SHERKIN COMMENT

Issue No. 43 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2007

Gibraltar’s Haven for Nature Steering a New Course Wild Melbourne “Trout in the Classroom” The rich flora and fauna of this limestone Matt Murphy summarises the findings of the Anthony Toole on the work being carried out to Des Chew informs us about the wonderful mountain are outlined by John Akeroyd. 6 Seafood Strategy Group. 13 protect wildlife near the city of Melbourne. 23 Dublin Angling Initiative. 28 DRY STONE WALLS Ireland’s Heritage

Pennywort on a dry stone wall. Photograph by Terry Farnell 2 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 Contents Editorial EDITORIAL: “A New Beginning for the Seafood Industry?” ..2 Matt Murphy’s reaction to the Seafood Strategy Group’s recent report. A New Beginning for the Seafood Industry? Seabirds Down Under – Part III...... 3 The final installment in Oscar Merne’s short series on the seabirds of New Zealand. the Strategy Group is that a committee a salmon industry that has never taken off. Air Pollution – Threat to our Built Heritage ...... 4 By Matt Murphy under the Chairmanship of the Depart- We should be farming 50-60,000 tonnes Paul McMahon discusses ways of protecting our ment of Communications, Marine and instead of 12-14,000 tonnes. Why? We built heritage from environmental pollution. IN the summer of 2006 the Minister of Natural Resources be established to co- have also invested much research funding “Them canoes is dangerous”...... 5 Communications, Marine & Natural ordinate state support for the industry. into turbot, sea urchins and abalone and Resources, Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, and Daphne Pochin Mould gives her views on skin Minister Dempsey has gone further; he our success could be written on a postage the Minister of State, Mr. John Brown TD, covered boats. has asked Dr. Cawley to accept the Gov- stamp. The only bright lights are mussels announced an independent Strategy ernment’s request to Chair a high level Gibraltar’s Haven for Nature...... 6 and oysters. And the former is already Group to make proposals for the develop- group to oversee the implementation of all under huge pressure from Chile where The rich flora and fauna of this limestone ment of a comprehensive integrated-led the recommendations set out in the report. production of mussels is over 180,000 mountain are outlined by John Akeroyd. vision for the future of the Irish Seafood This decision is of immense importance. tonnes and will be up to 320,000 tonnes industry. The Forest School...... 8 It will mean the report will not gather dust plus by 2010. They are now selling into Dr. Noel Cawley, former Chief Execu- Sharon Jones tells us about a wonderful learning on some shelf. Dr. Cawley accepted on the EU markets, along with the Irish aqua- tive of the Irish Dairy Board was tool for young children. condition that he got a separate secre- culture industry. appointed Chairman of the Review Group tariat, a request that the Minister agreed The Strategy Group made suggestions In House Enforcement of Environmental and the other members were Mr. Joey to. All stakeholders including state institu- on the need for research into fish stocks Regulations – An Industrial Viewpoint...... 9 Murrin, for many years a major tions and semi-state bodies must etc.. However they did not elaborate. Bryan Mohally, MD of Janssen Pharmaceutical spokesman for the fishing industry and understand one thing. Dr. Cawley has an Surely the time has come to have a simi- Ltd, on his company’s attitude to the environment. Mr. Ruan O Bric, former Chief Executive, immense record for delivering when at the lar report on marine research in Ireland. Udaras na Gaeltachta. This proved to be Carangidae in Irish & Northern European Waters..10 Irish Dairy Board. He will, I believe, do The same team who masterminded the the ideal mix as each had different expert- Declan Quigley tells us more about these frequent the same for the seafood industry and will Strategy Group Report should carry this ise to offer. visits to Irish waters. not be fobbed off by anyone. out, because they now understand the The Strategy Group held four regional Bryozoans – Notable inhabitants of Irish coastal It is to be hoped that the Producers needs of the industry. At present over 20 meetings in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and waters ...... 11 Organisations representing fishermen will Irish institutions receive more than €60 Water to meet stakeholders. Apart from the continue to consolidate. They have million annually for research in the These common, but not widely known animals, public consultation meetings the Strategy already formed a Federation of Fishermen marine environment. It is interesting to are highlighted by Patrick Wyse Jackson. Group met on 21 occasions over the period with a rotating chairman for six months note that only two of these made submis- Steering a New Course ...... 12 of the review, which ran from July to from each of the four producers group sions to the Strategy Group. Matt Murphy summaries the findings of the November 2006. A number of those meet- CEOs. Frankly this is not enough. They On page 12 and 13 we have set out ings were with the CEOs of the four major Seafood Strategy Group. must amalgamate the four Producers some of the main recommendations of the fishing organisations in the Republic. The 2005 – An Bord Pleanála’s busiest year ever ...... 14 Organisations, coming together with one Strategy Group. I want to stress that the outcome of the review was the publishing A summary of their work and performance in 2005. voice for the future of the fishing industry. Irish Seafood Industry should be incredi- of the report “Steering a New Course”. It is important to encompass all those fish- bly thankful to Dr. Cawley, Mr. Murrin Dry Stone Walls: Ireland’s Heritage ...... 15/16/17 The most extraordinary aspect of the ing offshore and especially inshore. Let us and Mr. O Bric for this in-depth Strategy Terry Farnell takes a detailed look at one of the report is the publication of summaries of not forget that the inshore fleet comprises Report. The government has accepted it in most endearing features of our landscape. the submissions and issues raised at the of 1,360 vessels of less than 12 metres, full and has committed over €334 million A Spotlight on World Environmental Matters ...... 18 regional meetings. They show the depth giving employment to over 2,300 people. over the 2007-13 period for its develop- of interest and at times frustration that Interesting news on the world’s environment from Sadly few are members of any of the Pro- ment, which has to be a major boost to the stakeholders feel. There is no doubt that Alex Kirby. ducers Organisations. They must realise industry. This is a golden opportunity for people wanted the Strategy Group to Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland ...... 19 that they cannot expect to achieve change them and they will not get another one. understand the problems that the seafood The EPA’s report on the years 2004-2005. without leadership and unity. The industry cannot have all their industry is encountering. The Strategy Group highlights that the demands met. They must compromise on The Fox ...... 20 The Strategy Group’s report is the landings by Irish trawlers of fish in for- some issues or else they will end up with Another informative leaflet from ENFO. most important analysis of the seafood eign ports in 2000 were 75,679 tons nothing. The major issue hindering Jewels in the Mud...... 21 industry ever undertaken because the against 114,168 tonnes in 2005. This progress, which must be solved, is the dis- Catherine Dalton highlights the wealth of Group consulted widely and above all needs addressing to see if much of this trust between the fishing industry and the has listened. If its recommendations are information in lake muds. tonnage can be landed in Ireland, resulting Department of the Marine. If this is not not brought to fruition then the industry Wild Melbourne ...... 22 in extra employment on shore. sorted out then the Strategy Report can be will die in a very short time. Already we Anthony Toole on important work being carried The pelagic fleet of vessels gets a men- put in the waste paper bin for recycling. have seen the number of people in pro- tion but the Strategy Group did not make out to protect wildlife near the city of Maybe the kernel of this problem is that cessing reduced by over 600 people any recommendations except to state that it Melbourne. the Department of the Marine is under- between 2000 and 2005. needs restructuring, with the introduction of funded and thus understaffed. Publications of Interest ...... 24 Twelve years ago there were up to 70 a quota management system etc.. However Dr. Cawley stated at one of the Regional Captain Cockle ...... 26 vessels landing into the port of Castle- it is believed the real reason it was not meetings that in his years with the Irish More exciting marine facts from John Joyce. townbere. With the whitefish renewal addressed is that the compensation required Dairy Board the farming community and programme and decommissioning this to decommission a number of these vessels Summer Migrants...... 27 the Department of Agriculture had their number is now close to 20. This reduc- would be too costly to the State. Declan Murphy tells us more about two migrants differences but had a united front in tion has a knock on effect in the town The Strategy Group sees the huge – the swallow and the house martin. Europe when the chips were down. Let us and its surrounding areas. Castletown- potential for aquaculture and this is con- hope his comments have not been brushed “Trout in the Classroom” ...... 28 bere is but one port effected by firmed by Government who will invest under the carpet and are taken on board by Des Chew informs us about the wonderful trout overfishing and lack of conservation over €100 million into the development of all sides involved in the Seafood Industry. project carried out in two schools. regulations at the fishing grounds. the industry. There is much wrong in the On rare occasions in life we hear when Puzzle Page ...... 29 Much has been made of Irish fisher- industry - the burden of regulations and in some individual dies “His or her likes will Gaisce – The President’s Awards in Third Level men fishing above their quota - which particular the licence regime. However the not come again”. We will not have a must be condemned; but what about the report give very positive reasons as to why Education...... 30 report produced by a Strategy Group with Dutch, French, Spanish and other vessels this industry, which is worth €100 million How taking part in the awards gave Eunan such clarity and depth again because if its fishing in our waters? They also overfish, annually should be developed more and it McEntee new opportunities and experiences. recommendations are not carried out there but who is checking on them? Until they makes recommendations for change. Why support the RNLI – the facts ...... 31 will be no industry left to report on. too are reined in, all the conservation reg- What we in Ireland have failed to Important reasons to support the RNLI. ulations in the world will not see our realise is that 50% of fish production Buddy, can you spare a glass of water? ...... 32 fishing water protected and our fish worldwide is now from aquaculture. We Matt Murphy, Director, Sherkin Island Michael Ludwig on the problems the world faces stocks recover. have failed to utilise the excellent quality Marine Station, Sherkin Island, regarding fresh drinking water. The most important recommendation of of the waters around our coasts. We have Co. Cork, Ireland. +++++Subscription details on page 4+++++Subscription details on page 4+++++Subscription details on page 4++++ SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______3 In New Zealand there are about a dozen By Oscar Merne breeding colonies, mainly on islands off North Island. Most of these are difficult to get to, but IN Parts I and II of this short series on the happily for us there are also two large mainland seabirds of New Zealand I wrote about the pen- colonies. With limited time, we decided to visit guins and pelagic seabirds (albatrosses, petrels, the mainland colony at Muriwai Beach, which shearwaters, etc.) of the southern ocean, for is on the western coast of North Island, less than which New Zealand and its associated islands an hour’s drive from central Auckland. There’s are a world headquarters. In this third and final a car park and picnic area at the south end of the article on New Zealand’s seabirds I cover the beach and from there it’s a short walk along a remaining groups of seabirds – the Australasian cliff path to a rocky headland and stacks where Gannet, the cormorants and shags (all called the Gannets are located. The colony is situated shags down there), and the gulls and terns. on a couple of mainland promontories and The Australasian Gannet is very similar to stacks and islands a little distance offshore. The our Northern Gannet in appearance, and indeed mainland sections are reached by paths to view- it is also very similar to the Cape Gannet of ing platforms, and in one place the Gannets sit Southern Africa. The adults of the Northern quietly on their nests within a couple of metres Gannet have white wings with a black tip and of a viewing platform, seemingly quite unper- an all-white tail; the Cape Gannet has a black turbed by the comings and goings of the human trailing edge to its wings and a black tail, while