The Issue

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.

 

 


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Radio

We have been contacted buy a number of Radio Stations for both broadcast and print

 

C103.IE

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 

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'

Pod Cast

 

CRY104fm

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.

RedFM

2017-04-21 Article and Podcast Click Here

RedFM

C103.IE

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.

Beat 102 103

2017-04-21 Article Click Here

 

 

Beat 102 103

Sustainable Water Network

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. 
 

We need to think before we act

And we need to act before it's too late

"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

Public consultation and advertising required

NO mention of 'MECHANICAL HARVEST'  ¦  NO mention of 'NATIVE KELP FOREST'  ¦  NO mention of '1860 ACRES OF BANTRY BAY'

Dept of Housing stated that a notice was placed in a national newspaper - no record can be found by the Dept. of the advertisement published

Why?

  1. No public meetings  
  2. No consultation with Bantry Bay Coastal Zone Charter Groups (formal framework for public consultation for developments in Bantry Bay).

Why?

  1. No information on development given to Cork County Council
  2. Notice placed in Bantry Bay Garda Station for 21 days - no access to copy of record on Dept. of Housing website

Why?

  1.  Advertisement placed by BioAtlantis in Southern Star Newspaper on 12th December 2009 states 'Occupy an area of foreshore for the purpose of harvesting specific seaweed at Bantry Bay'