritage fishing methods for salmon and eel fisheries.

Para 5.8.1 of the same report outlines how weirs are the earliest forms of fishing technology dating back in local records to the arrival of the Normans. The remaining weirs dating from these times must be protected, conserved and developed into a sustainable tourist attraction.

Summary

The submission requests the IFI Corporate Plan

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heekpoint is located 7 miles downstream from Waterford City on the River Suir Estuary. Historically, the principle source of employment was fisheries and the principal fishery was salmon which spanned from spring to autumn.

Fishing had a cycle of activities. The salmon season began in February with the smaller run of salmon, the peal, starting in June and ending in August.

Eels were also fished in the summer months.

Winter months would

2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2020 to recognise the importance to the State and inshore fishing communities of the potential of a Heritage Fisheries Tourism Plan that would include angling and traditional fishing methods (existing fishing weirs) dating from the Norman times.

A small Community such as Cheekpoint could be used as a pilot project. Creation of a heritage fisheries programme linking appropriate sustainable fishing to the artesian fishing movement is proposed.

This would link high value seafood to local tourism projects through conservation of historical significant sites; education and rural development. Fisheries that are culturally important must be preserved by linking them, along with traditional boat skills and knowledge, to an overall plan to add value and to create sustainable local jobs based upon a heritage fishery and artisan food trail.

Once the pilot project has been successfully trialed in relation to conservation, protection of species and sustainability, it could potentially become a blueprint for estuaries, rivers and bays.

The whole area of unexplored heritage fishery tourism must be examined for its potential as part of Inland Fisheries Ireland Corporate Plan 2015 to 2020.

Submitted for consideration by Cllr Eddie Mulligan, & The Cheekpoint Fishing Heritage Project (CFHP)

bring ground fishing, generally using long lines and also drifting for herrings. Shellfish gathering was also important, dragged up or picked directly from the rocks.

Trawling was another element to the fishery.

Another important feature particularly for the Barrow and Suir were the historic fishing Weirs, dating back prior to Norman times.

Some of the remaining weirs are historically significant, warranting conservation, preservation and heritage tourism potential explored.

Two salmon weirs visible at low tide

Local lads launch a punt at Cheekpoint

This fishing was a method of schooling in itself whereby young men learnt boating skills and their own capability. For example, catching a river marker-buoy and how to extract nets required common-sense skills which were passed on to the next generation.

Other skills around salmon fishing were more unique, never to be found in a book. These included the role played by wind, tide, moon, and season.

Although the salmon closure came on the heels of these wider changes, it cements them to a large extent. Without the

salmon fishery, there is little to hold the fishery in place.

Fishermen in Cheekpoint have been completely ignored in the development of fishery policy that has sought offshore development and commercialisation.

Yet the damage to Cheekpoint, culturally, socially and economically, must not be underestimated or forgotten.

Salmon was not just the most economically important fish in the community it was valued for the skills required to make a catch. Put simply,

Photos Hannah Doherty

places like Cheekpoint need salmon fishing for more than just the income. It is essential as a way of life; keeps traditions alive and allows skills, culture and relationships to be fostered and sustained within a small community.

Consequently, to protect and conserve history and a way of life that stems from Norman times, a sustainable heritage fisheries model based upon the added value of the tourist experience and artisan food enjoyment, must be a responsibility of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

inshore ireland June/July 2015 15

Seafood conference/maritime report The half-day event began with a motivational breakfast briefing from Kilkenny senior hurling manager Brian Cody.

While declaring his knowledge of the seafood sector was limited, he likened failure to achieve the best was no different to failing to win an All-Ireland title: factors.

“Quite simply, being beaten is not the fault of external factors, we weren’t the best on the day, and that applies to business too,” he suggested.

Donal Buckley, BIM; Vincent Carton, Manor Farm Poultry; economist and event chairman David McWilliams and Eddie Power, CEO, Green Isle Foods »» from page 1

“The catching sector is landing less than 25% of the available fish and exporting over 80% of this in commodity form. Last year value-added processing accounted for only 14% of landings which is an indication of a sector that is low in capital investment and one that is significantly below the EU average in value-added.

“This industry is not only failing its participants, it’s also failing the nation,” he declared.

Lack of leadership

Calling for “seafood leadership”, Power envisages two options to develop all sectors substantially by 2015: greater consolidation through Voluntary Sectoral Clusters and/or Sectoral Champions enabled by relevant State agencies to expand and develop export businesses: “Voluntary Sectoral Clusters would seek out like-minded companies with a common vision and come together under a new company whose task would be to implement that vision by facilitating sales and marketing; purchasing and procurement, brand development and the elimination of duplication.”

In the absence of Voluntary Clusters, he said the role of ‘Sectoral Champions’ should be created to drive the industry forward: “A sectoral champion would have to have a solid track record in a seafood sector and posess a workable strategy to develop that sector. On top of this, it would also be committed to a programme of value-added processing, as well as a plan to create more employment. And it would also have to have an appetite for consolidation and change,” he advised.

Seafood hub

Criticising the current system of State support and grants, which he said only perpetuated the status quo: “Existing supports should be reviewed, along with supports designed to advance a newly-installed Irish Seafood Development Strategy. It

would be important that no incentives are provided for projects that are incompatible with this strategy.”

With imagination, determination and ambition, Power believes the Irish seafood industry of 2025 should be aiming to position itself as a so-called North Atlantic Seafood Hub with the capacity to generate total revenues of €2 billion, and capable to process half a million tonnes of fish annually.

“I see the future industry operating a well-integrated catching to value-added sector that has developed to a critical mass and scale under four major companies whose individual turnover would be between €150m and €200m, for example.

“This industry would likely employ 4,500 directly with a further 7,000 employed indirectly. Just imagine the impact such an expansion would have on coastal counties and how it would revitalise fishing communities around our coast.

“What a foundation for further growth it would offer.

This is achievable; all that’s required is the ambition and the will to do it. The prize is great, the effort is now needed,” he concluded.

Global reach

Minister for the Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney was represented

by Minister of State Tom Hayes, who also emphasised the potential for the Irish seafood industry: “The sector is facing an exciting future with significant growth potential as global demand for healthy proteins increase, particularly in Asia where Irish seafood has achieved a phenomenal 24% lift in sales.

“To assist industry to take advantage of this opportunity for growth, we have made available more than €41m to the processing sector. The measures include: capital grants for increased output and added-value; businessplanning and management skills; up-scaling of businesses to promote efficiencies; innovation and adding value and seafood marketing.”

Family experience

Delegates also gained insights on family succession and producer-led cooperatives from leaders in the food industry including Vincent Carton (Manor Farm Poultry) “This year our family business celebrates its 240th anniversary. Succession through eight generations was haphazard and unplanned, and the company, family and individual members paid for that lack of preparation.”

He added however that by learning from other family businesses, succession for the ninth generation “has been thought through and is actively managed. In a family business, business comes first before family.”

Attracting the right skillsets and talent is identified in BIM’s corporate strategy: Capturing Ireland’s Share of the Global Seafood Opportunity, declared as paramount for future growth.

“As Irish seafood sales reach €520m and global demand for quality seafood is expected to reach 32 million tonnes by 2030, we need to build scale and resources to meet this demand. Currently we are only processing 20% of the available catch on our doorstep,” remarked Donal Buckley, BIM’s Business Development & Innovation Director.

He added that Ireland has the capacity to attract a greater volume of international landings into Ireland. “But we need to add value by developing innovative technology and marketing skills.”

BIM has a €1m investment package for 2015 (50% grant aid investment to support new product development and 40% investment per collective for common joint ventures and market development.)

“Our Graduate Mentoring Programme is delivering real results with some talented young professionals receiving placements in seafood companies. We’re confident this renewed focus on innovation and talent can build scale, resulting in increased sales and employment for what is a vibrant and resourceful industry.”

Conference presentations are available on www.bim.ie.

Maritime sector identified as major jobs creator

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reland’s marine/maritime economy could create 10,000 new jobs up to 2022, arising through expansion and replacement demand, according to an expert group on future skills needs.