visitors. Here you can spend as little or as much the Australasian species differs from the Cape time as you like observing the breeding activi- Gannet by having white edges to its black tail. ties of the dense colony, taking photographs, The Australasian Gannet breeds in New and gazing at the vastness of the Tasman Sea Zealand and on islands off Tasmania and roams and the wonderful wilderness of the coastal the adjacent seas. Left: A view of part of the Australasian Gannet colony at Muriwai, North Island. Below: A group of Black-billed Gulls inland on Seabirds Down Under South Island. Seabirds Down Under Zealand endemic, and is found mainly inland, while the similar Red-billed Gull is mainly a coastal species. All three species are common, and the two smaller ones are often quite tame. Part III Five species of terns breed in New Zealand. The Caspian Tern is found on the coasts of the main islands, and is also widely distributed in beaches and headlands. When we were there, in North and Central America, Africa, Eurasia and late November, it was the middle of the breed- Australia. The Antarctic Tern breeds on islands ing season and we could see all stages of the south of South Island, and also on remote nesting cycle – courtship, nest building, incuba- islands in the South Atlantic and southern tion of eggs, feeding of chicks, and chicks at Indian Oceans. In New Zealand the little white various stages of development from little naked Fairy Tern is restricted to the northern penin- and blind black things to large balls of snow- sula and islands of North Island, and is also white down. found on the coasts of Western and South Aus- Here in Ireland we have Great Cormorants tralia, Victoria, Tasmania and New Caledonia. and Shags, but in New Zealand there are seven White-fronted Terns are the most numerous species on the three main islands – Great Cor- terns on the New Zealand coast and are morants (the same species as ours), Little Black endemic to the region. In winter they wander as Cormorants, Pied Cormorants, Little Pied Cor- far as south-east Australia. The Black-fronted morants, New Zealand King Cormorants, Tern is a New Zealand endemic and is confined Stewart Island Cormorants, and Spotted Shags. to the South Island, where it is closely associ- On islands away from the three main islands of ated with the enormous gravel outwash plains New Zealand there are an additional four and braided rivers east of the Southern Alps. endemic cormorants – Chatham Island, Camp- We saw all these terns on our visit to New bell Island, Auckland Island, and Bounty Island Zealand, although we ran out of time and were Cormorants. We didn’t manage to get to any of not able to explore the northern peninsula of these far-flung islands, so failed to see any of North Island. the birds endemic to them. However, on North So, if you enjoy watching seabirds, New and South Islands we did encounter all seven Zealand is the place to go, for its huge diversity species found there, three of which (New of seabird species, its many endemics, spectac- Zealand King Cormorant, Stewart Island Cor- ular colonies, and the wonderful experience of morant, and Spotted Shag) are endemic to New seeing albatrosses at one or two metres range Zealand. Great Cormorants and Little Black off Kaikoura. Above: A Red-billed Gull on its nest. Cormorants could be found nesting in trees on Below: A group of Black-billed Gulls inland on South Island. lake islands, while the others were mainly on Oscar Merne retired from Ireland’s National coastal cliffs and headlands. The New Zealand Parks & Wildlife Service in January 2004 King Cormorant is confined to the Queen Charlotte Sound at the north end of South Island, a 20 km fjord from which the interis- land ferry sails to Wellington. We went out on a dolphin-watching boat from Picton, but unfortunately could not get to the island at the mouth of the sound where the King Cor- morants nest, due to rough seas. However, within the sound we had a brief view of one King Cormorant flying in and fishing. Somewhat surprisingly, for an area with such a huge diversity of seabirds, New Zealand has only three gull species – Kelp (or Black- backed) Gull, Red-billed (or Silver) Gull, and Black-billed Gull. The Kelp Gull is rather sim- ilar to our Great Black-backed Gull and is found in the temperate and sub-Antarctic zones of the southern hemisphere; the Red-billed Gull is very common all around Australia and A Pied Cormorant drying its wings. New Zealand. The Black-billed Gull is a New Photos: © Oscar Merne 4 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 Different symptoms and rates of decay are produced by both (e.g. white eroded surfaces are formed on limestone by wet deposition and black crusts by dry deposition, involving mainly sheltered surfaces and local pollutant sources). High concentrations of air pollution undoubtedly cause an increase in the decay Air Pollution rates of vulnerable historic building materials. Everybody agrees that the high oxide concen- trations existing today must be reduced anyway Threat to our Built Heritage because of the risk to human health and vege- tation. When, however, an improved situation is reached in which, say, 80% of the Sulphur Dioxide has been removed (as in Dublin after the Clean Air Act) it is more difficult, and I By Paul McMahon would suggest perhaps not practical, to prove the case for further reduction. ATMOSPHERIC pollution is now recog- Furthermore, one cannot say that if, for nised as a global problem, and since the 1980s example, the sulphur dioxide concentration UNESCO has voiced its concern about the goes down to zero, the maintenance cost of our accelerating deterioration of the world’s archi- built heritage will also drop dramatically. As tectural heritage due to the impact of acid rain. mentioned earlier, other deterioration processes For many countries, including Ireland, exist, and, because of the “memory” factor, whose tourist industries are based around their materials which have a past history of decay historical monuments this heritage represents a tend to undergo faster decay in the future. Actu- major economic resource ally it is in the protection of our new building It is also now estimated that more than half stock that we could expect the largest of the financial capital of each European coun- economies. try is presently tied up in its building stock. There is Government commitment to sustain- Photo courtesy of PDphoto.org able development by encouraging the use, Much of the world’s architectural heritage is under threat from atmospheric pollution. Improvement of maintenance re-use, and maintenance of the existing build- practises ing stock so that those buildings which have nitric) while others are weak (e.g. carbonic). It pollutant concentration. Reduction of air pollution is not the only been in use for many decades, or even cen- is easy to prove that the presence of corrosive As an example of the complexity involved in type of environmental control which may turies, will continue in use for years to come. acids causes an increase in the rate of chemical evaluation of decay rates we can note that a sin- improve the conservation of historic building The provisions in the Planning and Develop- attack on a range of building materials. Many gle stone might have different surface features materials. Provisions aimed at reducing the ment Act 2000 for the protection of the traditional building materials including iron depending on its history . impact of temperature variations, frost, mois- architectural heritage reinforces this commitment. and stone, such as limestone and sandstone, A wide range of climatic and technological ture and other agents of decay are also of great Conserving buildings depends on having a with a high calcium content, such as are sus- factors (e.g. climate, carving, mechanical importance. These measures, however, cannot detailed knowledge of the environmental ceptible. Modern building materials like cleaning, structural loading) can cause surface be applied on the global scale of a region or a threats that exist, the ways different materials concrete and steel can also be affected. failure and exposure to acid attack. town, as in the case with air pollution, but only react to them, and the various techniques that Unfortunately chemical attack is only one of These surface features constitute the “mem- to a single building complex or the vulnerable exist to counteract damage. Accurate data on various processes involved in the deterioration ory” that the material retains of its previous parts of that complex. the buildings history, the materials and tech- of porous and brittle materials which constitute experience and which has a great influence on They can therefore be classified as architec- niques used and what, if any, repair work has the large majority of the exposed surfaces in its future behaviour. tural provisions, as they coincide with the been carried out, is essential. our historic building stock. Processes that are In other words it may be said that the rate of correct conservation practise derived from mostly physical or mechanical in character decay is higher for materials which have a his- experience in the performance of historic (thermal expansion, water absorption, frost) are tory of natural deterioration or surface damage building construction. The establishment of a Rate of Decay always active, independent of air pollution. It is caused by people. preventive maintenance regime for a heritage Many of today`s air pollutants form acids therefore not possible to establish general property will identify the potential threats to when in contact with atmospheric water; some mathematical damage functions for these mate- the building. Where aggressive airborne acids of these acids are strong (e.g. sulphuric and rials, correlating rate of damage directly to Conservation Policy A conservation policy for historic building are deposited on the structure`s surface appro- materials in a polluted environment may be priate cleaning methods and protective established following two different measures can be put in place. Protective meas- SUBSCRIPTION FORM approaches: ures can range from the simple, but often (a) Reduction of the climatic aggression neglected, clearing of gutters, the use of mod- SHERKIN COMMENT is a quarterly publication of Sherkin Island Marine Station including air pollution ern technological interventions or the removal aiming to promote the awareness of our natural resources, their use and protection. (b) Improvement of maintenance practises or sheltering of vulnerable material for its long term survival. SUBSCRIPTION: to receive a year’s subscription to “Sherkin Comment”, please send a cheque or money order for €6.68 for Ireland and £6.00stg for the U.K. Reduction of the pollution level € € Conclusion (sterling cheques accepted from UK); send 9.50 for Europe and 10.67 for the rest The evidence collected to date indicates that, of the world (surface postage) – payable to Sherkin Comment, Sherkin Island Marine among the various pollutants, there is definitive Conserving our built heritage depends on Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Ireland. Tel: 028–20187 Fax: 028–20407 proof of the influence on the deterioration having a detailed knowledge of the environ- Email: [email protected] process for sulphur oxides and the sulphuric mental threats that exist, the ways different acids they form. Attacks by this acid result in materials react to them, and the various tech- Please send a 1 year subscription – beginning with Issue No...... the formation of a black gypsum crust which niques that exist to counteract damage. Whilst salinity, humidity, industrial pollution and traf- Please send a 2 year subscription – beginning with Issue No...... are frequently found on the decayed surface of many of our heritage buildings. Due to the fic exhausts will all play their part we must not jump to conclusions. I enclose cheque/postal order to the sum of €...... obvious and ugly visual effect of this “stone cancer” the less obvious effects of nitrogen City buildings continue to deteriorate despite a Name ...... emissions and naturally occurring carbon has decrease in sulphur deposits over the last two often been neglected in the discussion on con- decades. The cause now appears to be a synergis- Address ...... servation policies. tic one between several different pollutants. To be effective we need to establish interdisciplinary ...... In the case of nitrogen oxides recent research indicates that decay originates from biological expert research which should aim to produce reli- ...... processes (penetration of waste water or produc- able information on the real exposure conditions tion of decay agents by bacteria). The impact of that Ireland`s historic buildings face. Signature ...... Date ...... carbonic acid, while considered slower, can still STAFF: Editor, Matt Murphy; Editorial Assistant, Susan Murphy Wickens; be found on deteriorated surfaces. Paul McMahon, Heritage Services, Office of Typesetting, Susan Murphy Wickens; Publisher, Matt Murphy. ISSN 0791–2447 © 2007 A further complication is produced by the Public Works, Dublin, Ireland. This paper fact that the pollutant may be brought onto the Sherkin Island Marine Station website: www.sherkinmarine.ie was presented at the Sherkin Island Marine surface by wet deposition (acid rain)or dry dep- Station Annual Environmental Conference on osition (aerosols and dew). “Air Pollution” . SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______5 “Them canoes is dangerous” © Photo d'Alvaro 2006

