This article is from page 16 of the 2012-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
BORD Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) have rejected claims that a planned € 50 million fish farm off the North Clare coast is a “disaster in the making.”
The board has identified an area of Galway Bay as a site for a proposed deep-sea organic fish farm. The venture could create a total of 500 direct and indirect jobs, according to BIM.
According to BIM, the project will create 350 jobs directly through the operation and maintenance of the farm and a further 150 jobs through support industries locally. BIM are about to open a period of public consultation in relation to the development and will send a final application for a license to government after that.
BIM are applying for a production license and, if successful, would hold that on behalf of the taxpayer and find a suitable commercial investor.
Details of the project were heard at a meeting yesterday of Clare County Council’s Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Community, Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Services.
Donal Maguire, Director of Agriculture Development Services with BIM, told the meeting that the project would require an investment of € 50 million. He said the capital budget for fish cages and ships would be close to € 27 million.
He said the site would have no impact on beaches in North Clare, Galway and the Aran Islands.
Mr Maguire, who is originally from Kilkee, said aquaculture can live side by side with tourism.
He added, “We think it’s an exciting project and it could make a lot of employment in Clare and Galway. It will not create an environmental impact.”
Mr Maguire admitted BIM have received a mixed response, saying some residents on the Aran Islands have concerns while others see it as source of year round employment.
He added, “We could see fish being put to sea in 2014, all going incredibly well.” The project did come in for criticism from one SPC member.
Patsy Perill, who represents the Environment and Conservation Sector said BIM are completely underestimating the risks to the environment posed by the proposed fish farm.
Pointing to the potential impact of sea lice and fish waste, Mr Perill said, “I think this is a disaster in the making.” “It’s going to be a wipeout of the wild fish”, he added.
Mr Maguire said studies had shown that sea lice are not the reason for the decline of wild salmon. He said Ireland has among the strictest sea regulations in the world.
“There is an amount of misinformation that isn’t true,” he added.