Key sectors identified in A Study of the Current and Future Skills Requirements of the Marine/Maritime Economy to 2020 were identified as seafood and bio-products; maritime transport; shipbuilding and services; offshore energy; marine tourism; maritime monitoring; security and surveillance.

‘Our ocean wealth is a national asset, supporting a diverse marine economy, with vast potential to tap into a €1,200 billion global marine market,’ it contends.

Roughly 16,155 persons are employed in the marine economy and their roles are spread across the key sectors and straddle occupations from managerial and professional to operatives including engineers; marine biologists; maritime lawyers; environmental scientists; naval architects; technicians, crane operators and fish filleters.

While no major skills shortage was identified, skills in demand include engineers, people with boat-handling skills and hydrographic surveyors. Many roles are not exclusive to a marine environment, for example electrical and mechanical engineers; lawyers; technicians and welders, but occupations with a ‘top-up qualification’ or training an individual’s skills could be ‘marinised’ to enable them work in a marine or offshore environment.

It adds that the seafood sector in particular has an ageing workforce for which measures will need to be put in place to attract and upskill younger workers: Operatives and low skill roles are a major component of the marine economy but there is evidence of a shift towards more professionals being employed right across the economy including sectors such as seafood which is predominantly a low skill employer and the emerging sectors, such as marine renewable energy and maritime monitoring where professionals such as engineers is the major skill in demand.

Poor awareness A key finding in the study was the lack of awareness about possible careers in the marine economy and the time delay in obtaining current economic data for the marine economy: Welcoming the report, Damien English, Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation said it was a “key deliverable” under the Action Plan for Jobs.

“It highlights the positive outlook for the future of the sector and shows there is significant employment growth expected.”

The study also highlights the scope for regional job creation and opportunities for young people to obtain local employment in growing sectors such as aquaculture, supply and services, to the offshore energy sector and technology in the marine environment.

“With our position on the western periphery of Europe facing the Atlantic Ocean and its energy resources, our deep water ports and our 7,500 km coastline Ireland is well placed to capitalise on the growing potential of the global marine economy and create sustainable jobs in the coastal regions,” remarked Una Halligan, EGFSN chairperson.

She cautioned however that an important aspect will be the co-ordinated effort on the part of all marine sectors to raise awareness “of the excellent and rewarding careers in the sector and attracting people to the opportunities available.”

The full report, A Study of the Current and Future Skills Requirements of the Marine/Maritime Economy to 2020, and its recommendations are available on the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs website www.skillsireland.ie

Breakdown of the Marine Economy by Employment »» Marine Tourism including Intl Cruise Industry (22%) »» Maritime Monitoring & Surveillance (3%) »» Seafood & Bio Products (33%) »» Maritime Transport Shipbuilding and services (35%) »» Energy (7%)

16 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Marine R&D

HRH The Prince of Wales visits the Marine Institute

All photos: Andrews Downes XPOSURE

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n his four-day visit to Ireland, HRH The Prince of Wales visited the Marine Institute where he met Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and Minister for the Marine, Simon Coveney, and talked to staff about their work in areas including analysing the impact of climate change on the ocean; sustainable fisheries; marine bio-discovery and international collaboration on ocean research.

During the visit, His Royal Highness heard about the first trans-Atlantic mapping survey to take place under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance between the EU, Canada and USA. The Irish-led survey will begin on June 1 when the RV Celtic Explorer sails from St John’s Newfoundland to Galway.

HRH The Prince of Wales welcomed the Galway Statement, which established the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance as an important step in improving international co-operation in understanding the impact of climate change on the oceans.

“The Marine Institute is at the cutting edge of international marine research, driving forward our understanding of the Atlantic Ocean. The work of the Institute drives ocean discovery and exploration.

It also provides the basis for the sustainable development of our marine resources.

“I was delighted to be able to showcase the work

taking place in Galway to Prince Charles, who has a keen interest in our understanding and governance of the oceans,” remarked Minister Coveney.

How we observe and analyse the impacts of climate change on the oceans was of particular interest to His Royal Highness ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris later this year.

His Royal Highness was also very interested in the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and was joined by staff from His Royal Highness’s International Sustainability Unit - a charity set up to facilitate consensus on how to resolve some of the key environmental challenges facing the world – such as food security, ecosystem resilience and the depletion of natural capital.

Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, highlighted the interdependence between global ocean health and human health: Highlighting the interdependence between global ocean health and human health, Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute said the oceans were the life support system of our planet, producing half of all the oxygen we breathe.

“It’s essential we map our seabed globally and improve our ocean observation and forecasting systems to better understand

the impacts of climate change on our oceans.”

His Royal Highness also saw at first-hand some of the technology used to explore and observe the ocean, including an unmanned submarine, the ROV Holland I, with Galway Bay as a backdrop, where a subsea cable was laid last month connecting the Galway Bay Ocean Observatory to the shore.

Dr Heffernan said, “This technology will give us eyes and ears in the ocean for continuous monitoring of temperature and effects in the ocean. By 2020, in partnership with the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, we aim to be able to predict the major risks and changes in the dynamics of the Atlantic Ocean, through a fully integrated Atlantic Ocean Observation System providing real time datastreams online by 2020,” added Dr Heffernan.

HRH The Prince of Wales also spoke to Dr Andrew Wheeler, from University College Cork, about leading the discovery of the Moytirra Vents - a previously uncharted field of hydrothermal vents on the mid-Atlantic ridge.

The survey took place on the RV Celtic Explorer in 2011 using the ROV Holland I to explore the deep sea with a team of Irish and British scientists from University College Cork, the National Oceanography Centre and the University of Southampton in the UK.

The Galway Statement The Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation was signed at the Marine Institute on May 24 2013 by representatives of the European Union, the United States and Canada agreeing to join forces on Atlantic Ocean research.

The goal is to better understand the Atlantic Ocean and to promote the sustainable management of its resources. The Agreement aims to connect the ocean observation efforts of the three partners. The work will also study the interplay of the Atlantic Ocean with the Arctic Ocean, particularly in relation to climate change.

inshore ireland June/July 2015 17

Marine R&D

A new wave of scientific transatlantic cooperation

T

he Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney recently joined with Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Brussels, along with Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea, to announce the first trans-Atlantic mapping survey to take place under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance.

The Irish research vessel, RV Celtic Explorer will undertake a mapping expedition between Galway and St. John’s,

Newfoundland, in June when scientists from the Marine Institute will be joined by a multi-national team comprising USA, Canadian and European oceanmapping experts.

This is an important step following the May 2013 agreement reached in Galway and is an example of scientific diplomacy in action.

“Information from the sea-floor is vital to the sustainable management of the Atlantic as well as to important industries such as fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Ireland has developed a world-leading reputation for sea-bed mapping and is also very committed to implementing the Galway Statement,

so I’am delighted to put Ireland’s state-of the art research vessel RV Celtic Explorer at the disposal of the team,” remarked Minister Coveney.

Commissioner Moedas added he was “committed” to harnessing the societal and economic value of our oceans, “while protecting fragile marine ecosystems.

“Under Horizon 2020 we have invested just under €70m to support the Galway Statement follow-up. The first calls delivered excellent project proposals involving international teams. I’m glad that this investment is being leveraged to make our transatlantic vision a reality.”

“One of the priorities of my mandate is ocean governance,” remarked Commissioner Vella. “Our wish is that the EU continues to be fully engaged on this subject. The seabed mapping expedition announced illustrates the EU’s capacity as a global leader and partner.

“The Celtic Explorer’s mission across the North Atlantic will be undertaken by crew from ‘both sides of the pond’. This embodies the spirit of cooperation that we need in the field of ocean governance. Their work will help inform the mapping of the European seabed, which is set to be completed by 2020. I congratulate all those involved.”

Welcoming the initiative, the Honourable Gail Shea, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said that Canada recognised the importance and complexity of Atlantic Ocean science.

“Our nations’ cooperation is key to broadening our scientific understanding of the Atlantic Ocean and helps to ensure it remains healthy, resilient and productive.