“My dream is of an island place which distant seas keep lonely. A little island on whose face the stars are watchers only.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

A currach on Inishbofin, Galway, Ireland. Currach. By Daphne Pochin Mould do anything”. So the little ship of very shocked in 2000, in an exhibi- like Surtsey in the first explosive resources to make them. It was cattle SPRING 1951, walking across wood and tarred flour bags was tion of Icelandic history to see the phase. Surtsey today is stabilised country, yes but leather was needed Galway dock to board the venerable heaved into the sea and wafted us false statement that Irish monks with its own lighthouse. for hangings, clothes, shoes and “Dun Aengus”, I passed the across to Innishmann, Dun Conor came to Iceland in skin boats. In fact Further, in the legend, Brendan horse harness and there was no Cladagh’s still working fleet of Gal- towered above the thatched cottage they came in good sturdy ships of fails to find the Land of Promise and chemist shop to supply drugs against way Hookers. These black hulled, where Synge stayed. Years later, I Irish or Scottish wood. calls on his foster mother, St. Ita. insect damage. Tim Severin got the red sailed and engineless boats car- met an elderly man who remembered The best selling story of Brendan’s Being a practical woman, she tells finest skin for his vessel, ancient Ire- ried Connemara turf for Aran Island Synge and looked forward to the voyage is a tale written centuries him the Land of Promise cannot be land would not have it. Consider too fires, and general goods all around completion of the island’s airstrip after this supposed event, and is part reached in a ship in whose building the trouble making a skin boat the coast. On Inishmore a “car” and going flying. of the very ancient, pre Christian blood has been spilt. Back to wood involves - you had to hunt your ani- meant one horsepower, or one don- Synge, Robin Flower, the voyage romance form. Homer and and iron, and you can go anywhere. mal, kill it, skin it and cure the skin. key - no internal combustion engine islanders themselves, have made the Vergil both used the form, linking The skin boat has been around for Wood is so much easier. had yet arrived. A rag and stick ves- canoe, the currach into a wonder known places and events with an a very long time. The Eskimo kayak, The Gaelic word, corach, means sel; a canoe would take me across the ship. Today enthusiasts build them a adventure story. Icebergs, undersea of skins, sewn by the wife for her just small boat. Sir Walter Scott who turbulent sea between Inishmore and new and race them. Tim Severin built eruptions, whales, were all known at man, is perhaps the most seaworthy. has a very good ear for dialect, had the Inishmann and it was rough. We a skin boat, and took her across the the time the Voyage romance was You can do 360-degree rolls without Highlander tell the hero to wait for watched the sea, and the woman of Atlantic, the only such vessel ever to written. When Surtsey erupted off taking water. For carrying cargo, the “Ta curragh” and when it arrived it the house then said “them canoes is do so. Great credit to him and all his Iceland in November 1963, Icelandic Inuit build an almost rectangular ves- was a big row boat with a sturdy crew dangerous”. The men said “lets go, if reconstructions of ancient vessels, geologists found the description of sel of skins but it has to be dried out of rowers. Adamnan’s life of Colm- we listened to the women we’d never but the skinboat is inshore and I was the island of demon smiths exactly every two days. And the Inuit have cille of Iona has a number of names nothing but sealskin to cover the for different types of small vessels, framework of their vessels. They do and using a Latinisation of what may not, could not, go trans-ocean. be from Gaelic corach, tells they were How did boat building start? A towing logs to Iona for work on the floating log, just as a fallen tree may monastery and ship building. It was MATERIAL SHREDDING MATERIAL SORTING have given the idea of a bridge. Tie hard rowing, the wind was against • Picking Line • Shredder 225kW • Primary granulation (25 mm) • Vibrating sieve several together and you have a raft. them and they asked the saint for help. • Metals separator • 1st stage over-band magnet • 2nd stage over-band magnet • Dust extraction Go further and hollow out your log, The wind veered and they raised sail MATERIAL REFINEMENT and you have the sturdy dugout and sped on. No skin boat, keeless SECURE DESTRUCTION • Secondary granulation (sub 4 mm) canoe. Many turn up in our bogs and and light, could do such work. These • Electrostatic separator • Data overwriting • Data erasure would be ideal for marsh and river were heavy enough tugs with masts • Degaussing travel. Today they are still wide- and sails. spread but with motors to push them So don’t believe stories of saints in along. A skin boat is very easy to tear skin boats scudding around the if dragged over rough ground. When islands. Or hermits, on such places as some years ago, a dugout came out the Skellig for modern research puts of Cummeenatrush Lake, near Mill- all the hermits on the mainland in street, Co. Cork, it was decided to quiet places in wood and marsh, conserve it in a trough of water some often today marked by the place- MANUAL DISASSEMBLY Illustration of the Cedar WEEE recycling operation way off. The farm tractor was name desert. And what of the rag and • De-pollution hitched to it and it bumped happily stick boats of the west? The Blasket • Disassembly Line • CRT processing facility along over the rough moor without islanders had wooden boats, which coming to harm. Remains of were seized for rent, and they were wooden, sea going Bronze Age ships forced to currachs, which Dingle had have turned up in mudflats in Britain, just started using for lobstering. The even one loaded with bronze vessels western islands were very poor and for probable export. Ireland then was making do was their way of life. Rag a ship builders dream with its great and stick needed very little timber, forests of oaks, and the Irish went old flour bags and tar and you could trading over to Wales bringing back go out to catch essential food. Yes, big cargoes of slaves, among whom they were very good in wild seas in was St. Patrick. They may even have good hands but not so good that the gone as far as continental Europe. riders to the sea might not return. There was no way skin boats could “Them canoes is dangerous.” do it; further the country had not the 6 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 GIBRALTAR’S Haven for Nature

to commanding positions and By John the limestone is riddled with defensive tunnels and gal- Akeroyd leries. For two centuries the harbour was a mighty naval THE Mediterranean Sea base, invaluable during has endured a long, exciting World War II. history. Evidence of more tur- The modern town, which in bulent times is numerous recent years has seen a frenzy castles and fortified towns on of building, covers much of rocks, cliffs and islands along the western and northern sides the coasts. One of the most of the Rock, but large areas of striking of these ancient semi-natural vegetation and a strongholds is the Rock of remarkable range of habitats Gibraltar, a 1398-foot, iso- survive on the upper ridge, lated limestone mountain rocks and slopes, on the east- guarding the entrance to the ern sand-slope (a great Photo: © Leslie Linares Mediterranean from the prehistoric dune), and on cliffs Acolina Photo: © Paul Gibraltar candytuft, Iberis gibraltarica Atlantic. Seized from Spain in here and there elsewhere. Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni 1704 by an Anglo-Dutch force Planning is chaotic, property and ceded to Britain by the prices have gone through the thought extinct; also a striking autumn huge flocks of 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, town roof, and poorly executed and Rock remain a British sub-shrubby variant of Yellow migrants pass the Rock as building projects encroach on Sticky Restharrow (Ononis they navigate the Straits of enclave. Gibraltar is in fact an surviving wild areas and their outgoing cosmopolitan place, natrix var. ramosissima), a Gibraltar. rich biodiversity. Yet, some- dominant plant of the sand- In July 2006, the EU recog- a Mediterranean seaport home how, plants – some 600-plus to a multi-racial mix of slope, and a compact mossy nised the Upper Rock and native species – and animals saxifrage of high sheltered sand-slope as an area of Spe- British, Spanish, Moroccans, persist and even thrive. The Genoese and others, not least gullies, Saxifraga globulifera cial Community Interest, Upper Rock, a nature reserve, var. gibraltarica. All are now along with coastal waters rich Irish (one street is still called has fine stands of tall scrub Irishtown). The Moors were in cultivation at Gibraltar’s in dolphins and other marine and low woodland, dominated Alameda Botanic Gardens and life off the southern part of the here longer than the by characteristic Mediter- Spaniards, and indeed gave have been reintroduced to the Rock. The same year auspi- ranean trees and shrubs such wild to restore or reinforce ciously marked the 190th Gibraltar its name – Jebel al as wild olive, buckthorn, Tariq, after the Tariq who cap- diminished native popula- anniversary of the Alameda, lentisc, Osyris, dwarf fan- tions. New plants keep turning under the inspired directorship tured the Rock in 711. A palm and brooms. Vigorous Moorish castle survives amid up on the Rock, from incon- of Dr John Cortes both nerve climbers such as Smilax spicuous weeds like Fiddle centre of a comprehensive extensive 18th century British aspera, wild madder, Mediter- fortifications and barracks, Dock (Rumex pulcher) to integrated conservation strat- ranean honeysuckle, and two showy bulbs such as autumn- egy for the Rock’s flora and which bear witness to deter- elegant winter-flowerers, mined French and Spanish flowering Muscari parviflora. headquarters for the Gibraltar Clematis cirrhosa and an Resident birds too are return- Ornithological and Natural sieges, notably the Great Andalucian endemic Dutch- Siege of 1779–82. High on the ing, with ravens and eagle History Society (GONHS), Photo: © Julien Martinez man’s pipe (Aristolochia Rock, gun batteries look out owls breeding again in recent which has published a Biodi- Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus baetica), render dense vegeta- years. And each spring and versity Action Plan (2006) for to sea, huge iron rings bear tion quite impenetrable. witness to cannon hauled up Conversely, other habitats have all but disappeared, such as the sandy isthmus that links the Rock to Spain, destroyed by the construction of the air- port; and residential and holiday developments creep down the east coast. Several of the Rock’s most characteristic animal and plant inhabitants are more typical of North Africa, less than 15 km to the south: the famous ‘apes’ or Barbary Macaques, Bar- bary Partridge (similar to Red-legged Partridge), and two hummocky perennial plants, Gibraltar Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium gibraltaricum) and the fleshy- leaved white or pink-flowered Gibraltar Candytuft (Iberis gibraltarica) occur nowhere else in Europe. A few choice plants occur nowhere else, Photo: © Leslie Linares especially the handsome pink- Photo: © Leslie Linares Apple of Sodom, Solanum sodomeum flowered Gibraltar Catchfly East Side from Med Steps showing regenerated habitat (Silene tomentosa), once SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______7 Gibraltar. A major initiative co-ordinated by Dr Eric Shaw (whose main research is the macaques) has restored the sand-slope, covered for decades by a corrugated iron water catchment, adding 80 ha of habitat to the Rock – and the best displays of wildflow- ers in almost a century. Sown with local seed in the spring of 1997, within a year the slope held some 60 species and now more than 80 are present, including healthy populations of grasses. A 2005 fire caused little damage, although serv- ing to eliminate invading alien Acacia, and insects, reptiles and birds, not least Barbary Partridge, are returning to the restored habitat. Gibraltar is thus not only a classic example of a Mediter- ranean coastal town with rich Photos: © Leslie Linares habitats on its doorstep, but Clockwise from top: also demonstrates what can be done to conserve species and Dr John Akeroyd on Douglas habitats in close proximity to Path, Gibraltar; human habitation. For more Gibraltar chickweed, information, visit the GONHS Cerastium gibraltaricum; website (www.gonhs.org). Gibraltar campion, Silene tomentosa Dr John Akeroyd has been Asteriscus maritimus on working on botanical surveys Windmill Hill Flats; at Sherkin Marine Station Dutchman's pipe, since 1990. Leslie Linares, Aristolochia baetica. who took the photographs, is a retired science teacher and co-author of The Flowers of Gibraltar (1996). 8 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43

