by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
ONE of the last remaining native oyster fisheries in
Europe, the Foyle estuary is under increasing threat
both from years of over-fishing and the arrival of
the deadly bonamia parasite, according to the Loughs
Agency.
At an Inishowen Area council meeting in Carn,
delegates from the agency in charge of the Foyle
said that oyster fishing here must be carefully
managed to ensure its survival.
“Stocks have exhibited signs of being over-fished
and we must reduce the amount of oysters removed
from the Foyle to safeguard the practice for future
generations,” said Ciaran McGonigle, of the Loughs
Agency.
“There are also a number of beds near Culmore where
a significant number of oysters have been infected
with bonamia. We have banned fishing in this area to
see if reduced stress will allow the stock to
recover.”
While the Lough’s Agency could not be sure how the
disease spread to the Foyle, it suspects that
illegal movement of mussels from the west of Ireland
to the Lough is the most likely cause.
Local councillor Martin Farren said it was
imperative that the shellfish industry in the Foyle
be protected.
“We depend on the shellfish industry to rear
families in our area and it must be looked after.
The men who fish for oysters and mussels must be
looked after and listened to. I think the oyster and
mussel men need to work out a plan to do what’s best
for the area in the future,” he added.
The Loughs Agency said it remained open to meeting
with local fishermen to formulate a strategy for the
future.
**In a separate development on Saturday, the Lough
Foyle Oyster Sub-Committee offered prior notice to
the Loughs Agency that a number of oyster fishing
vessels would be exercising their traditional oyster
fishing rights on Saturday, January 22, 2011 between
the hours of 9.30 am and 11.30 am. "This is a
legitimate protest against the Loughs Agency and the
regime that they act within, that which we are
totally opposed to as loyal custodians of the public
native oyster fisheries in Lough Foyle," said a
spokesperson. |
