The Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation (ISEFPO) claims it will lodge an objection to the proposed dumping of almost 10 million tonnes of dredged material off Howth head by the Dublin Port Company reports Pauric Gallagher.
The ISEFPO claims no consideration were given to what adverse effects the waste dumping will have on its fishermen or on what they would catch.
They have also said that dumping this amount of dredged material could have a major impact on the environment, and are concerned the move hasn’t been publicised properly, just a single newspaper advertisement required by law to notify the public, at the start of the August bank holiday weekend.
An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the €230 million redevelopment plan in July.
Once the Dublin Port Company received planning permission for its major development works, it filed a Dumping at Sea permit application with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The massive revamp plan for the port which will take five years to complete includes dredging almost 10 million tonnes of seabed material to increase the port’s depth from seven to 10 metres, allowing it to accommodate super cruise liners and increase the flow of cargo through the port.
The dredged material is to be dumped at a site off Howth Head.
Fishermen who operate around the Howth head area are infuriated by the proposed dumping of such a massive amount of dredged material and that there was no assessment done on the effect it is going to have on inshore fishermen.
They are also fears that there may be long term environmental damage caused by the volume of dredged material dumped in that area.
Hugo Boyle, CEO of the ISEFPO told Fishing News: “The esteem in which fishermen and their organisations are held in by the public bodies involved is reflected once again, where no approach or consultation has been made with the fishing industry, the ones who are most affected by the dumping of this material.
“This amount of dredged material being dumped at sea will have a major environmental impact on inshore fisheries at and in the surrounding areas of the dump site.”
The Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation (ISEFPO) claims it will lodge an objection to the proposed dumping of almost 10 million tonnes of dredged material off Howth head by the Dublin Port Company reports Pauric Gallagher. The ISEFPO claims no consideration were given to what adverse effects the waste dumping will have on its fishermen or on what they would catch. They have also said that dumping this amount of dredged material could have a major impact on the environment, and are concerned the move hasn’t been publicised properly, just a single newspaper advertisement required by law to notify the public, at the start of the August bank holiday weekend. An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the €230 million redevelopment plan in July. Once the Dublin Port Company received planning permission for its major development works, it filed a Dumping at Sea permit application with the Environmental Protection Agency. The massive revamp plan for the port which will take five years to complete includes dredging almost 10 million tonnes of seabed material to increase the port’s depth from seven to 10 metres, allowing it to accommodate super cruise liners and increase the flow of cargo through the port. The dredged material is to be dumped at a site off Howth Head. Fishermen who operate around the Howth head area are infuriated by the proposed dumping of such a massive amount of dredged material and that there was no assessment done on the effect it is going to have on inshore fishermen. They are also fears that there may be long term environmental damage caused by the volume of dredged material dumped in that area. Hugo Boyle, CEO of the ISEFPO told Fishing News: “The esteem in which fishermen and their organisations are held in by the public bodies involved is reflected once again, where no approach or consultation has been made with the fishing industry, the ones who are most affected by the dumping of this material. “This amount of dredged material being dumped at sea will have a major environmental impact on inshore fisheries at and in the surrounding areas of the dump site.”