UK, notably in Somerset, Oxfordshire, Worcester- St. John the Baptist shire, Shropshire, Devon Primary School and Kirklees. Wales has One of the schools The Forest an umbrella group (For- The Forest involved is St John the est School Wales), Baptist Primary School supported by the Welsh in the village of Ruyton- Assembly. XI-Towns, Shropshire. SchoolSchool After a very successful Developments in term of Forest School at an exemplar woodland Shropshire we decided to develop A steering group was our own sessions, start- In the school grounds, Helen and Kelvan are taking a break from making a woven willow enclosure. This formed in 2002 with rep- ing with the school surrounds the story-telling chair sculpted by Chris out of a resentatives from the grounds. The project crown of oak. There's room on the chair for Helen and Local Authority (LA) here is well under way, Kelvan, or alternatively for five children. Early Years and Childcare and so far has included team, local woodland training in Forest School Photos: © Sharon Jones owners and environmen- leadership and enhanc- Work in progress in the woodland. The F on the tree stump marks where the fireplace will tal educators. Since then, ing the school grounds be, and the larger logs will be arranged to provide seating for the children. this group has become with a Forest Schools registered as a Forest Area. This now has a By Sharon Jones with children going to Forest Schools involve Education Initiative Clus- shelter, fire area, and log the woods in all weath- the children (age range 3 ter Group, this seating, also a magnifi- ers (except for high – 18) working with qual- cent carved storytelling FOREST SCHOOLS organisation having been winds). Children use full ified Forest School chair. The site has been started in Sweden in the instrumental in develop- sized tools, play, learn Leaders and their nursery further enhanced by a 1960’s for disadvantaged ing a Forest School boundaries of behaviour leaders/teachers. They woven willow tree. The children. They have network across England. follow their usual cur- project has received a demonstrated success (both physical and The Shropshire Early riculum, but in an great boost because a with children of all ages social), and grow in Years Development Children making leaves for a woven willow tree which is outdoor context, using nearby woodland has who visit the same local motivation. They are Childcare Partnership going near the story-telling chair. learning and teaching kindly been made avail- woodlands on a regular given the time to thor- (EYDCP) provided fund- strategies which raise able by a local farmer, basis and through play, oughly explore their ing for 16 places on the ‘shine’ in the classroom. children’s play) self-esteem, develop Mr John Gittins. This is learn about the natural thoughts, feelings and OCN Level 3 Forest Their peers accord them There have been many confidence, independ- currently being prepared environment, how to relationships. This devel- School Practitioners and their achievements studies about children’s ence and language and and has involved some handle risks and most ops understanding of the training course. Training greater respect. play. It is now accepted communication skills. thinning of trees to cre- importantly to use their world, the environment took place in 2003 and, A Forest School is par- that children learn During the last five ate a relatively open area own initiative to solve and everything within it as part of this, five tem- ticularly successful in through play and that years or so several inno- for children’s activities. problems and co-operate through use of their porary pilot Forest developing self-esteem play is essential to our vative projects have As in the school with others. Programmes emotions, imagination School sites were estab- and confidence, and overall development. become established in the grounds, there will be a run throughout the year, and senses. lished by the trainees in motivating children who, Play is natural and shelter, fire area, and log south Shropshire. The for a range of reasons, helps children to: EYDCP then offered seating. struggle in a classroom • Prepare for life funding to develop a per- All of this preparation environment. There are manent Forest School has involved teachers, additional physical, • Find out about their site near Shrewsbury to parents, school gover- social and health benefits environment nors and other volunteers be accessed by local for children and young • Develop confidence from the village, and nurseries and playgroups people who are leading and self esteem from summer 2004. It is local craftsmen and increasingly indoor lives, • Sort out choices the aim of the EYDCP to women. Most impor- helping them to enjoy identify additional sites tantly, it has involved the physical activity out- • Express themselves children themselves, in and groups to work with, doors and mitigate • Develop the all kinds of activities, to raise funds and to offer obesity. imagination training opportunities such as planning, clear- Children and young • Be creative more widely. ing brash from the people become more Forest School opportu- woodland floor, helping confident in their own • Be energetic and nities in Shropshire are to build a shelter, and natural and made envi- boisterous weaving willow leaves. also being developed, ronments, and acquire a • Use social skills, like and sessions run by the deeper understanding sharing and Forestry Commission at How Does It Work about environmental communication issues locally and glob- Wyre Forest and by • Have opportunities to Educationally? ally. Parents, particularly Shropshire Wildlife learn about other fathers, are more likely Trust, via the Blue A Forest School pro- cultures Remembered Hills Pro- vides ways for meeting to involve themselves in • Take risks ject. Shropshire County Foundation Stage/National projects of this sort, and Council now employs a Curriculum learning objec- become engaged in their • Resolve conflicts children’s education. part time Forest School tives whilst developing • Negotiate Co-ordinator and two practical life skills and Improved behaviour and • Experiment Forest School Leaders. encouraging child initiated motivation go back into There are four Forest learning, which is the usual learning envi- • Solve problems ronment with the School sessions running observed and assessed. • Reflect and each week at their exem- Many children benefit children, and have an impact on achievement. contemplate plar site near Condover, from and prefer a practical • Test out their south of Shrewsbury. element to their learning, knowledge and There are now over fifty and achieve greater levels The Vital understanding trained Forest School of success in this context Practitioners in Shrop- than in a traditional class- Importance of Play shire, most of which have room environment. All “Play is a generic Sharon Jones, Forest set up a Forest School children benefit from term for a variety of School Leader, St John site within or near their opportunities to demon- activities which are satis- the Baptist Primary setting. In addition to strate a wider range of fying to the child, School, Ruyton-XI- this, schools in the knowledge and expertise – creative for the child and Towns, Shropshire, UK. county have been access- especially important for freely chosen by the ing the exemplar site. those who don’t often child” (The charter for SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______9 Response teams and as ‘Train the trainers’. • An annual HSE Week is run in order to complete mandatory HSE training for all In House Enforcement of employees. Community Janssen were founder members of the Little Environmental Regulations Island Community & Industry Liaison Com- mittee (formerly known as the Little Island Environmental Liaison Committee.) This group focuses on issues within the local area An Industrial Viewpoint allowing for two way dialogue between the res- idents and the companies. Based on the Sherkin Island Marine Station’s Annual Environmental Conference in March this year was titled “Enforcement of Environmental significant success of having this partnership in Regulations”. In all, 12 papers were presented. One of these was “In House Enforcement of Environmental Regulations - An Industrial place the local residents proposed that the Viewpoint”, presented by Bryan Mohally, Managing Director of Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd, which is part of the Johnson & Johnson groups’ focus would be expanded to take Group of Companies. Here we summaries the main parts of his paper: broader community based issues into account, moving away from environmental issues alone. Johnson &Johnson accountabilities were realigned to provide a Checking Environmental Performance Topics currently being discussed include new framework focusing on “customer” Careers Exhibitions and Traffic Management. Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. manufactures requirements. By identifying the critical busi- As a requirement of its EPA IPPC licence the Janssen via the Environmental Manager cur- active pharmaceutical ingredients for world- ness processes this framework challenges the company must adhere to strict monitoring and rently hold the position of Secretary for this wide export from Little Island, Cork, where the organisation to do only those things that pro- measurement conditions relating to its opera- committee which meets on a quarterly basis. company employ 300 persons on a 25 year old vide “value” from the customer’s point of view tions. Results of all monitoring activities are Janssen also operate a process whereby the res- site. Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd is a member moving from piece-meal problem-solving to submitted to the EPA on an annual basis. The idents are consulted prior to all planning of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) family of com- system-wide improvement. This change has EPA also conduct monitoring on a frequent applications in order to provide a means for panies (www.jnj.com). J&J employ over 110, resulted in excess of 90 people being directly basis of both emissions to air and emissions to taking their views into account. 000 employees in over 200 operating compa- involved in Environmental Management activ- water. Audits of the facility are also routinely Janssen have worked with the local schools nies across the globe, selling products in over ities across the site as part of the overall site conducted by Agency personnel. over the years in order to increase the level of 175 countries. Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) An extensive internal audit programme oper- environmental awareness amongst the student Process. ates each year. Personnel from across the site population. Janssen recently worked with the The Company’s Credo The HSE process is a customer driven have been trained as Internal auditors and each Glanmire Community College in the achieve- process focused on engaging as many people as year they conduct assessments of all operations ment of their Green Flag status. Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. use the J&J against both the ISO 14001: 2004 Environmen- possible in order to drive continuous improve- Since 2002, the Janssen Environmental Man- Credo as their fundamental principle of opera- tal Management Standard and Corporate ment. Committees and teams operate across the ager has been an active member of the Cork tion. Originally written in 1943, but regularly Sustainability practices. site in support of the process covering the var- Chamber of Commerce Waste Management reviewed and revised as necessary. The para- Environmental Objectives are integrated into ious elements such as Energy Management, Taskforce. In this role she has presented on the graph relating to responsibilities towards the the overall objectives of the site HSE process. Risk Assessment & Emergency Response. Janssen Environmental Management practices community is as follows: Monthly and quarterly performance assess- to Chamber members and was also integral in ‘We are responsible to the communities in ments are conducted by the HSE Committees. the development of the Chamber Green Failte which we live and work and to the world HSE Operations Committee Award www.greenfailte.ie scheme for the Hos- community as well. The Health Safety & Environment commit- pitality sector now in its second year. We must be good citizens – support good Business Benefits tee meets on a weekly basis and manages the In 2000 Janssen outlined a proposal to Cork works and charities The company strongly believes that the devel- HSE process to achieve company targets and County Council for the provision of a House- and bear our fair share of taxes. opment and maintenance of a robust and fully promotes good Health, Safety and Environ- hold Hazardous Waste Collection within the We must encourage civic improvements and integrated environmental management system mental best practices. Committee members local community. The local authority wel- better health and education. enables an organisation to ensure compliance include: the Safety Manager, the Environmen- comed this and initiated a program. Cork City We must maintain in good order with all Environmental requirements while at tal Supervisor, the Plant 1 Production Manager and County Councils now continue to operate the property we are privileged to use, the same time yield clear business benefits. (Chairperson), Site Operations Leaders (x3), this scheme on an annual basis with the contin- protecting the environment and natural • Integration has allowed all employees to un- the Site Safety Representative, Industrial ued support of Janssen and additional resources’. derstand that Environmental management is Hygienist and a Process Development Chemist. companies. This Credo document guides each member not just the responsibility of the environ- In order to facilitate the local residents in the of the J&J family of companies to identify its mental function but that all employees, con- event of an odour query in the Little Island stakeholders: shareholders, employees, neigh- HSE Work Area Teams tractors and visitors have a role to play. vicinity the company has agreed to be the pri- bours, customers, suppliers, etc; to identify Work areas teams consisting of the Area Man- • Costs associated with resource usage (e.g. mary point of contact for the residents, the their needs; and to satisfy those needs. This ager and area representatives are in place across Solvent) have been reduced in line with the procedure stating that it would then initiate con- single page is further elaborated into J&J the site (e.g. Production Plant areas (x3), Envi- % reduction in usage volumes at a mini- tact with all other Pharmachemical Ireland global policies, (e.g. J&J Environmental pol- ronment, QC, Admin, Warehouse and mum. The focus on campaign lengths and Companies. This eliminates the need for the res- icy), procedures, (e.g. Business Conduct) and Engineering). Each work area team is responsi- Process Excellence projects on Water and idents to have to contact each site individually. systems. In turn, Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. ble for developing their own work area HSE the Solvent usage associated with cleaning have incorporated these into their local certi- Management Action Plan and reviewing their have led to significant cost avoidances. Customers fied management systems and policies. own HSE performance via the use of a scorecard. In preparation for the development of an The number one priority is to ensure that the Environmental and Social Responsibility organisation earns the right to exist with respect An Environmental Partnership report for 2002 Janssen sought the opinion of to it’s requirements relating to Health, Safety Developing a Strategic Focus Environmental Compliance can only be its stakeholders in determining the preferred and Environmental Protection. It operates under achieved via the engagement of all stakehold- An important element of any Environmental content of the proposed report. A questionnaire an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control ers (Employees, Suppliers, Community, Management system is looking ahead, monitor- was sent to representatives from each of the (IPPC)licence (first issued in 1995) issued by Customers). Janssen use a partnership ing emerging issues and ensuring that robust stakeholder groups: Local residents, employ- the Environmental Protection Agency. This per- approach between all key stakeholders to processes exist to enable the early identification ees, contractors, suppliers, local authorities mit regulates all aspects of its site operations increase the level of awareness of the wider of future challenges in order to ensure changes (County Council/ EPA), community groups. including emissions control, waste management community on the importance of environmen- to its systems to address the needs in a timely Their comments were included in the report and resource reduction (e.g. energy and water). manner in order to ensure continued compli- tal protection. The following are some and the requirements have also been carried Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. achieve consistent ance. Various mechanisms are used by the site examples on how this is applied: forward into the subsequent Values into Value compliance with emission limit values and have HSE process to stay abreast of these changes. reports now being produced on an annual basis. maintained a record of zero community com- Quarterly reviews are conducted on all pend- Employees Mr. Mohally, in his final statement said: plaints in the last 5 years. ing Environmental legislation (Irish and EU) • Employees are an integral part of the site “To conclude, we firmly believe that the with action plans being developed where the HSE process and are invited to use the on- engagement and partnership of all stake- need to change is identified; be it a need to site Suggestion schemes and the hazard re- holders and the integration of Environmental Management amend a site practice, policy or procedure. porting system in order to help identify environmental management practices into Within the Environmental section in Janssen Membership of the PharmaChemical Ireland opportunities for improvement. all aspects of the business operations is the six people are directly involved in the day to Responsible Care Environmental Working • All employees and contractors receive En- key to our success in the achievement of con- day operation of the Environmental systems group and Comhar, the National Sustainable vironmental Induction training on the com- tinued environmental compliance.” (e.g. the onsite wastewater treatment plant, the Development Council provide other means for mencement of employment. All contractors air abatement plant, waste handling, manage- the early identification of proposed legislative must watch a video and complete a ques- ment system maintenance etc). changes as well as providing a mechanism for tionnaire prior to gaining access to the site. Bryan Mohally, Managing Director, Janssen Organisational Systems, structures and commenting on draft legislation. • Employees are also trained as Environmen- Pharmaceutical Ltd., Little Island, Co Cork, tal auditors, members of the site Emergency Ireland. www.jnj.com 10 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 waters were found in association with Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). In tropical waters, they are often found in association with blue Carangidae shark (Prionace glauca), but this has not been observed in Irish waters. Although pilotfish are rarely taken by anglers, a specimen weighing 298g in Irish & Northern was captured on rod & line in the Towy Estuary, Carmarthen Bay, European Waters Wales during 1997. Almaco Amberjack (Seriola rivoliana) climatic changes, particularly ther- The almaco amberjack has a By Declan T. Quigley mal increases, have been suggested worldwide circum-tropical distribu- as a causative factor. For example, in tion, only entering temperate waters SCADS, horse-mackerels, jacks, French waters, the number of in some areas. Adults are pelagic and crevalles, amberjacks, pompanos, species increased by 100% from 5 in epibenthic (on outer reef slopes and threadfins, bumpers, trevallys, run- 1950 to 10 in 1987, while the number offshore banks) and possibly more ners, leerfish, vadigo, derbio, of species recorded in UK waters oceanic than other Seriolids; juve- permits, lookdowns and pilotfish increased by 166% from 3 in 1951 to niles are pelagic and usually occur belong to a large and diverse family 8 in 2000. Over the same period, the offshore, often under floating sea- (Carangidae) of mainly tropical and number of species recorded in Irish weed and debris, but occasionally warm temperate marine fishes repre- waters increased by 100% (following close to the shore. The World Record sented by 32 genera and 140 known the unconfirmed capture of a greater rod & line caught (Atlantic) almaco species. However, only 25 species amberjack Seriola dumerili in 1990 amberjack weighing 35.38kg was (representing 14 genera) have been off Kilkee and the first authenticated captured off Argus Bank, Bermuda in recorded from the North-eastern almaco amberjack S. rivoliana off 1990 while the Pacific record weigh- Atlantic and the Mediterranean; 14 Connemara in 2006). ing 59.87kg was taken off La Paz, of these species (representing 9 gen- Baja California, Mexico in 1964. era) from European Atlantic waters Although the species is apparently and only 3-4 species (representing 3 Pilotfish (Naucrates ductor) rare in the NE Atlantic and Mediter- genera) from Irish waters (Table 1). The pilotfish is primarily a pelagic ranean, juveniles have been recorded The family includes many valuable oceanic species found worldwide in with increasing frequency in North- food and sporting fishes. warm seas. Although it has been ern European waters since the The scad or horse mackerel (Tra- recorded on one occasion from Nor- mid-1980s. For example, since 1984, churus trachurus) is the only wegian waters, it is generally a total of 6 specimens have been common member of the Carangid regarded as an uncommon or rare recorded from UK waters and since family in Northern European seas wanderer in northern European 1987, a total of 10 specimens from where it is heavily exploited as a waters (N of the English Channel). French waters. The species was valuable food fish. Between 1982 Nevertheless, the species has been recorded for the first time in the and 2005, landings of the Western recorded with increasing frequency Mediterranean in 2000 and from European stock averaged 247,500 in Irish waters since the late 1950s; Irish waters in 2006. tonnes per annum, peaking during about 90 specimens have been It is interesting to note that over the the mid-1990s at 400-500,000 tonnes recorded to date. The species’ well same period other Carangids were before declining to a mean of around known habit of accompanying float- recorded for the first time in Mediter- 150,000 tonnes in recent years. ing objects such as seaweed, boats, ranean [lesser amberjack S. fasciata While the other Carangid species rafts and driftwood and apparent (1993) and Guinean amberjack S. car- only occur as rare vagrants from semi-obligate commensal relation- penteri (2000)], French [S. carpenteri warmer waters to the south, there has ship with sharks, rays, turtles and

