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F.I.S.S.T.A. www.fissta.com
MR. NOEL CARR HON SECRETARY,
FISSTA ÔÇô FEDERATION OF IRISH SALMON & SEATROUT ANGLERS
Teelin Rd, Carrick Co Donegal. Tel/Fax: 074 9730300 Email: dgl1@indigo.ie
DONEGAL – THURSDAY 31st DECEMBER 2015 PRESS RELEASE FROM FISSTA
FISSTA ANGLERS LOOK FORWARD TO 2016 SALMON SEASON WITH NEW HOPE
FISSTA NOW LOOKS FORWARD TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR WILD ATLANTIC SALMON FOLLOWING THE PRE CHRISTMAS STATE BIM ANNOUNCEMENT TO WITHDRAW THE FIRST OF TEN MEGA FARM APPLICATION FOR GALWAY BAY.
TOMORROW OUR NEW ANGLING SEASON OPENS ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY AND WHILE WE WISH WELL ALL THE ANGLERS WHO SEEK THE PRIZE FOR THE FIRST SALMON OF 2016, MOST OF US WILL STAY WARM AND DRY AND WAIT FOR MORE SUITABLE CONDITIONS TO WET A LINE LATER IN THE YEAR. MANY ANGLERS WILL FEAR FOR THE NEW APPLICATIONS THAT ARE NOW BEING REDRAFTED BY THE SALMON FARMING INDUSTRY AT PRESENT TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW EU GRANT AID CONDITIONS BEING OFFERED.
FISSTA CHAIRMAN PAUL LAWTON SAID “FISSTA WILL BE THE FIRST AGAIN TO OBJECT LEGALLY AS WE WERE THE FIRST TO MOBILISE AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PLAN WHICH WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER SIMON COVENEY TD IN 2011. WE USED ALL OUR RESOURCES INCLUDING PROTESTS TO FRUSTRATE THE PROCESS FOLLOWING FISSTA’S NOTICE OF LEGAL ACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT WHICH DELAYED THE DECISION AND PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE MINISTER TO REVIEW HIS ILL THOUGHT OUT MEGA FARMS PLAN OF 2011”.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BY BIM NOW ENDS THE LONG WAIT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S RESPONSE TO FISSTA AS THE APPLICATION IS NOW WITHDRAWN SINCE BIM ANNOUNCED IT ON DECEMBER 21st 2015. FISSTA THANKS ALL WHO SUPPORTED OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WHICH SAW THOUSANDS OF ANGLERS AND PROTESTERS OF THE WILD SALMON ON THE STREETS OF GALWAY CITY, CASTLEBAR (TAOISEACH’S OFFCE) AND CARRIGALINE (MINISTERS OFFICE) OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
FISSTA REMIND ALL THAT THE FINE GAEL SALMON FARM POLICY IS STILL IN PLACE DESPITE A LABOUR PARTY POLICY MOTION AT THEIR LAST CONFERENCE TO OPPOSE IT. MINISTER COVENEY HAS IGNORED THE CLEAR POLICY OF HIS COALITION PARTNER AND AWARDED MARINE HARVEST A LICENSE FOR BANTRY BAY LAST OCTOBER THIS PROVES BEYOND DOUBT THE INTENTIONS OF FINE GAEL WHO CAN IGNORE THE WISHES OF THEIR POLITICAL PARTNERS AND THOUSANDS OF ANGLERS WHO DEMANDED JUSTICE FOR OUR MARINE ENVIRONMENT.
FISSTA HAVE CURRENTLY AN OBJECTION LODGED TO ALAB AND HOPE WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL BY GETING THIS BANRTY BAY LICENSE APPLICATION REJECTED AS WELL. 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 AS WE FACE 2016 WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE IMPENDING DISASTER OF WHAT 15,000 TONS OF FARMED SALMON WOULD BRING TO OUR PRISITNE GALWAY WATERS AND WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT OUR WILD FISH RESOURCES ON THE WEST COAST.
FISSTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE MASS SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE IRISH ANGLING FEDERATONS AND OUR 250,000 SPORTS COALITION AND NARGC WHO STOOD WITH US AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME AND WAS A MAJOR ELECTORAL FACTOR IN THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE APPLICATION. ENDS.