Federation of Irish Salmon & Sea Trout Anglers
Conaidhm na Slat Iascairí Bradáin agus Breac Geal
F.I.S.S.T.A. www.fissta.com
National Secretary: NOEL CARR, Teelin Road, Carrick, Co. Donegal. Tel/Fax 074 9730300. Mobile: 0872352001 email: dgl1@indigo.ie
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DONEGAL – MONDAY 21st DECEMBER 2015 PRESS RELEASE FROM FISSTA
SANTA COMES EARLY TO SAVE GALWAY BAY AND THE WILD SALMON
FISSTA CHAIRMAN PAUL LAWTON WELCOMED TODAY’S BIM ANNOUNCEMENT TO WITHDRAW THEIR INIS OIR/GALWAY BAY APPLICATION FOR THE FIRST OF TEN MEGA SALMON FARMS ALONG THE WEST COAST OF IRELAND.
“FISSTA WERE THE FIRST TO MOBILISE AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PLAN WHICH WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER SIMON COVENEY TD IN 2011. THE PROCESS FOR AWARDING THE LICENSE WAS FURTHER OBSTURCTED FOLLOWING FISSTA’S NOTICE OF LEGAL ACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT INCLUDING COVENEY’S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND MARINE LAST MAY WHICH DELAYED THE DECISION AND PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE MINISTER TO REVIEW HIS ILL THOUGHT OUT MEGA FARMS PLAN OF 2011” SAID MR. LAWTON.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BY BIM NOW ENDS THE LONG WAIT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S RESPONSE TO FISSTA AS THE APPLICATION IS NOW WITHDRAWN TODAY.
FISSTA ARE DELIGHTED THAT THE BIM BOARD HAVE DECIIDED TO SCRAP THE TEN MEGA FARMS PLAN FOLLOWING OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WHICH SAW THOUSANDS OF ANGLERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE WILD SALMON ON THE STREETS OF GALWAY CITY, CASTLEBAR (TAOISEACH’S OFFCE) AND CARRIGALINE (MINISTERS OFFICE) OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
FISSTA WILL NOW CONTINUE THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT’S OPEN NET SEA CAGE SALMON FARMING POLCIY WHICH MINISTER COVENEY GRANTED A LICENCSE FOR IN BANTRY BAY OCTOBER AND WHICH WE HAVE CURRENTLY AN OBJECTION LODGED. FISSTA NOW CALL ON THE MINISTER TO FURTHER REVIEW SUCH DAMAGING POLLUTING CAGES AND BRING THEM ONSHORE TO BE MANAGED UNDER THE CURRENT MORE STRINGENT EU WASTE MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVES.
WHILE NO WAR HAS BEEN WON AS YET FISSTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FIRST OF MANY BATTLES HAS ENDED TODAY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW.
FISSTA THANK ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE GALWAY BAY FROM THE IMPENDING DISASTER THAT IS THE BIM APPLICATION FOR 15,000 TONS OF FARMED SALMON THAT WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT OUR WILD FISH RESOURCES ON THE WEST COAST.
FISSTA ESPECIALLY THANKS OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE IRISH SPORTS COALITION AND NARGC WHO STOOD WITH US AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME AND TO ALL OUR ANGLING FEDERATIONS WHO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR SPORT AND STOCKS.
FISSTA WISH ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.
http://bim.ie/news-and-events/content,88032,en.html
News & Events
Bord Iascaigh Mhara Welcomes Ireland’s First Integrated Aquaculture Development Plan
21 December 2015
Agency to Withdraw Application for Organic Salmon Farm in Line with New National Policy
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), today (21st December) welcomed the publication of IrelandÔÇÖs first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. The strategy drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine follows extensive consultation and forms the basis for the drawdown of Ôé¼30 million in EU funding dedicated to Irish aquaculture development over the next five years from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Among the twenty-four tailored actions agreed in the Strategy was the setting of scale limits in relation to the development of individual offshore salmon farms, capping their size to between 5,000 and 7,000 tonnes. Based on this significant development and current legislation (Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997) that states an application cannot be altered while in the planning process; BIM confirmed at its Board meeting today, that it will no longer be proceeding with its current application for an aquaculture licence for a proposed 15,000 tonne organic salmon farm in Galway Bay.
Announcing the decision, BIM CEO, Tara McCarthy said ÔÇ£Taking account of the new policy framework, BIM has reviewed its work programme to match our activities against this new Plan. The scaling of fish farms was one element that had to be addressed and we have taken swift and decisive action on that. We must now re-assess our delivery of this project in the context of the new operating environment and examine the operational and commercial impacts. This will take time and a significant amount of engagement and consultation.ÔÇØ
Ms McCarthy added; ÔÇ£It is important to note that Ôé¼30 million of EU support has been earmarked to support Irish aquaculture over the next five years to deliver on growth targets set out in the Government Food Wise 2025 report. BIMÔÇÖs focus for the period will be to continue to drive and explore new innovative technologies, lead sustainability programmes and improve profitability for our producers to deliver against considerable market demandÔÇØ BIM has informed the licensing authority (the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine) that it is withdrawing the current application.
