News - Ocean Focus

The few remaining skiffs still fishing Bullock Harbour, Dublin Bay. Photo Darina Tully

Taking stock

Overview by Edward Fahy, Fisheries Science Services, Marine Institute

Since 1999, the Stock Book has had an inshore section. It is impossible to have too much information on a wild fishery, especially in a world of rapidly changing environmental conditions and ever-increasing catching power of a versatile and hungry polyvalent fleet. In the absence of a TAC regulation mechanism for inshore species, and given the case histories of some inshore stocks, it is highly desirable to have an annual review of the status and the scientific advice for inshore species.

The inshore sector in Ireland is less precisely defined than elsewhere in the EU. Large fishing vessels work close to the coast whereas in Britain there is a policy of confining exploitation of waters inside 6 n miles to boats of less than 10m. Some landings of TAC species are made close to shore in Ireland; on the other hand, species like brown crab, which were traditionally a mainstay of the inshore sector, are now being harvested outside 12 n miles.

Should food producers fear food safety

Seafood Business

Tim Coakley, Bantry Bay mussel grower

In 1999, Irish shellfish caused illness in continental Europe. The cause was marine biotoxins originating from red tides − a naturally occurring phenomenon worldwide. The consequences for the shellfish industry were profound: product recall and destruction, lost markets and near financial collapse. Our image as a food producer took a battering, and questions were asked about Ireland’s ability to regulate its food industry and ensure consumer safety.

The problems were a body blow to the shellfish industry. The regulation of marine biotoxins had often been the subject of bitter disputes between shellfish producers and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources as the competent authority for Ireland.

Farming the deep blue

Aquaculture

Farmed finfish production in Ireland has the potential to increase its current output by 150,000 tonnes a year if the development of offshore sites and the required technology become economically viable.

This is according to Farming the Deep Blue – a major report jointly commissioned by BIM and the Marine Institute  to gauge the potential of offshore finfish farming in Ireland, and internationally.

Launched last October, Farming the Deep Blue signalled the start of a two-day conference of the same name hosted in Limerick by BIM. The event brought together international practitioners and experts to assess the current status of global offshore marine finfish farming.

Sentinels of the sea

Aquaculture

Monitoring and pollution prevention is essential to shellfish survival. Richie Flynn, IFA-Aquaculture, explains

Shellfish farmers are at the front line when it comes to natural or man-made problems in inshore waters. The success or failure of a shellfish business depends totally on the maintenance of a high quality of water in which to grow the animals.

This really sinks in when you realise that a shellfish farmer doesn’t feed his stock in the sense of all other types of livestock production, but rather the animals feed naturally by filtering microscopic plants and animals in the water column (plankton) and in doing so, expose themselves to any potentially harmful contaminants that might also be in the sea.

Need for national coastal management strategy

Marine

Over 90% of the population of the island of Ireland resides within 15kms of the coastline. This coastline, depending on the measuring technique employed, is between 1,500km and 9,750km in length.

The landscape of this land/sea interface is rich in diversity − from rugged cliff lines and limestone rock plateaus − to isolated pebble or sandy beaches and rolling pastureland.

Around the coast, unbroken visibility that can stretch for miles without interruption from industrial development and ‘relatively’ little urbanisation provides an experience that is almost unique throughout Europe.

A new approach to shellfish management

Fisheries

BIM’s inshore fisheries coordinator, Oliver Tully, explains

A large proportion of Ireland’s inshore fishing fleet and segments of the offshore fleet fish for crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, shrimps) and molluscs (scallop, whelk, clams, cockles). These vessels account for over 80 per cent of the national fleet, provide 70 per cent employment in the catching sector and prosecute fisheries valued at approximately €50m per annum at first sale.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has largely ignored management of these fisheries, and national governments have also been slow to react to the vacuum in policy. In Ireland, however, the industry has taken the initiative in many instances by providing, for example, local co-operative management plans for lobsters.

In 2001, the Irish Lobster Association submitted an application to the marine minister for limited entry to lobster fisheries. The support for management remains strong in the industry despite an increasing level of frustration at the lack of progress. The State has been slow to follow industry initiatives, but for a valid reason.

The Naval Service

Maritime

The Naval Service (NS) is the principal seagoing agency of the State and is responsible for patrolling Ireland’s 132,000m2 Exclusive Fishery Limit (EFL). This area represents approximately 12 per cent of EU waters and is about six times the size of Ireland. The NS also conducts fishery protection in waters beyond the 200-mile EFL as part of Ireland’s contribution to bodies such as NEAFC, NAFO, etc (North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, North Atlantic Fisheries Commission), writes Cdr Gerard O’Flynn.

Provision of a fishery protection service is one of the stated roles of the Defence Forces and is fully delegated to the NS. The work of monitoring, inspection and control is conducted by a fleet of eight patrol ships ranging in age from the 27-year-old LE Emer to the newest ships, LE Niamh and LE Roisin, both commissioned within the last five years.