While Save Bantry Bay is a local group, they claim preventing the
expansion of salmon farming in Bantry Bay is a national issue. Why?
With a history of European Court rulings against Ireland when awarding
salmon farm licenses, fish farming is relevant to TDs wherever theyre
based. If Ireland wishes to stay out of the European Courts it is
vital European legislation is adhered to.
Sadly, in the case of the proposed Marine Harvest salmon farm in
Bantry Bay this has not been the case, said the Save Bantry Bay group. The Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIS) completed by Marine Harvest as part of the licence
application has failed to meet standards set by the EU EIA Directive.
It has for example:
1. failed to acknowledge the Dromogowlane River, only 500m away and
home to protected species that will be affected
2. failed to consult a single living resident in the parish (only one
was written to and he died 10 years ago)
3. deemed the majority of houses and residents in the nearby townland
not to exist
4. failed to consider alternative technologies such as the
non-polluting closed containment systems
5. failed to consider alternative sites
6. failed to assess the ability of the immediate area to flush waste
(only last on month the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board overturned
Simon Coveneys decision to grant a mussel farm licence in nearby
Dunmanus Bay due to poor flushing rate and large amounts of waste).
On top of this, the Save Bantry bay group has said that residents concerns related to a failure to adhere
to the principles of the Bantry Bay Charter, further loss of fishing
grounds, increased pollution, negative impact shellfish industry, the
negative impact on six local salmon rivers, and the negative impact on
tourism.
Instead of providing two new full time jobs, as developers
claim, it seems this development may well result in a net loss of jobs
in the region. It is for all these reasons relevant both nationally
and locally - that Save Bantry Bay are appealing to the all the
countries TDs to get their voices heard.