Photos: © Declan Quigley (1985) and S. drumerili (1984)], UK been a notable increase in the num- jellyfish, may account for its wide- [S. carpenteri (2000) and blue runner Top: Atlantic Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) ber of species occurring in UK, spread distribution. Indeed, a Caranx crysos (1992)] and Irish [S. Middle: Pilotfish (Naucrates ductor) French and Mediterranean waters significant number of the specimens Bottom: Almaco Amberjack (Seriola rivoliana) drumerili ? (1990)] waters. over the last half century and recent recorded in Irish, UK and French

Table 1. Carangidae of the NE Atlantic & Mediterranean Conclusions Although the total number of Carangids recorded from Irish waters is relatively small compared with those in French and UK waters this may only be a reflection of poorer recording effort. Indeed, it would not be surprising if the following species were already visiting Irish waters, albeit infrequently, and both anglers and inshore commercial fishermen are most likely to encounter them: vadigo (Campogramma glaycos), C. crysos, S. carpenteri, S. drumerili and derbio (Trachinotus ovatus). Com- mercial landings of scad (T. trachurus), particularly from south- ern Irish waters, would also warrant more diligent investigation because the closely related Mediterranean horse-mackerel (T. mediterraneus) is known to be relatively common nearby in the Bay of Biscay.

Declan T. Quigley, Dingle Oceanworld (Mara Beo Teo), The Wood, Dingle, Co Kerry, Mobiles: 087-6458485 & 086-8057227; Email: [email protected] SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______11 BRYOZOANS Notable inhabitants of Irish coastal waters

and is called a zooid. Many thou- Medically helpful bryozoans By Patrick N. Wyse Jackson sands live in a colony and each zooid lives in a box-like or cylindrical Some bryozoans contain sub- WALK along any shoreline in Ire- chamber, which may open to the sur- stances that inhibit cell growth. land and you will find bryozoans. face via an arerture (Figure 1). The Bryostatins are one such substance Although they are not widely known feeding autozooids comprise a and research is continuing to demon- to most people they are in fact quite polypide and additional tissue, which strate their effectiveness in the fight common and easily found. Pick up secretes the skeleton that forms the against cancer. any piece of bladder wrack seaweed colony. The polypide has a tentacle- and almost certainly it will have structure called a lophophore, which Early Irish contributions to Figure 1: Cryptosula pallasiana and serplid worms encrusting an oyster shell; small patches resembling a mesh- is used to catch food. To feed it Sandymount, Co. Dublin. work or net curtains encrusting the opens out through the aperture and bryozoology surface. These are bryozoans, and are can create inhalent water currents Bryozoology is the term used to best seen in the field using a X10 which carry food to the mouth, and refer to the study of bryozoans. hand lens. exhalent currents, which carry waste While research continues to be car- away. Other zooids have other func- ried out on both living and fossil What are bryozoans? tions such as defending the colony bryozoans from Ireland, a number of from predators. Bryozoans reproduce Members of the Phylum Bryozoa researchers from or working in Ire- sexually to produce larvae, which are marine or freshwater colonial land made fundamental findings may be brooded in modified zooids invertebrates. Marine bryozoans usu- when the study of these organisms called ovicells. When released into ally inhabit shallow environments in was in its infancy (P.N. Wyse Jack- the water the larvae settle on a suit- polar, temperate and tropical oceans. son & M.E. Spencer Jones, Annals of able substrate and the colony then Bryozoa first appeared during the Bryozoology, Dublin, 2002). John grows by asexual budding. Ordovician period some 450 million Ellis (1710–1776), who apparently years ago. Today 5,000 living species was born in Ireland, was a London- are known. based businessman who had trade Bryozoans in Irish waters connections with the American In 1991 I compiled a list of all the colonies. In 1755 he published one of Bryozoan colonies bryozoans found in Irish marine the earliest treatises in English on Like some sponges and corals, waters (P. N. Wyse Jackson, 1991, corallines in which he described and bryozoans form colonies of various Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical illustrated taxa now known to be bry- Society). In total 192 species had ozoans. John Vaughan Thompson Figure 2: Frond of Flustra foliacea. (Inset) Close-up view of Flustra foliacea showing shapes and sizes that are typically flask-shaped autozooecial chamber with small spines; east coast, Ireland. less than 10 cm in diameter (the been reported by then, and since then (1779–1847) who was an Army sur- largest colonies reach over 1 metre in a few additional species have been geon working in Cork erected the diameter). Most are cemented to a added to that number. Good identifi- phylum Polyzoa in 1830 into which substrate such as shells, sand grain or cation guides by Peter Hayward and these animals were placed. However seaweed. Encrusting colonies may John Ryland are available from the the previous year the term ‘Bryozoa’ form a runner-like morphology, or Field Studies Council (www.field- had been coined for these colonial may be composed of single or multi- studies-council.org/publications/syn animals, and rightly so Thompson’s layered sheets of zooids. These opses). terminology became obsolete. forms are frequently found on sea- George James Allman (1812–1898), weeds or on shells (Figure 1). Many Problems caused by bryozoans a Cork-born biologist defined and bryozoan colonies grow upwards described two of the presently recog- into the seawater, which allows them Along with barnacles, bryozoans nised three Classes of bryozoans in to feed from cleaner and faster flow- are major foulers (encrusters) of har- 1856, and also produced an impor- ing water above the sea floor. bours, oil rigs, and the hulls of ships. tant monograph of freshwater Branches may be cylindrical or flat- A heavily encrusted ship will take bryozoans. tened (Figure 2). Some bryozoans more fuel to power it through the Bryozoans are wonderfully com- form a meshwork pattern of branches water due to the increased drag plex invertebrates that reward joined by crossbars (Figure 3). caused by encrustations, and so anti- anyone interested in their study. fouling paints are used to deter settlement of larvae and thus growth The bryozoan animal Patrick N. Wyse Jackson, of bryozoan colonies. Bryozoans fre- Department of Geology, Trinity TCD Geological Museum Photos: © The individual bryozoan animal quently encrust polystyrene and College, Dublin 2 ([email protected]) Figure 3: Fan-shaped colony of Hornera from New Zealand. measures 1 mm or less in diameter plastic bottles. Environment Ireland Conference 2007

3rd-4th September 2007 • Burlington Hotel, Dublin

The Environment Ireland conference is a must-attend event for anyone requiring an understanding of the key environmental issues facing Ireland today. This two-day conference will be addressed by a panel of experts including the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and will cover:

• Environmental policy and strategy • Sustainable development • Water resources, waste, • All-island environmental issues In association with climate change, transport • Local environmental management.

An interview on Europe's and Ireland's environmental priorities and policies with EU Environment Commissioner, Mr. Stavros Dimas and Director General of the EPA, Dr. Mary Kelly will also be broadcast to conference delegates.

For more information or to register to attend (two-day fee €495+VAT) contact bmf Conferences on 01 661 3755 or log on to www.environmentireland.ie 12 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 Steering a New Course

Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013

IN the following two pages, Matt Murphy 10. Fragmented representation in a fragmented summarises the main issues and industry. recommendations in the strategy report “Steering a New Course: Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Details of the Issues Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013”. The The industry to capitalise on the enormous review was undertaken between July and potential offered by the market. The Group pro- November 2006 by Dr. Noel Cawley, Mr. pose that a budget of €55 million be allocated Joey Murrin and Mr. Ruan O’Bric at the for marketing over the 2007-13 period - which request of Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, Minister is 7.8 million annually compared with 2.5 mil- for Communications, Marine and Natural lion in previous years. Outside of the core EU Resources and Mr. John Browne, Minister markets support in research and development of State at the Department. should be delivered by BIM on a cost benefit basis to the sector. Over 70% of Irish seafood The Irish seafood industry is critical for the exports are sold with five EU markets. sustainable development of remote island and A new seafood identity should be established coastal areas which in turn is dependent on sus- and promoted to strengthen Ireland’s market tainable fish stocks and a healthy marine position and establish Irish seafood as a pre- environment. Generating total annual revenue mium proposition with positive quality and of over €702 million and providing direct environmental attributes. employment of some 11,615 people, the Irish BIM, Enterprise Ireland, Udaras na seafood industry is a vital indigenous industry Gaeltachta and Teagasc should work more making a significant contribution to the econ- closely to align marketing and research. It is omy in terms of output employment and recommended that further examination is export. The development of our marine Mr. Joe Murrin, Dr. Noel Cawley and Mr. Ruan O’Bric at the launch of the strategy report. required to study the need for developing a resources is critical to the future prosperity of seafood product research and development coastal areas where there are few alternative centre of excellence, mirroring the Dairy Prod- efficiencies and generating very little profit and EU regulations. industries. ucts Research Centre in Moorepark, Cork. (loss making in many instances). 5. Need for a comprehensive industry devel- It is estimated that over half of all fish stocks (Editor’s note: the obvious place to build this opment programme supported by an internationally are fully exploited and a further centre is Moorepark.) quarter are either over-exploited. The total Issues to be addressed appropriate regulatory framework, to catch in the waters around Ireland in 2004 was encourage market-led investment to 700,000 tons valued at €500 million, the 1. Need for a more innovative market-focused expand the aquaculture sector. Support for Investment strategy throughout the industry - aimed at greater proportion of which was taken by non- 6. Obstacles preventing the sustainable The recommendations: achieving the maximum possible return for Irish vessels. (Editor’s note: values increase to exploitation of inshore fisheries. • Support must be given to Irish Seafood pro- each tonne of fish landed. at least €1 billion if the illegal catches of all 7. Inadequate fish conservation and fishing cessing businesses where there is good po- 2. Lack of profitability, fragmentation and countries fishing in our waters are included.) practices, including mis-reporting, high- tential for the creation of sustainable uncertainty of supply within the processing The scientific assessment is that over 75% of grading and discarding (often the long-term value. sector. consequence of EU regulations) need to be these stocks are outside safe biological limits • In light of strong demand and the positive 3. Imbalance between catching capacity and with either low stock size or unsustainable lev- addressed to achieve fish stock/environ- future market potential for seafood a con- resource availability - requiring significant els of exploration. Accordingly the Irish mental sustainability. certed effort should be made by BIM, Enter- but managed industry restructuring and seafood industry is currently facing serious 8. Need for a level playing pitch throughout prise Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta to rightsizing. challenges to its survival and future develop- the EU with respect to regulatory compli- encourage and attract investment from the 4. Need for