THE SEA Fisheries Protection Authority is investigating allegations of illegal fishing in Castlemaine harbour, Co Kerry, after complaints illegal dredging for mussel seed had been taking place in the protected habitat area.
Environmental organisations including Coastwatch issued a statement complaining there was “blatant disregard of the law”. Coastwatch also claimed to have documentary evidence of up to three large mussel dredging vessels operating in the harbour near Cromane and Inch since Friday.
A controversial ban on mussel seed collection in the harbour, which has a 200-year-old tradition of mussel farming, was introduced two years ago to comply with a bird habitats directive.
However, fishermen complained that when the area was being designated a Special Area of Conservation 10 years previously, they were assured their livelihoods would be protected.
The Cromane fishermen’s livelihoods have all but been wiped out because of this and other measures, including a ban on salmon fishing. Negotiations on mussel seed collection have taken place with the European Commission and a special working committee set up under Minister for the Marine Tony Killeen.
Last weekend agreement was reached to reopen the harbour along with Waterford and Dundalk harbours under strict monitoring conditions from mid-September. However, dredging began on Friday evening, as soon as the details of the advisory agreement were finalised, according to Karin Dubsky of Coastwatch Ireland.