This is why our scientists are collaborating through the

Galway Statement to pool resources, share expertise and advance our science goals.”

The announcement was made at the European Commission hosted event, The Atlantic - Our Shared resource. Making the Vision Reality .The event was the launch pad for all the Galway Statement follow-up projects funded with the first Horizon 2020 Blue Growth calls - the main financial instrument on the EU side implementing the Galway Statement commitments.

With a view to translating commitments into investments, the European Commission has earmarked around €70m in calls under Horizon 2020, the EU Research and Innovation Programme for the period 2014-2015.

SeaFest - Ireland’s maritime festival Come and help us celebrate Ireland’s incredible ocean wealth at SeaFest 2015, in Ringaskiddy on Friday & Saturday 10 &11 July.

This maritime festival will showcase Ireland’s abundant maritime resources over two days in Cork Harbour.

The programme of events is extensive and includes a seafood fair; carnival games and seafaring family fun; RNLI rescue demonstrations; Irish Naval Service manoeuvres; a sail-by of leisure craft and yachts; lectures and exhibits on marine life and all manner of festival entertainment for every age group.

As part of SeaFest 2015 the annual Our Ocean Wealth Conference takes place on Friday and will focus on the commercial opportunities presented by Ireland’s oceans and the enormous potential of our ‘blue economy’.

The conference is set to attract several hundred stakeholders including marine researchers; investors; entrepreneurs; maritime-related start-ups; businesses and organisations, from Ireland and around the world, to hear from marine industry experts. The event also provides an opportunity to network with industry peers and develop opportunities for collaboration.

The surrounding seas and ocean are among this country’s greatest natural resources and it is important we continue to raise awareness of the marine economy and the opportunities that it affords us.

For more information and a programme of events visit www.SeaFest.ie.

18 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Marine R&D

Making waves in Ireland’s seabed mapping project Archie Donovan & Ronan O’Toole GSI

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oolbeg Yacht, Boat Club & Marina in the heart of Dublin City was the location for the launch of the Infomar Project’s latest small survey vessel, RV Tonn.

The Infomar project team, funded by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR), through the Geological Survey of Ireland, are tasked with the job of mapping all of Ireland’s near shore marine area.

The project team carries out this work in equal partnership with the Marine Institute, an agency of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, based in Galway.

It is unique among the various projects funded

by DCENR whereby for 6 - 8 months of the year, the Infomar team of marine survey specialists live and work among the Irish coastal communities around the coast.

Last year, INFOMAR vessels and staff worked on the coastlines of counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Galway, Kerry and Cork.

This year will see the team once again working on the coast of Donegal in Lough Foyle, and off counties Louth, Wexford and Waterford.

Freely available data

INFOMAR digital data results are widely used via a state-of-the-art web-based data delivery system that facilitates easy access to INFOMAR data. The success and capacity building of Irish marine mapping is now internationally recognised and has been acknowledged at major fora and by requests for assistance in planning similar programmes from other countries including Norway, UK and South Africa.

Irish expertise in this area has been acknowledged with

requests for expert briefings recently at the European Commission. Data from INFOMAR is being used across a range of sectors including; environment; safety; energy; infrastructure; renewable energy; flooding; business development; Research and Development; fisheries; national territory; cross border projects; heritage and shipwrecks.

The results of INFOMAR to date are considered important and relevant to key national objectives, such as, the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (HOOW) initiative. They also further support Irish efforts to move geoscience and particularly the marine sciences up the economic value chain.

RV Tonn is named appropriately after the Irish for wave, as it both operates on the waves and uses sound waves to investigate the depth and nature of the seabed. It is a new ultar modern vessel of just eight metres in length, but purpose-built to carry out very shallow survey work.

Minister Joe McHugh officially launching RV Tonn

Design experts

It was built by Cheetah Marine in the Isle of Wight - a company known for its sleek, stable twin hull catamaran designs following an open tender process. Their design has also been used as the basis for similar survey boats for the Port of London Authority and the British Geological Survey.

RV Tonn’s internal layout draws directly from INFOMAR’s many years of experience in small vessel inshore operations.

This experience has been brought to bear in many subtle ways, all of which combine to produce a craft that is inherently fit for its intended purpose.

For safety, RV Tonn is powered by a pair of Honda 135HP outboard engines.

These state-of-the-art power plants are known for their reliability and fuel efficiency, as well as packing serious capability in terms of speed.

The vessel can transit at 30 knots, allowing it to rapidly exploit weather windows as it transits from location to location around the Irish coast. Two engines provide redundancy in the unlikely event of engine failure, and the fact that they can be trimmed completely out of the water, combined with the vessel’s designed ability to be beached, allows for even greater safety margins in the intertidal zone - the vessel’s intended operating environment.

View of the surveyor’s station along with mandatory cup of coffee

The vessel boasts a suite of modern navigational systems including a SIMRAD integrated head-up-display that combines data from the depth sounder; structure scan; chart-plotter; engine sensors; broadband radar and even the stereo!

Separately, a modern SIMRAD DSC-VHF, along with a host of high-quality safety equipment, meets the highest standards for the operation of small craft along the Irish coast.

The 12V systems are powered by a lithium-ion battery bank that is kept charged by the port engine alternator. For redundancy, this can be paralleled with the starboard engine battery should it ever become drained, ensuring the 12V systems have a reliable source of power.

Mains power for the survey equipment is provided via a completely separate and isolated system incorporating a bank of deep-cycle house batteries that are kept charged via an external Honda generator and a Victron inverter unit.

A full cycle is sufficient for a day’s survey operations and the battery bank may be charged while at sea without any disruption to the vessel’s survey equipment.

The wet-end of these survey systems is deployed through a moon-pool on the vessel’s back deck. The Multibeam Echosounder and motion reference unit are mounted on a retractable mounting frame and bolted securely into position, allowing the vessel to transform into a high-speed craft and back to a state-of-the-art mapping system in a matter of minutes.

Data streaming

Retracted Equipment Frame

The vessel uses an advanced survey software package called QINSy. This industry standard software allows integration of datastreams from the Sonar and Positioning/motion systems, an R2Sonic 2022 MBES and an Applanix POS-MV respectively.

These systems allow realtime accuracies of approx 0.5m in terms of latitude and longitude (XY) and 0.7m in terms of depths (Z). During the process of acquiring data, all depths are levelled using a predicted tide file levelled to Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT), so that boat crews are always operating off the same set of depths no matter the time of the day or the height of the tide. This is a significant safety protocol used on INFOMAR inshore vessels.

inshore ireland June/July 2015 19

Marine R&D Once the raw survey data is delivered to the INFOMAR team’s data processing experts, these accuracies are further refined to approximately 0.05m in all reference frames (XYZ). Once the post-processed data has been ‘cleaned’ of erroneous depths and signed off by a qualified hydrographer, the data is delivered to the UK Admiralty so that chart depths can be updated and in many cases changed entirely.

To this end, R.V. Tonn will contribute to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention by operating in the most challenging maritime areas (by their nature the places most likely to hide an uncharted shoal waiting for unsuspecting mariners!), providing the last word on seafloor conditions along with providing datasets that will be used by the INFOMAR programme to deliver its mandate on behalf of the Irish public.

RV Tonn will also support

the completion of the first phase of the INFOMAR programme’s mapping of three Priority Areas and 26 Priority Bays, before Phase 2 work commences in the remaining un-surveyed areas (2016-2026).

Congratulations to the entire project team from both GSI and MI on the work they have done to-date, and continued success with the INFOMAR project.

Acknowledgement is also due for their contribution in our understanding of our marine resource. Through its supply of marine charting data, the project aids safety of navigation for all marine stakeholders and from the fishermen in Donegal to those hardy sailors on the south coast, to guide a safe return from their exploits.

Finally, acknowledgement should be given to DCENR’s continued investment in and support of the INFOMAR programme.

Cheetah Marine leads innovation in catamaran design and construction

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Archie Donovan, Joint Project Manager and Koen Verbruggen, Director, GSI; Minister Joe McHugh and Tommy Furey, Joint Project Manager, Marine Institute

Skipper’s Eye-View showing the SIMRAD integrated displays with Dublin docklands in the background

hat began as a one-off build in the late 1980s, designed for fishing from surf beach conditions, is now a bespoke design and building service on the Isle of Wight of under-10m catamarans.