stakeholder-supported, commer- ment primarily related to declining stocks and ance and conservation practices. wider food processing industry. cially-aware fisheries management 9. Need for improved relationship between quotas and consequent structural imbalances at • A benchmark study should be undertaken policies and procedures, based on strict catching and processing levels. the industry and the State and its policy- by BIM and Enterprise Ireland to establish compliance with quotas and other National makers/regulators. clear targets for State supported investment in the processing sector and identify critical The Market for Seafood performance weaknesses impacting on The EU imports an estimate of 74% of AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT competitiveness. seafood products to satisfy an increasing demand for European markets. Unlike the agri- Currently the Irish aquaculture sector contributes 38% by value of total primary production food sector, there are little or no direct EU price and in this respect is lagging behind the world-wide trend where close on half of all fish sup- Fleet Reconstruction Development supports for seafood and trade. There is growth plies now emanate from farmed sources. The following recommendations are made with a view Support must be given to extending and devel- demand for most other protein products, with to enhancing this sector’s contributions to the income and welfare of coastal communities: oping the current Decommissioning significant scope for future growth. There are • A sustained fact based, communication programme run by State Development Agencies Programme to bring about a better alignment significant untapped opportunities to develop with industry support, should be undertaken to engender greater acceptance of aquacul- between fleet capacity and resource availability new seafood products and particularly fish- ture as a sustainable and legitimate activity by other stakeholders in the coastal zone. The through the permanent removal of 45% of the * based functional food products. ultimate objective of such an initiative would be to assist with the creation of an economic capacity of the demersal fleet 18 metres in and regulatory climate conductive to increased flows of equity and capital investment. length and over, which has been partly (10%) achieved through the present decommissioning Challenges that must be addressed • Review the current licensing and regulatory regime - with a view to strengthening current scheme. The report recommends: The Industry’s performance within the mar- systems and procedures and delivering an improved service to customers. • Establishing a register of Commercial Sea ket place is well below that which exists in • BIM in partnership with Udaras na Gaeltachta to implement an Aquaculture Industry Fishermen to be maintained by BIM. The other sections of the Irish food industry. Its Development Programme to include marketing and seafood processing. Also to have a provision of accurate and up-to-date infor- investment in the area of innovation/new prod- broader focus dealing with key areas such as improving competitiveness, reducing envi- mation for the purpose of monitoring the uct development is weak with only a few minor ronmental impact, encouraging farming of new species, applied R&D, quality assurance Register should be a pre-requisite for eligi- exceptions. and environmental management systems with the aim of maximising the benefit of aqua- bility for State support. The Irish seafood processing sector can be • culture to coastal and rural communities. Establishing a new and devolved fisheries described as highly fragmented, operating at management regime, together with an in- significant over-capacity unable to maximise • There is a necessity to establish a Seed Capital Scheme, which would accelerate the eval- dustry-based legal entity to oversee quota uation of new species and adoption of new technologies. management. *demersal **pelagic • The review of mussel seed resources for the management of this critical resource. SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______13 Fisheries Management Marine Environment The recommendations: and Conservation • The Fish Producers Organisations should The long-term future of the seafood industry IMPACT OF STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT PROGRAMME set up a legal entity to administer the de- depends on a sensible and responsible volved quota management regime for approach to conservation and to the industry’s The implementation of the strategy recommendations and the proposed investment pro- whitefish and pelagic** fish. environmental performance. This, however gramme will result in a sizeable direct and indirect benefit to the seafood industry, the Irish • The Minister should establish clear fisheries requires positive action from all EU member economy and in particular to coastal/rural communities where this industry is mainly management objectives that: states not just Ireland. It is with this in mind located. As a result of this investment, by 2013 the Irish seafood industry will have: − Maximise the long-term return from that the following recommendations are made: fisheries resources to Ireland. • Evolved to become a restructured, sustainable, self-reliant and commercially-aware • Increase awareness and response to envi- − industry with the market, as opposed to production/policy related concerns being the key Protect the marine environment. ronmental policies. industry focus. − Promote better and more transparent • The State sector must put in place structures decision making to properly inform the industry of conserva- • Secured a leading position across a range of target markets, both within Ireland and inter- • Other issues to be included social, eco- tion and environmental issues as they arise. nationally, with Irish seafood clearly identified within the marketplace. nomic, safety and governance. • The two way interaction of fisheries and • Establishment of a new inshore fleet seg- aquaculture with the environment should be • Undergone substantial restructuring to the point where the catching capacity of the ment and designation special coastal areas paramount in considering the future devel- national fleet is aligned with the available resource and where a competitive, profitable with exclusive or priority access for inshore opment of the industry. processing sector has been established. vessels. • Local area management strategies should be • Sustainable fishing or other opportunities promoted for sensitive stocks (particularly • Established a leading role in terms of environmental performance and be recognised as a must be found for registered fishing vessels inshore species). key advocate and practitioner of fish stock conservation measures and regulatory compli- displaced from the salmon drift net fishery. • Promote the introduction of Environmental ance at national and EU level. Management Systems by the industry. • • Promote the development and uptake of en- Secured its position as a key contributor to balanced economic growth ensuring that the vironmentally friendly and fuel-efficient industry continues to be recognised as a vital indigenous natural resource based industry fishing gear. and an essential part of the fabric of coastal/rural communities. The Irish fishing industry should take a lead • Contribute significantly to meeting the goals of a range of national and EU policies relat- role through the Regional Advisory Councils ing to fisheries, the marine environment, rural development and in particular the (introduced throughout the EU) to ensure that Government’s National Spatial Strategy as it relates to remote coastal/rural areas. sensible conservation policies are developed and implemented across the EU that take account of the impact of fisheries on the envi- ronment. sive customer-facing approach will pay divi- spearheaded by the Department of Communi- The Irish Government and industry should dends in terms of building bridges with the cations, Marine & Natural Resources. actively promote and lobby the EU to adopt industry in due course. A series of Operational Programmes should be Members of the audience at one of the regional management strategies and fish practices to The Group strongly recommends that a more prepared with the twin objective of giving effect to meetings. avoid large catches of juvenile fish with the co-ordinated approach should be adopted by the recommendations set out in the Strategy ultimate objective of moving to a full-scale dis- the various state Agencies with research and Report and to accessing the maximum possible card ban system. development responsibilities for the seafood financial support from the new European Fisheries Enhancing Competitiveness A joint approach by the industry and the industry. The co-ordination of State develop- Fund, as well as the Exchequer in the forthcoming Department must be taken at EU level to ensure The recommendations: ment programmes and initiatives should be National Development Plan 2007-2013. that EU regulations and control are strictly • Establish efficient landing and distribution enforced through the Community. infrastructures to enhance the competitive- ness and attractiveness of landing fish in Full Colour Printing Irish ports. Education and Training • Significant operational infrastructure and In supporting the significant industry devel- Brochures, Reports, cost issues need to be addressed to bring opment envisaged, increase investment in Magazines them into line with best-in-class competing training will be required to address profitabil- ports. Leaflets & Booklets ity, efficiency, environmental responsibility • BIM to work with seafood companies to and sustainability across all sectors of the identify effective distribution for both the seafood industry. domestic and international markets. BIM aquaculture training provision needs to • A drive should be made towards developing be significantly expanded. They should focus a greater degree of direct access to retail, more training resources in support of compe- food service and ingredient customers and tence, safety, sustainability and profitability in reduce the industry’s dependence on inter- the inshore and coastal sectors. In view of the mediaries. significantly higher rate of accidents and • Support for the pelagic sector’s proposal to machinery failure on inshore and coastal ves- establish a first-point-of-sale auction sys- sels unqualified skippers and mechanics on tem modelled on the Norwegian system. these vessels should be required to hold formal Such a system should be initially estab- Department of Transport certificates of profi- lished by the relevant Producer’s Organisa- ciency or competency as deemed appropriate. tions with EU/State support. • The appointment of a Whitefish Marketing Co-ordinator by BIM to spearhead the con- Industry Relations solidation of the current fragmented market- The group recognises the very different ing structure at first point of sale. issues/dynamics prevailing in the various • BIM must develop a systematic approach to industry sub-sectors. They believe there is a working with fishermen, fish farmers and real need for the industry to speak with one processors to identify sustainable perform- clear and coherent voice. It recommends that ance and improvement cost-reduction ini- all existing representative organisations should tiatives technology transfer opportunities. set up a new, single representative organisation. • The industry should be encouraged to en- This would have its own Board and Chief gage in long term succession planning and Executive and be made up of distinct provide incentives to attract and retain new sectoral/regional interests to speak with a entrants into the industry as applies in other strong clear and coherent voice on behalf of the sectors of the economy. catching sector. • The Group recognises that the extension Given the onerous regulatory regime sur- of the Seafarers Tax Free Allowance al- rounding the seafood industry, serious ready granted to Irish merchant seamen Victoria Cross, Cork commitment is required on the part of Govern- would be a very significant incentive for ment and senior officials to appropriately Telephone (021) 4545655 crew retention. structure and resource its seafood administra- • Publish and adhere to a grant-aid decisions Facsimile (021) 4342996 tion, policy making and regulatory time-table. responsibilities. The adoption of a more respon- 14 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 2005 – An Bord Pleanála’s busiest year ever

