A licence to Industrially Extract 1860 acres of Native Kelp in Bantry Bay has been issued to BioAtlantis, Tralee.
NO Public Consultation took place. This licence was NOT Advertised Adequately. This licence has been issued with NO requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment [E.I.A.]
This is the largest industrial scale native Kelp Extraction Licence ever issued in Irish or British waters.
We have been contacted buy a number of Radio Stations for both broadcast and print
2017-05-17 Podcast
Patricia Messenger of C103.ie Radio speaks with Micheal Collins TD piece starts at 1:02:13] in this Podcast.
Mayo Radio on 3rd May - 'The Bantry mechanical harvest licence is especially of interest to Co. Mayo, as BioAtlantis also have an application for a licence submitted for Clew Bay in Mayo'
Thoroughly informative discussion on the topic with very interesting interview with Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment both fascinating and depressing.
Local radio in Youghal, East Cork. Talking with Deirdre Fitzgerald about the licence to mechanically harvest seaweed in Bantry Bay. Aired as part of the "Crossing the Line" programme.
2017-04-21 Article and Podcast Click Here
2017-03-15 Podcast
A "Thank You" to Patricia Messenger of C103.ie Radio for airing our concerns over the licence issued to BioAtlantis Ltd to harvest 1860 acres of Kelp Forrest in Bantry Bay. Patricia speaks with Deirdre Fitzgerald from 32:30 in this Podcast.
Very informative SWANsounds podcast by the Sustainable Water Network (Ireland). At 21min 20sec it relates to Bantry Bay and the proposed mechanical havest of 753 hectares (1860 acres). If you have more time do try to listen to the 30 minute podcast as it is very interesting!
In our second episode, we delve into the complicated world of Irish seaweed policy. Once an under-valued resource, demand is now soaring and that's both exciting and cause for trepidation. In our quest to find out what will happen to these valuable ecosystems - and the livelihoods of the men and women who've harvested seaweed by traditional methods for generations - we talk to our member organisation Coastwatch, the harvesting plant Arramara, and the Foreshore Section of the government.
"I can only compare these great aquatic forests of the southern hemisphere with the terrestrial ones in the inter-tropical regions. Yet if in any country a forest was destroyed, I do not believe nearly so many species of animals would perish as would here, from the destruction of the kelp
Amidst the leaves of this plant numerous species of fish live, which nowhere else could find food or shelter; with their destruction the many cormorants and other fishing birds, the otters, seals, and porpoises, would soon perish"
~ Charles Darwin