In 1991, Cheetah Marine went into production. Each series is introduced by length but the beam remains fixed. Length variations cater for load carrying requirements while maintaining similar waterlines and optimum fuel economy.

In 2012, founder Sean Strevens was nominated by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and continues to design and develop the entire Cheetah range. Excellent stability and rough weather capability are the company’s hallmarks. The ability to operate in extreme conditions is attributed to a finely-tuned hull design, coupled with the latest technologically advanced materials and a robust construction programme.

Internal and detail mouldings have been developed over 25 years to provide a wide choice of wheelhouse and deck configurations. Customer specification and experience from more than 300 builds are incorporated into every order and all materials are Lloyds approved.

The latest design in the Cheetah fleet is the 10m series, available from 9-11m with a 3.7m beam.

A new walk-around style wheelhouse featuring a surrounding deck level walkway allows complete freedom of movement around the vessel.

The first of the new series Bleu Camargue also features alternate style side access to the helm from the side decks, complimenting the ease of

movement between outside space and helm.

SEAWORK 15 Visitors at this year’s event (June 16-18) will see two of Cheetah Marine’s larger series of catamarans. Both vessels demonstrate the large work area available on a safe and stable work platform, underlining the earning capacity of the Cheetah Catamaran.

LOA 11.2m x 3.7m Cheetah (10m series) has been designed and built for commercial fishing and suits any applications where maximum deck space is a priority.

The catamaran features a short 1.2m, full width style wheelhouse, maximizing outside deck space to over 24m2

LOA 9.95m x 3.6m Cheetah (9m series). Cheetah 2 features back-to-back seating; an open style wheelhouse with extended overhang for added deck protection and is MCA coded for 12 passengers and three crew.

The WMB 3250 multi-beam sonar is ideally suited to coastal surveys and environmental mapping and has become acknowledged as one of the most cost effective systems on the market.

Both vessels have been built for specific workboat purposes, demonstrating Cheetah’s approach to specialised one-off builds.

Further information from: www.cheetahmarine.co.uk

20 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Marine R&D

Full sail event for Dublin Bay over June Bank Holiday weekend

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he 2015 Dublin Bay OGA Boat Rally takes place May 29-June 1 at the Poolbeg YBC Marina near the heart of the rejuvenated Dublin Docklands.

Weather permitting on Saturday boats will compete

in Dublin Bay for the Leinster Plate trophy, viewing from the South Bull lighthouse Mark at midday, and provide a finish line for the Howth 17 feeder race from Howth Harbour to the Poolbeg Lighthouse.

On Sunday at midday,

the fleet will sail upriver dressed overall, and berth alongside the North quays to enjoy Dublin Port’s Riverfest atmosphere until midafternoon. And on Monday they will join the Tall Ships out to Dublin Bay in their farewell Parade of Sail.

Safe anchorage and excellent restaurants awaits you in Baltimore, West Cork.

Photo Gillian Mills

South coast sailing odyssey hopes for good wind in its sails Sean Walsh, OGA president

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Gaffers competing in the Leinster Trophy 2014.

Photo Gillian Mills

he Old Gaffers Association (OGA) West Cork cruisein-company is set to muster in Kinsale on July 17 and enjoy a get-together meal that evening in the gastronomic capital of Munster.

The following morning, the fleet sets sail for Glandore Harbour where they will participate in the week-long Glandore Classic Regatta, enjoying a fine blend of classic racing, cruising and partying.in the very welcoming and scenic village.

The fleet will then head westwards towards our goal of Skellig Michael (also known as Great Skellig) - the spectacular seamount rising majestically from the sea, which in the Middle Ages had a monastic settlement of monks, living in stone ‘beehive’

huts at the summit.

It’s an enthralling place to visit - and ferries bring visitors from Port Magee - when the Atlantic weather and swell allows. We plan to overnight in Port Magee to allow visits to the Skellig.

The OGA fleet will take in some anchorages on the way to and from Port Magee and will cruise gently homewards taking in various havens (Kinsale, Glandore, Castletownsend, Barlogue, Baltimore, Roaringwater Bay, Schull Harbour, Crookhaven, Bear Haven, Adrigole, Glengarrif, Derrynane, Ballinskelligs, Port Magee, Valencia) - all on Cork’s spectacular coastline on our way back to Kinsale where the cruise ends on August 8.

If you sail a classic vessel, why not join us? You will need to become a member of the OGA - very simple and inexpensive, just email Dave Owens on dublinbayoldgaffers@gmail.com or David_Owens@health.gov.ie

The Skellig Islands

Riverfest 2014 – a fun day on and off the water.

Photo Gillian Mills

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

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he Skellig Islands (Skellig Michael and Small Skellig), stand aloof in the Atlantic Ocean some 12 km southwest of Valentia Island, Co Kerry.

From any angle, or from any vantage point on the nearby Ring of Kerry, they are spectacular pinnacles, which have magnetised viewers throughout all history – and beyond.

These islands are world-famous, each in its own right: Skellig Michael is renowned throughout the world of archaeology as the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period – now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Small Skellig is equally renowned in matters of ornithology as the home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world.

A wisp of cloud often adorning the peaks of these pinnacles creates a volcanic impression. But there is nothing volcanic about these Skelligs rocks; they are created from the same 350–million-year-old Devonian Sandstone that runs right through the backbone of Kerry – from the county’s south-western headlands to the shores of Killarney’s lakes.

WWW.FASTNETSHIPPING.COM

The Skelligs were a daily sight while surveying in nearby waters during the INFOMAR project in 2014. Photo Sean Cullen

inshore ireland June/July 2015 21

Book Review

Students from the Mayfield Community School, Cork, learning to sail on Tir na nÓg of Howth

OGA youth programme sets a course on last year’s success Dave Owens, DBOGA

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he OGA (Old Gaffers Association) Youth Fund was set up in 2013 to mark the 50th anniversary of the organisation and to provide a lasting legacy by encouraging youngsters to sail in gaff-rigged boats.

The OGA’s mission is ‘to encourage interest in gaff, lug and spritsail rigs’ so we fully understand the importance

of attracting a new generation of enthusiasts sailing with traditional rig.

For the committee of the Dublin Bay Area (DBOGA), the planning began early in 2014. With the OGA Youth Sail Project (YSP) firmly in mind, DBOGA’s Seán Walsh had already conceived a pilot project based in Dublin Bay which would ultimately lead to a marvellous weekend of sailing activities involving school-going teenagers from Mayfield School in Cork taking to the sea for the very first time.

Sean Walsh recalls…..

“As boys and girls who had never before set foot on a gaffer, they did extremely well in quickly learning the techniques required to sail our complicated rig boats. I will long remember the sight of the young crew on my own boat, sailing it themselves, back up the Liffey, with each of them taking turn on the tiller and giving the command ‘Ready about’ to which the others responded ‘Ready!’, then the command ‘Lee Ho’ and the tiller was moved to bring the boat onto the other tack, the sails were released, then sheeted in on the new tack and off we were again......

That young crew did this faultlessly over twenty times sailing the boat back to her berth, and it was a joy to me to be there to see it”.

All departed for home eagerly looking for more chances to get involved in our sport. From the perspective of DBOGA, this first venture into youth sailing initiatives was judged a major success by teachers, teenagers and DBOGA itself and was invaluable experience which in no small way will help to inform future planning for similar initiatives.

It was felt that it met the OGA main aims for the Youth Project: “Being an introduction to Gaff-rig sailing for younger sailors, hoping some of them will join our Fellowship at some stage”.’’

(Full report, Inshore Ireland (Dec/Jan 2015) or http://www.inshore-ireland.com/News/Education)

Calling young gaffers

DBOGA is welcoming another Cork group to Dublin this year and for the 2016 season, has its sights set on expanding the YSP to include a Dublin school and is actively looking to make a connection with teaching staff who might have an interest in encouraging and supporting some of their transition-year students towards an introduction to sailing and to gaff-rigged sailing in particular.