Workload and AN BORD PLEANÁLA is the appeals board to which people can appeal planning decisions of the statutory and non-governmental Local Authorities. It has a very difficult task to fulfil – so often it is a no win situation. However it organisations. Interested parties, from whatever angle they are com- Performance in 2005 has over the years performed its duty admirably. We publish below the main points from the ing, must feel that their views are The year 2005 was the busiest ever Annual Report 2005 made by the chairman of An Bord Pleanála, Mr. John O'Connor. for An Bord Pleanála. The record taken into account in the final deci- sion. In accordance with the mandate intake of cases, which almost gauged from the following facts: increase to 7.4% (from 6.9%* in cases the Board has increased the given to it by the legislation, the reached the 6,000 mark, was due to a • 2004). panel of fee-per-case consultant intake of new cases 5,946 – up Board is determined that all projects number of factors – the continuing 13% on 2004. • The rate of reversal of local plan- planners from 53 to 76. I hope that coming before it will continue to be high demand for housing, the accel- • ning authority decisions appealed these additional resources will cases determined 5,387 – up 5%. assessed rigorously, based on the eration of infrastructure showed a slight decrease - 30% in enable the Board in the second half • workload on hands at year end 2,062 principles of proper planning and programmes, a large increase in 2005 compared to 32% in 2004. of 2006 to arrest the decline in our – up 37%. sustainable development. The Board employment and the phasing out of The large disparity between local timeliness performance and move • 18 week statutory objective met is acutely aware of the importance of tax based incentives for certain kinds authorities in the rate of reversal, back towards achieving our strategic in 78% of cases, compared to maintaining public confidence in the of development. Notwithstanding a apparent in previous years, con- target. 85% in 2004. way it determines these strategic 5% increase in cases determined, this tinued in 2005. • average time to determine cases – projects. resulted in a significant rise in the • Just under half of planning workload on hands at year end and a 15 weeks, compared to 14 weeks Infrastructure Projects in 2004. appeals lodged with the Board fall off in the Board’s performance in came from third parties, a slight The Board constantly reviews its Public Confidence relation to the timeliness of its deci- Other noteworthy features in 2005 system of prioritising major infra- decrease on 2004. The Board’s three core principles sion making. • The percentage of local authority structure projects (whether planning • Invalid appeals constituted 17.3% of independence, impartiality and An overview of the Board’s work- planning decisions appealed to appeals or local authority sponsored (19.6% in 2004) of all appeals openness are embedded in our Mis- load and performance in 2005 can be the Board showed a slight projects) to ensure that they are as determined, with late appeals sion Statement and objectives and effective as possible in shortening (5.4%), invalid fee (4.7%) and underpinned by legislation. We are the timescale for decisions. In 2005 third party appeals with no always mindful that public confi- the Board received 78 and disposed acknowledgement (4.4%) being dence depends on the integrity and of 77 planning appeals that were the main reasons. The Board took quality of our decision-making and classed as major infrastructure devel- additional measures in 2005 to the professionalism with which we opments, 61% being determined help people avoid making invalid carry out our functions. There is a To a Birch Tree within 18 weeks. Of the 124 local appeals. statutory code of conduct for all authority sponsored projects (roads, • Board members, staff and consult- There were 139 applications for waste, compulsory purchase, etc.) leave to appeal by third parties of ants, which places stringent Where the road winds by the river submitted to the Board in 2005, 74% which 21% succeeded. All obligations on members and employ- And an old fort looks down were determined within 18 weeks. appeals for leave to appeal were ees of the Board to declare interests On frothy waters The continued high level of decided within the statutory 4 and conduct themselves generally in I first saw your slender beauty demand for housing is reflected in week period. a way that reinforces public confi- the very strong trend in the number In Laharn many years ago. dence. It is the Board’s policy to of appeals relating to large housing adopt the most open approach possi- developments. Schemes of 30 or And ever since when I pass that way Current Trends and Outlook ble in its relations with the public and more housing units are accorded pri- I look to see if you are there, Although the early months of 2006 we operate a completely open file ority status in the Board - in 2005 the Smiling in the summer sunshine are showing a slight drop in the system once cases are determined. volume of these appeals increased intake of cases, it is still very high by Or gleaming white and bright by 21%. On a wet November day – historical standards. This, together Accounts Constant in an ever-changing world. with the high workload on hands at the start of the year, is putting the The Planning and Expenditure increased from the Board under severe pressure in 2006 restated figure of €17,731,540 in If ever man should cut you down and performance in relation to its Development (Strategic 2004 (€14,944,540 stated in the 2004 Or tearing winter storm statutory 18-week timeliness objec- Infrastructure) Bill 2006 report) to €18,799,861 in 2005 due Cast you mid briar tive has deteriorated significantly. mainly to increased remuneration The Planning and Development And piercing thorn Apart from work volumes, it is clear and operating costs associated with (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006, A joy would leave my life that the increased scale and complex- the increase in intake of cases. published in February 2006, will Because you and I have grown old together ity of projects and the more In 2005, fee income together with reform the consent process for a wide And you have become demanding legal context in which we costs recouped from local authorities range of major infrastructure proj- operate are factors which make it on infrastructure projects was A friend. ects. It will have major significance more difficult to achieve our strate- €2,673,237 which represented 14% for the Board both in terms of the gic target of determining 90% of of the total costs of the Board’s oper- Diarmuid Ó Críodáin scope of projects coming before it cases within the 18-week period. To ations (12% in 2004). In 2005, November, 1979 and the discharge of its mandate in end May 2006 the target was income amounted to €18,600,906 relation to these projects. The Bill achieved in 58% of cases disposed (which includes €3,199,000 to reflect provides for the setting up of an of. The Board regrets the delays that the net additional superannuation Infrastructure Division in the Board are occurring in the determination of costs arising under Financial Report- to handle proposals from both public Diarmuid Ó Críodáin was born in appeals. ing Standard (FRS) 17) leaving a the townland of Leacht, near and private sectors relating to trans- In response to its increasing work- deficit for the year of €198,955. Rathcoole in North Cork, in 1925. portation, environmental and energy He worked as a manager in Kilcorney load the Board sought approval to There was an incoming deficit of projects which are considered by the Creamery and later as Area Manager employ additional staffing resources €187,844 which left a cumulative with Ballyclough Co-op. He began his Board to be of national or regional and on 1st December, 2005 received deficit of €11,111. (The deficit fig- poetic writing as a student in St. strategic importance. The Board will Brendan’s College in Killarney and approval in principle from the Minis- ures are unaffected by FRS 17). become the consent authority of first continued to write until his death in ter for the Environment, Heritage November 1990. “Leacht” is the instance for these strategic projects. and Local Government to an addi- collections of his poems – his The procedures to be put in place by John O’Connor, Chairperson, tional 24 permanent staff, to be inspirations and thoughts. In the the Board to give effect to the statu- An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Foreward, Rev. Robert Forde PP says introduced on a phased basis, which tory provisions in the Bill will have Street, Dublin 1. Phone: (01) 858 of Diarmuid “He never failed to be would bring the authorised staff impressed by the beauty and mystery to ensure that the requirement to 8100 or FAX (01) 872 2684 complement to 160.5. The number of of nature and it was a constant source process applications efficiently and Lo-call 1 890 275 175 of inspiration to him in his poetry.” Board Members remains at 10. The expeditiously is balanced by the need Board has been active in recruiting Email: [email protected] to facilitate meaningful participation additional staff in 2006. As a further www.pleanala.ie by local communities and interested measure to deal with the backlog of Photo Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______15 Dry Stone Walls: Ireland’s Heritage