As with most really worthwhile projects volunteerism is at its

heart. Fantastic work is being done in all sports by volunteers who give up many evenings and part of their week-ends to encourage kids to access sports.

DBOGA is anxious to introduce teens who would not ordinarily get the chance to experience the fun of sailing and which hopefully will ‘catch on’ and grow into a sustainable and worthwhile project. Watch this space….

Contact Dave Owens: dublinbayoldgaffers@ gmail.com if you’d like more information on the Youth Sailing Programme

Youth project of personal development through the medium of boat building Clare Hayden

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eitheal Mara is a community boatyard and training centre which has operated in the heart of Cork City since its foundation in 1994. This people-centred organisation is dedicated to personal development, skills enhancement and capacity building of its participants of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. This is pursued through boatbuilding, woodcraft, seamanship as well as events, exhibitions and research.

One of Meitheal Mara’s programmes central to this ethos and a corner-stone of the activities within the organisation is Bádóireacht.

This youth programme is about connecting young people with boats; in particular young people that would not otherwise have such opportunities.

From wood to water All stages of a boat are

featured within Bádóireacht, from wood to water; from construction to rowing.

Youth groups from all over Cork have the opportunity to come to Meitheal Mara’s workshop to participate in a boat building project.

Following the twelveweek programme, the students will celebrate their achievement when they launch the Dunfanaghy currach at an official launch on the River Lee. Once launched, the boats will be used by the young boat-builders – as well as other local youth groups – to learn and develop their rowing skills. Three Dunfanaghys are currently reaching completion in the Meitheal Mara workshop and will be launched during the Cork Harbour Festival.

The River Lee has been a hive of activity in recent months as many of these young crews aim to test their rowing skills in the Ocean to City race. This annual race is a rowing and paddling event within Cork Harbour, with over 150 craft participating

this year.

While the majority of the adult competitors will begin their race in Crosshaven at the mouth of Cork Harbour, the young people will begin their race in Blackrock on the outskirts of the city.

The youth crews will be joining kayaks; canoes; skiffs; coastal rowing boats; longboats; dragon boats and various styles of currach, racing towards the finish line at Lapp’s Quay in the centre of the city.

Racing to the same finish line ensures that these young crews receive the same welldeserved applause as the other boats crossing the line.

This year’s Ocean to City race takes place on Saturday May 30, as is part of the Cork Harbour Festival which runs until Saturday June 6.

Visit www. corkharbourfestival.com for upcoming events and activities such as the Interfirm Dragon Boat Challenge, Cork Harbour Open Day, cruises, movies, exhibitions and more.

Meitheal Mara (‘Workers of the Sea’) community boatyard and training centre specialises in traditional Irish currachs such as the Kerry Naomhóg and currach replicas for preservation and display purposes. Training programmes incorporates traditional boatbuilding, wood working and rowing to promote social and personal development and to encourage young people back into education and training.

For anyone that has ever dreamed of owning their own traditional currach: Meitheal Mara Men’s Shed are presenting an opportunity to win a 2-hand naomhóg currach crafted by their own fair hands! Only 350 raffle tickets have been printed. The tickets are available from Meitheal Mara and online at: www.corkharbourfestival.com and www.meithealmara. ie. Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase on the Lapp’s Quay Boardwalk, Cork on Ocean to City day (subject to availability). The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on Saturday 6th June at the Lapp’s Quay Boardwalk at the end of the Interfirm Dragon Boat Challenge.

Terms: please note that the winner is required to collect the currach themselves within six weeks of winning it.

22 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Crow’s Nest

A bright future for Brian Ború and her faithful crew.

Photos: Patrick Browne

From fishing boat to sailing ship, Brian Ború plots a course for coastal adventure Tony McLoughlin

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fficially relaunched and re-named last month at Cheekpoint Quay, Co Waterford, the wooden sailing ship Brian Ború (formerly MTV Investor) has commenced a second working life in the marine tourism, education and research business.

Based on the Waterford Estuary, she now carries a P3-class passenger licence allowing her to motor and sail anywhere around the coast and up to three miles offshore.

Attracted by beauty

Maiden voyage

First launched on Easter Monday 1961 at Port Seaton in Scotland from the slipways of her builders, Weatherhead and Blackie, she took her maiden voyage across the northern stretches of the Irish Sea to her new owners, the Warnock family at the fishing harbour of Portavogie, Co Down.

This was the era of herring fishing and the use of the ‘ring net’ required two strong seaworthy vessels to take an end of the net each, and turn in great opposite arcs to circle the shoal of herring.

Competing the ‘ring’ the vessels would come together to haul the silver catch on board.

Following a successful career based in Portavogie, the vessel was sold into Bunbeg, Co Donegal and finally into Wicklow Town where she ended her fishing life.

The sustainability of finding a new life for these beautiful wooden vessels that are still sound and seaworthy is obvious. Built from locally grown European larch planking and oak frames and beams, these little ships were constructed to take years of hard work in some of the roughest seas in the world.

The moment you step on board you can feel the solid reassurance of many tons of prime timber beneath your feet. Now, with tall masts, booms, gaffs and a bowsprit of solid douglas fir and steel wire rigging installed, the transformation is complete.

A new course

The great six-cylinder diesel main engine and the traditional ketch-rigged sails combine to safely bring Brian Ború back on inshore waters to begin a new life as a passenger

carrying sailing ship.

This renovation and conversion of an ex-fishing vessel to a gaff-rigged passenger carrying sailing ship demonstrates the viability and sustainability of recycling and indeed upcycling of suitable vessels which are indeed part of our maritime heritage.

Brian Ború is managed by leading Irish ecologist and ex Greenpeace campaigner Grace O Sullivan and shipwright/designer and musician Tony McLoughlin.

The only licenced sailing ship of her kind in Ireland, Brian Ború is based at Waterford City Marina and is available for a charter.

For further details call: 089 2098 563; Website: www. traditionalsailexperience. com; Facebook: / traditionalsailexperience.

Photos: Tony McLoughlin

The initial inspiration to renovate, restore and convert this vessel to traditional sail came about as a result of sheer ‘attraction to beauty’!

As an experienced shipwright and designer, my eye is always open for good-looking vessels, and when I saw this classic wooden ringnetter berthed in the fishing harbour of Dunmore East, Co Waterford, I immediately pictured the elegant yet sturdy sailing ship that she could become.

The hull was derived from the ‘sailing drifters’ of the early 20th Century and still retains much of the essential fair and handsome sailing lines.

Imagination has turned to reality as the final stage of the restoration and conversion is now complete.

At 70ft between spars and a displacement of 40 tons, she is strong and powerful, yet handy and manageable, and is the perfect size for working on the estuarine river system of counties Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford and along the coast.

“I immediately pictured the elegant yet sturdy sailing ship that she could become

Hours of plaining were required to fashion the mast.

inshore ireland June/July 2015 23

Book Review

The Sinking of the Lusitania – unravelling the mysteries

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he sinking of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915, with the loss of 1,198 lives brought home to the public the true savagery of the twentieth century’s new modern mechanised way of war in a way that could be likened to the effect of the Twin Towers attack in the 21st Century.

When this book was first published in 1998, I enthusiastically sought out and read a copy which still sits on my bookshelf where it has been joined by quite a number of other publications on Lusitania and the wider subject of World War One at sea over the intervening years.

At the time, I was just starting to develop a serious interest in shipwrecks as a sport diver as well as the history of the conflict which put the majority of the wrecks visited by divers on the seabed, WW1.

I recall finding the book very interesting, if a little light, at the time so it was with some curiosity that I approached reading the book again after such a lengthy interval and poring through all of those other books that have joined it on my creaking bookshelves.

Scene setting

In common with most other publications on the Lusitania, the author spends some time, the first five chapters, setting the scene and it is this section that the intervening years and books read have been least kind.

Unfortunately too much is covered in too little space, and as result many popular misconceptions about the Royal Navy, submarines, the armour of British ships, to name but a few that are repeated here, not supported by a more indepth examination of facts.

For example the author states: ‘Weaker side armour was evident on their (British) battleships’ as a reason why so

many British battleships were lost at Jutland. The ships lost were not in fact battleships they were battlecruisers - ships designed for a completely different role than that in which they found themselves.

They had not been designed to get involved in a slugging match with other capital ships, they were cruiser hunters, designed to overtake, hunt down and destroy enemy cruisers that might threaten the Empire’s trade routes.

The designer’s intention was that when these ships encountered the enemy ‘If they couldn’t outgun it they could outrun it’, armour was deliberately sacrificed for speed.

The Battle of the Falkland Islands in December 1914 exemplified this when von Spees’s East Asia Squadron of heavy and light cruisers was annihilated by two battlecruisers that had steamed over 5,000 miles to do battle alongside their accompanying cruisers.

In contrast to the battlecruisers at Jutland, the British battleships particularly the 5th Battleship Squadron of Queen Elizabeth class ships - took a lot of punishment and emerged still fighting. This would not suggest weaker armour.

Indeed, the entire rationale behind British capital ship design was radically different.

The German High Seas Fleet was designed to only command the North Sea; the crews were billeted ashore when in port.

Blue-water domination

In contrast, the Royal Navy ships were designed for blue-water domination.

The crew were billeted on board and were much more self-sufficient. Far more design compromises had to be made in contrast to ships that never steamed more than a few hundred miles from their home port and which could therefore carry heavier

armour and armament as they didn’t have to provide space for stores and crew quarters.

The perceived innate conservatism of the Royal Navy also comes in for much criticism. Certainly there were elements of the higher ranks that had risen to the top through conservatism and seniority; however this is what happens to all armed forces over prolonged periods of peace.

Andrew Gordon’s ‘The Rules of the Game’ examines this in detail, pointing out that the same criticisms were levelled at the US Navy at the outbreak of the Second World War. It was over a century since Trafalgar, the Royal Navy had not fought a serious war since.

In short, the picture of the war at sea is far more nuanced and complex than presented in the opening of the book, and if readers are interested in this period I would recommend Robert Massie’s books, Dreadnought and Castles of Steel and Lambert’s Sir John Fishers Naval Revolution.

On the Lusitania itself, the author is on much firmer ground and the reader is taken through the lead up, the sinking and aftermath in some detail. Reference to signals (telegrams) that went missing is informative, and justified criticisms of the Admiralty’s response are made.

As alluded to earlier, these inappropriate responses can be traced to the fact that less than a year into the war, peacetime officers still occupied positions that had utterly changed and in many instances were not equipped or able to fulfil.

Speculation as the possibility of Lusitania ramming her attacker is rather outlandish however as the chances of

a liner of over 30,000 tons manoeuvring sufficiently sharply to hit a much nimbler submarine are pretty remote, unless the submarine surfaced directly in her path.

And further speculation as to the cause of the second explosion is interesting but no compelling case is made.

The 2002 paper by Wood et al in the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences’ Journal Science and Justice, analyses the potential causes in detail and concludes that a main steam line rupture in the vicinity of the torpedo strike was the most likely cause. Whatever the actual cause it is unlikely we will ever know definitively.

In conclusion the book gives a good account of the loss of the Lusitania but falls down on the wider context where providing a little more information would have given a much more accurate picture.

Ian Lawler, Dublin

Ian has been diving for over 30 years and has participated in the Deep Wreck Mysteries and Dive WW2: Our Secret History TV series. He is also joint author of Warships, U-boats and Liners describing shipwrecks found during the National Seabed Survey and INFOMAR.

Little Linda Smith lost both her parents and baby sister Bessie

The magnificent barrel-vaulted ceiling in the first-class lounge was sub-divided into twelve stain-glass panels depicting the twelve months of the year

A British propaganda postcard from 1915 decrying the barbarity of the sinking as part of German ‘Kultur’.

Ian Lawler Collection

A particularly macabre medal by German medallist, Walter Eberbach from 1916 which was sold to aid the German war effort. It was one of the Totentanz (Dance of the Dead) series and there is not much more remorse in evidence.

The inscription reads ‘Malace and forewarned foolhardiness on board the Lusitania.’ Ian Lawler Collection

Competition

The publishers have generously offered two copies as competition prizes.

Q: On what date was Lusitania torpedoed?

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

Closing date: July 10, 2015. Good luck!

24 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Coastline News

Welcome Programme • Céad Míle Fáilte – engaging and exciting • Promote the town and area as a tourist destination • Provide quality customer service to ensure cruise guests return to Dún Laoghaire

Twenty-two ship visits to underpin cruiser status for Dún Laoghaire Gillian Mills

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ver 100,000 passengers and crew are expected to arrive into Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Co Dublin, over the summer season, hailed as being the ‘must successful’ cruise season for this east coast port.

Twenty-one calls are expected, with many of the ships carrying over 5,000 passengers and crew. The first arrival, Royal Princess, (141,00t, LOA 1,083ft, 217ft H) arrived on May 12.

A ‘welcome programme’ awaits all arrivals (see sidebar) which has been organised by the Dún Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group, comprising the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council and the local Business Improvement District (BID) Company.

Speaking at the launch of 2015 season, chairperson of the DLHC, Eithne Scott-

Lennon, said the forthcoming cruise season provided a “small insight” into the cruise business potential for the town and greater hinterland.

“The harbour company has been working collectively with the Council and local businesses to ensure that visitors get a taste of the local area through our welcome programme.

Increased cruise visitors should provide a welcome to the local economy.”

She added the programme offered a “wonderful opportunity” to showcase the local attractions, and hoped the wider community would join in the welcome events and entertainment.

“While it’s important to impress the cruise visitors, I also believe that more local families and people interested in ships will also come out to Dún Laoghaire and enjoy the impressive sight of these ships. Apart from the mui-storey third generation cruise ships, there will also be a selection

of smaller and intriguing ships that will come right into the harbour.”

Cllr. Mary Fayne said the cruise programme could only be very good news for Dún Laoghaire.

“I was down at the harbour and in the town when the Royal Princess visited last month and certainly got a sense of ‘visitors’ walking about.

“A couple from Miami actually wandered into the Methodist Church when they saw the sign inviting anybody ‘passing by’ on a Tuesday morning to drop in for a ‘coffee and a chat’. They had the morning to wander about and were spending the afternoon in Glendalough.

“With over 100,000 passengers and crew expected over the next few months, this surely augers well for the season.”

A team from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have been commissioned to conduct an Economic Impact Survey from May to September.

Dún Laoghaire Ambassadors • Local volunteers • Multi-lingual • Trained by Fáilte Ireland • Dressed in high-visibility green uniforms • Have an understanding of the day’s activities and the local ‘need to know’ information • Information on ATMs, Bureau de Change, toilets, transport etc 8 ambassadors will be drawn from: • DL/R CoCo Place Ambassadors • Volunteer Centre Ambassaors, Blackrock • Dún Laoghaire BID Interin Team • Comhairle Na nÓg • Local Active Aging Group Town Transport To facilitate: • Pick up/drop off – tender berth coal harbour (photo) • Pick up/drop off – Shackleton exhibition / DART • Pick up/drop off – Royal Marine Hotel Provided: • 4 shuttle buses • Free continuous service from arrival to departure • Service from harbour to town Digital platform: www. visitdunlaoghaire.com • Tailored to each cruise ship • Linked through to dlrtourism.ie • Summary of welcome programme • Top ‘things to do today’ in Dún Laoghaire • Linked to Wifi Welcome • Green carpet welcome on arrival • Welcome marquees for shelter • Tourist information huts • Taxi rank / shuttle bus pick up location • Free two-hour concert 1-3pm in the gardens of the Lexicon Library • Traditional Irish group Celtic Hearts performance • Traditional Irish music and dance display

Cllr Mary Fayne talking to ‘Ambassador’ Stephen Doring

inshore ireland June/July 2015 25

Coastline News

Dark clouds gather at Dún Laoghaire harbour over proposed cruise berth project Gillian Mills

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public meeting organised to mount a campaign against a proposed cruise berth development in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Co Dublin, attracted close to 200 people.

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) is seeking permission to replace the former Stena Line berth to accommodate large cruise ships of over 300m.

Organised by Save our Seafront lobby group, the meeting unanimously agreed to campaign to protect the harbour from ‘inappropriate development’ and seek to bring the harbour under direct democratic control of the elected members of Dún Laoghaire Council.

People Before Profit TD and SOS founder Richard Boyd Barrett, described the project

as the beginning of wholesale privitisation of the harbour.

“No proper business case had been made, putting the very future of the harbour at risk,” he said.

“Now we have another crazy plan, hatched by a socalled ‘stakeholder group’ to mortgage the assets of Dún Laoghaire harbour to the tune of €18m to build a giant cruise berth for luxury cruise liners.

“Development of a berth for large luxury cruise liners is totally inappropriate for our harbour, threatening maritime activities and reducing public access. All future development must ensure it is maintained as a fully public amenity for the use of the people of the county, country and visitors,” he said.

Any development of the Carlisle Pier must be for publicly run cultural and tourism projects, including the Diaspora Museum and genealogy centre, SOS contends. And it believes the

next County Development Plan (2016-2022) should include a ‘marine cluster’ of chandlery outlets and marine engineering workshops.

Port transfer

Due to publish shortly, the Harbours Bill 2015 provides the legislative basis to transfer ‘designated ports of regional significance’ to local authority-led government structures. The five ports are Drogheda, Galway, New Ross, Wicklow and Dún Laoghaire.

There are two models of transfer: retention of the existing company structure and transfer of the Ministerial shareholding in the company, or dissolution of the existing company structure and transfer of all assets, liabilities and employees into local authority structures.

“I would strongly urge the latter option for Dún Laoghaire” deputy BoydBarrett remarked in a Dáil Debate two days earlier.

Dún Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group responds to public opinion

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lmost 140 submissions were made as part of an informal pre-planning consultation process to the proposed cruise berth project of which 13 were in favour; 22 made observations / raised queries and the remainder (105) opposed.

A summary of the issues raised notes: ‘The majority expressed opposition to the proposal; in some cases these were based on misunderstanding of what was in fact proposed, or misplaced about the implications for harbour users.

View full report at http://dlharbour.ie/

Small but vocal protest march against ‘privitisation’ of public harbour.

Photos Gillian Mills

Common issues raised include: »» Impact on dingy/sailing/youth sailing »» The cruise berth cuts the harbour in two »» Impact on sailing competitions in the harbour »» Impact on ability to attract international sailing competitions »» ‘wind shadow’ effect of cruise ship in harbour »» Impact on heritage of the harbour »» Potential for environmental damage and negative impact on bird and marine life »» Safety/emergency incident plan »» Rocky nature of harbour bed making dredging difficult »» Disturbance to mercury in the harbour bed caused by dredging »» No economic benefit to the town »» Impact on traffic »» Legal advice that project is not a Strategic Infrastructure Development »» Too little detail provided about the scheme »» Consultation period too short »» Replacement ferry service for Stena »» Leave cruise business to Dublin Port »» Continue with existing tendering operation (ships anchoring in Dublin Bay) »» DLHC should not be allowed embark on a new venture like this while a merger with DLRCoCo is pending

DLHC responses

Impact on dingy sailing/youth sailing received the most comments: ‘DLHC will have regard to the aspects associated with each of these within the planning application.

Issues raised will be addressed in a ‘full and comprehensive way as part of the plans and particulars to be lodged with An Bord Pleanala.’

‘At the outset, it is worth recalling that Dun Laoghaire Harbour is first and foremost a working harbour. It also happens to accommodate a marine leisure component which it is recognized and acknowledged contributes to its charm and character. It is also recognized that the marine leisure component of the harbour is a significant part of the harbour activity. This marine leisure activity must and does function in a manner that does not detract from the primary function of the harbour.

‘To that end, it is worth highlighting that activities within the Harbour are carefully managed and controlled in line with long established rules, referred to as the Notices to Mariners and the Harbour Bye-Laws. With that in mind, the following provides an initial response to the principal issues raised by members of the public and harbour users generally.’

A statement on behalf of the DLCSG states it is ‘confident that the cruise berth development can be delivered while preserving the unique heritage of the harbour and without impacting unduly on sailing and marine leisure activities which are such significant parts of the harbour’s activities.’

It adds that the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Master Plan (2011) identified the need to develop strategies to ensure the longterm future of the harbour,’ in view of declining importance of ferry traffic.

‘Dún Laoghaire is designated as a marine tourism port under the Government’s National Ports Policy and the development of the cruise business fits into this framework.’

It is expected that a formal planning application for the proposed development will be submitted to An Bord Pleanala ‘in the coming weeks’.

26 inshore ireland June/July 2015

Coastline News

June/July Reporting from the Irish Maritime Festival in Drogheda, and a parade of sail from Port Oriel by the Mersey Class Lifeboat of Clogherhead including the Skerries Lifeboat, plus a selection of vintage lifeboats heading up The Boyne to Drogheda for a full festival programme.

Seascapes will be in Kinsale Yacht Club for the ICRA Nationals and The Sovereigns Cup (24-27/6) and in Dún Laoghaire for the Volvo Regatta (9-11/7).

And towards the end of July Seascapes will be covering the Glandore Classic Regatta in West Cork.

To coincide with the reprint of Flies of Ireland we’ll be featuring Master angler and flytyer Peter O’Reilly.

More on www.rte.ie/radio1/seascapes

Seascapes is presented and produced

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

Unique maps reveal historical foundation of Dublin Bay Gillian Mills

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chance discovery of 300-year-old maps in the archives of the Dublin Port Company played centrestage of a recent conference to celebrate the start of the Great South Wall in the 17th Century, and the beginning of the present day Dublin port.

The maps, which had never been on public display, have been interpreted by historian Rob Goodbody, to illustrate and explain the changes in Dublin bay and port, and their links to the city.

New research, the latest scientific data and historical records on the bay were revealed at the one-day event by leading exports, through presentations on coastal processes; marine biodiversity and maritime heritage, and provided a current and comprehensive interpretation of the bay’s history and environment.

“We’re proud to celebrate 300 years of the Great South Wall. This iconic structure has sheltered, protected and played a defining role in shaping Dublin bay and Dublin port over the centuries, becoming a city landmark in its own right,” remarked Eamon O’Reilly, CEO of Dublin Port Company.

(On April 29, 1715, a proposal to build the Great South Wall was proposed

by the Ballast Board and approved by the City Assembly, to become the world’s longest sea wall at the time of its construction.

Prior to this time, Dublin Bay presented major dangers for shipping. Frequently, ships had to shelter at Clontarf or Ringsend and in certain wind conditions, were unable to reach the city for several weeks with shipwrecks common on the sand bars at the mouth of the River Liffey.)

Significant challenges Addressing the Dublin Bay History and Environment conference, Pascal Donohoe, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport noted the “significant challenges” placed on Dublin port given its location within a large population catchment and area of environmental importance.

Launched in 2014, a sustainability report sets out how Dublin Port Company fulfils its mandate to facilitate trade with due regard for the environment in which it operates. DPC outlines its challenges as economic, environmental and social.

Under Ireland’s National Ports Policy (NPP), Dublin Port is categorised as a ‘Port of National Significance’ whereby continued commercial development is a strategic objective of government.

Over ninety per cent

of goods imported and exported to Ireland travel by sea with Dublin port as the country’s largest gateway, and play a key role in the overall transport chain by road and rail. The port also handles over 40% of all tonnage at Irish ports.

In 2014, the port recorded 7% growth, year-on-year, with throughput in excess of 31 million gross tonnes and 7,108 ship arrivals - not seen since record levels in 2007.

Ferry passengers rose by 6.4% to 1.7 million, placing Dublin port on a par with Cork and Shannon airport passenger numbers. Last year was also strong for port cruise business, with 140,000 visitors on 86 cruise ships.

“I was delighted to see Dublin was successful in its application in 2014 for EU funding towards studies required in relation to the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project. Redevelopment of the Alexandra Basin will allow the port to handle larger ships and provide substantial increase in its capacity through multipurpose berths,” remarked Minister Donohue.

A new Ports Policy Bill will be published shortly to enable the transfer to local authority control of five ‘Ports of Regional Significance’ (Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross and Wicklow).

Remediated Haulbowline Island Bridges have reopened in Cork Harbour, following extensive repairs and upgrades as part of a project set to transform the former Ispat sites into a major public amenity area.

When completed, the site will also provide a potential future development location for the Irish Naval Service.

“This project will user in an entirely new phase of this islands’ long and distinguished history and represents tangible evidence of the government’s commitment to Cork Harbour and to the wider marine sector,” remarked Simon Coveny, Minister for the Marine.

Poolbeg Lighthouse, now fully automated, is managed by Dublin Port Company. The Great South Wall extends from Ringsend over 4km out to sea. It was the world’s longest sea-wall at the time of its construction and remains one of the longest to this day in Europe. Photo G Mills

inshore ireland June/July 2015 27

Outside Ireland

Slow Fish: a multifaceted evolving network of networks seeking sustainable, fair and wholesome alternatives Brian O’Riordan, ICSF

R

ecently the ‘Slow Food’ movement in Ireland found itself caught up in a controversy over salmon farming, provoked by the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE).

Rightly or wrongly, and as reported in this paper, two leaders of Slow Food in Ireland refused to support the pre-Christmas call of FIE to boycott smoked Irish farmed salmon.

For them, the livelihoods of Irish salmon smokers and their staff took precedence over the Slow Fish ‘not on my plate’ campaign. And to be fair, Slow Fish offers no solution to the conundrum of how to square the potential impact of such a campaign on local livelihoods.

As a global campaign, it aims to encourage people to decide not to eat fish produced by fishing or aquaculture that is harmful to the environment, but does not provide remedies to the potential side effects.

Courting controversy

Slow Fish describes itself as Slow Food’s campaign on responsible fisheries, and as evidenced by discussions at the seventh biennial Slow Fish event, (Genoa, May 2015), the evolving Slow Fish movement is not shy of courting controversy. In fact, Slow Fish seems to welcome it.

It challenges basic assumptions and promotes ethical values, rejects privatisation of the seas whilst reclaiming the commons for all citizens.

It encourages discussion around conservation and environmental protection all in the cause of creating open and honest, if often emotional and heated exchanges, in the search for viable, healthy and fair community-based alternatives.

This year’s event was dedicated to the world of fish and marine ecosystems, and included a variety of activities including tasting and cooking workshops, and with an extensive conference programme of ‘water workshops’.

Mixed agenda

Over 4 days, 14 workshops discussed the challenges

facing the world’s fisheries, with a focus on small-scale fisheries; fishing communities; sustainability and seeking common solutions and strategies to global problems.

Youth and the future prospects for fisheries and fishing communities were a key theme, with a large contingent of young people participating from Europe and from countries in the Maghreb region of North Africa.

As many as 100 people from 26 countries took part in the event, in their individual capacities and representing their organisations and communities. They included workers and entrepreneurs from the small-scale fishery sector; politicians; cooks; students; artists and academics; environmental and social activists and concerned citizens. Thousands of visitors also thronged the sunny quayside of Genoa’s touristic ‘Ancient Port’, providing a colourful and convivial backdrop.

Slow Fish promotes ‘Good, Clean and Fair Fish’, by bringing together individuals and organisations whose interests and professions all relate to fish; fishing; fisheries and fishing communities. It is a dynamic and evolving group of people - a kind of network of networks comprising the people who participate in those networks and whose interests may be economic, academic, cultural and political.

Multifaceted vision

As such, Slow Fish provides a multifaceted vision of the fisheries world, including the perspectives of producers and consumers; workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and journalists; teachers and students, and many others besides.

Its vision is centred on ‘resilient coastal communities, where local jobs and control of the resources are key elements’, seeking alternatives to ‘an increasingly industrialised model of fisheries designed to feed international commodity markets’. In short, it asks people to think and act ‘to change the way fish lands on their plate’.

This provides a big challenge towards developing a single clear message.

Instead, Slow Fish ‘aims to bring some clarity to the issues surrounding fish and

fishing’. Though it does not claim to have all the answers, the movement is committed to finding them.

In an environment where it is increasingly difficult to know what you’re eating and to consume responsibly, Slow Fish asks that you think and engage with your food, and to be inspired.

Organised along geographic lines, but with a strong communications centre based in Milan, Slow Fish members in Europe are broadly organised into ‘Northern Seas’ and ‘Mediterranean Groups’.

Manifesto

Supported by the Lighthouse Foundation, and with cofinance from the European Commission, the Northern Seas group has produced a 20-point manifesto, written by a poet who interacted with the group, creating metaphors to articulate messages that communicate the essence of what Slow Fish is about. But as with metaphors and poetry, the messages of the manifesto are open to interpretation.

Participating in the Slow Fish event was a strong contingent of European fishermen from the Mediterranean coasts of France and Spain; from the northern seas were delegates from UK, Netherlands, Ireland and Denmark. There was also a group from the Maghreb region of North Africa, from Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, who with the help of FAO, has recently established a platform to represent the common regional interests of small-scale fishermen and their communities.

A parallel initiative is underway in Europe, launched by a group of fishermen under the banner of LIFE – Low Impact Fishers of Europe. LIFE took shape in Santiago in 2012, initiated by around 100 fishermen and fisherwomen from eight countries.

Small-scale fishermen

Participating in Slow Fish was Executive Director of LIFE, Jeremy Percy from the UK, who is optimistic that with a voice in Europe, smallscale fishermen will have a good chance to have a say in the decisions that affect them.

In Percy’s view, “The policy door is ajar, although a little more coordination is needed

Slow Fish market for it to be fully opened.”

One of the positive threads to emerge from the event was a commitment among the European fishers to establish more formal ties between the ‘Northern Seas’ and the Mediterranean. There were also stronger solidarity links forged between the fishermen from North Africa and Europe, and a commitment to develop a web-based tool to share information and coordinate campaigns through the creation of an interactive map.

Statement of intent

A small group of European and African fishermen also drafted a ‘statement of intent’, which they asked the Slow Fish event to endorse, ‘if not with their heads, at least with their hearts’.

However, various caveats were raised, including the observation that the sum of the Slow Fish parts was much greater than the cause of small-scale fishermen, and that is was not appropriate for Slow Fish to endorse such a declaration based on the interests of one small group within the network.

It was also observed that there are already several declarations and manifestos which have been issued recently, including by LIFE and by the Maghreb platform, so why not use what we already have, it was questioned.

Small-scale fishermen also had the chance to interact with European Commission and European Parliament representatives at a round table on how the European fisheries policy impacts on small-scale fisheries.

After a round of introductions and opening statements, the discussion

ranged over whether or not all small-scale fishing was good; the impact of European policies and fishery activities in North Africa; how fishermen in the Mediterranean are being criminalised for catching tuna; the need to stop all forms of illegal fishery and fish marketing activities, including by some recreational fishers.

Renata Briano said that she was against a total ban on drift nets. Enda Conneely from Ireland made an impassioned plea for small-scale fishermen not to become divided over the issue of recreational fishing, which he felt under the right conditions did no harm and was compatible with small-scale interests.

Jack Clarke from the Catch Box community-supported fishery in the UK slated the Producer Organisations established under the CFP for having “done nothing but consolidate quota in the hands of a few trawler barons, marginalising small-scale producers”.

A fisherman from France compared smallscale fishermen to smallscale farmers of the sea, highlighting the dangers of quota and how the rising price of real-estate along the coast means that the young fishing families will not be able to afford to live on the coast.

He advocated subsidies on land purchase for fishers in the way that there had been subsidies for land purchase for farming.

Jeremy Percy of LIFE summed up by stating that small-scale fisheries should be seen not as a problem, but as a solution, “offering as they do more jobs and more fish”.

For more information see: http://slowfish. slowfood.it/en/