built by workers on the programmes. To this By Terry Farnell day, some walls are still referred to as ‘famine walls’. IT’S strange to think that one of the most Towards the end of the 20th century, the endearing features of the Irish landscape is a declining art of dry stone walling experienced a man-made construction and that most of these resurgence and today there is a growing band of features were built within the last 150 years. master craftsmen skilled at building dry stone Yet an Ireland without its patchwork pattern of walls and teaching the techniques to others. dry stone walls would seem a poorer place Over the years, walls do get damaged or col- indeed. And the walls have a story to tell. lapse and have often been repaired or rebuilt by Ireland has never been short of stone. In the a landowner with little or no technical expertise. Ceide Fields of Co. Mayo, men set about piling Whether this piecemeal approach has added to, stones into barriers around 5000 years ago and or detracted from, the character of the wall is a these dry stone walls form part of the oldest matter for debate, but to the landowner it is known field system in the world. Subse- often a simple case of functionality. quently, stone was used in various The reason for building a dry stone wall is as constructions, but it was not until the social and much for land clearance as for the demarcation agrarian upheavals of the 19th century that the of boundaries and the containment of stock. landscape of dry stone walls began to evolve The design of a wall is often related to the into that which we see today. underlying geology, with the shape of the During the famine years of the 19th century, stones dictating the way in which they may be one of the tasks of the work programmes, fitted together. Walls constructed from established by the Board of Works to provide rounded granite boulders will not have much in employment, was land clearance and the build- common with the appearance of a wall built ing of dry stone walls. Evidence of these from fissured limestone, so the genesis of the labours is still to be seen today, with some stone can account for the different characteris- walls climbing across mountainsides to no tics of dry stone walls. The function of the wall apparent purpose. At the same time, the has also to be considered. In many walls, Farnell Terry Photos: © decrease in population and the eviction of ten- Top - A carefully built wall is both functional and surprisingly stable. larger stones are laid over small stones, which Above - Though walls may collapse over time, they can be easily rebuilt using the fallen material. ants allowed landowners to extend and enclose would seem to be contrary to good practice, but their estates, with many of the dry stone walls the small stones prove a greater barrier to rab- bits than would the larger ones. exploit the benefits offered by this ecological A properly built dry stone wall may be as niche, which, despite its often exposed position, stable as any wall built from bricks and mortar, supplies a well-drained and sheltered haven for but with added advantages. Many walls are on a diverse collection of species. The plants and exposed sites, but the permeability of the dry the insects attract bird life, while the wall itself stone technique is sufficient to reduce the force may provide shelter and act as an observation of the wind, without causing undue pressure on point for birds and other wild animals. the windward side, or turbulence in the lee of From simple land clearance, the story of dry the wall, whilst providing far more shelter for stone walls has encompassed a diverse range of stock than a wire fence. Also, the unstable subjects, from social tragedy to aesthetic appre- appearance of a dry stone wall is a deterrent to ciation and from construction principles to stock, so they are less likely to try jumping wildlife habitat. Much of this accords with the over it. Add to that, if a stone is dislodged, it’s last 150 years, but with the growing commit- a simple matter to replace it. ment to Ireland’s heritage, the sympathetic Even a careless glance will reveal the diver- conservation of dry stone walls should assure sity of life that has made a home of a dry stone their future. wall; the intricate lacework of lichens and the soft cushion of mosses compete with seasonal Terry Farnell, Terry Farnell Photography, plant life to give a dry stone wall a unique char- Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. acter. Less obvious are the creatures that www.sherkinphoto.com

Some animals may use walls as access routes and vantage points. 16 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______17

Left: Land clearance and enclosure has resulted in a pattern of dry stone walls across the landscape.

Above: Lichens are a characteristic Above: An old entrance to a field, blocked by stones that could be easily removed. feature of dry stone walls.

Right: A wall offers this Peacock Above left: The underlying geology can influence the building style of a wall. butterfly warmth and shelter. Above right: Infilling with small stones at the base presents a barrier to small animals. Below: Birds often use a raised portion of wall for observation and Photography by Terry Farnell territorial displays.

Below: A style of wall building influenced by the available material.

Left: Over time, walls are colonised by Right: At 8 ft high, this dry lichens and stone wall is a significant plants. feature of the landscape. D RY S TONE W ALLS Ireland’s Heritage 18 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 A Spotlight on World Environmental Matters by Alex Kirby

Alarming climate changes that it needs more money and greater them are the seven species of coral, and heading out to the open sea, where influence within the UN system. including the nationally protected pink many die. Richard Kennedy, one of the predicted seafan and the extremely rare sunset scientists at the Bush Salmon Station, The first volume of the fourth Illegally shot or trapped birds coral. The Trusts say a Marine Bill would says: “Ten years ago the first smolt that assessment report by the found on Malta introduce “a proper planning system for would have left the river Bush would Intergovernmental Panel on Climate our seas”, which would mean potentially have done so towards the middle to the Change (IPCC), published on 2 February, Migrating birds from 38 countries damaging activities could be sited fur- end of April, but that seems to be makes startling reading. By 2100, the have been found by conservationists ther away from environmentally and changing and now first departures can IPCC says, global average temperatures after being illegally shot or trapped on economically valuable areas. be as early as the beginning of March,” could be between 1.8oC and 4oC higher the island of Malta. A study by BirdLife he says. Gulls and seals pick off the than in 1999, although some of the Malta found the remains of 14 birds Changes in farming methods smolts as they head out into the scenarios it considered suggested a rise ringed in the UK among them, including Atlantic. Usually about a third of the of as much as 6.4oC (the Earth today is cuckoo, goldfinch, spotted redshank, blamed for decline in young fish which leave the Bush return only about 4.5oC warmer than during the gannet, great skua and short-eared owl. UK bumble bee the following year to spawn. But now only last Ice Age). The IPCC says sea levels About 16 ospreys ringed in Scandinavia six per cent are making it back to breed. Changing methods of farming appear are expected to rise by between 18cm were also found. Experts say the num- Another result of the changing climate is and 59cm over the same period. But it ber of ringed birds from northern largely to blame for the decline of the high rainfall, which swells the river in took no account of the extra water that Europe found in the survey is probably UK bumble bee, whose numbers have winter and early spring, washing the del- will be added to the oceans from melting only a tiny fraction of the number of fallen by 60% since 1970. Researchers icate salmon fry away. ice caps, so the real figures could be migrating birds killed in Malta’s spring from several Irish universities say: “We much higher. The scientists said the shooting season. Malta’s traditional suggest that the widespread replace- Switching to compact changes are “very likely” caused by indiscriminate killing of migrating birds ment of hay with silage, which results in human activity, which means they think nearly prevented its joining the Euro- earlier and more frequent mowing and a fluorescent bulbs the certainty that the warming results pean Union, but it managed to win reduction in late summer wildflowers, Australia is to ban incandescent light from the burning of fossil fuels is last-minute concessions allowing some has played a major role in bumble bee bulbs as a way of helping to cut green- higher than 90%, and it is almost trapping until 2008. The island is declines.” Formerly common in clover, house gas emissions. Malcolm Turnbull, impossible to blame natural variability believed to be the worst offender hedgerows and around the edges of the environment minister, said replacing alone. against the EU Birds Directive of all 27 fields, most of the 20 or so species of the country's incandescent bulbs could member states. bumblebee are in decline, and two have by 2015 prevent up to 4m tonnes of Proposal to monitor countries who become extinct. Traditional hay mead- greenhouse gas emissions entering the Wildlife Trust call for Marine Bill to ows were not cut until after the plants atmosphere every year. He said the ban fail to act against climate change that attract bees had flowered. But protect coastline would also cut household lighting costs More than 40 countries are support- with silage, grass is cut more frequently by 66%. Cuba introduced a similar ban ing the idea of an international The Wildlife Trusts, a federation of and early in the season so the plants two years ago, and Venezuela has fol- organisation to regulate governments 47 county organisations which care for cannot flower. The researchers’ study is lowed suit. Incandescent light bulbs are which fail to act against climate change. habitats and species across the UK, says reported in Biological Conservation. very inefficient, converting only about It would also tackle threats like water a Marine Bill could help prevent MSC 5% of the energy they consume into shortages and the loss of species. Pres- Napoli-type environmental disasters. Climate change affecting Irish light, with the rest turned to heat. The ident Jacques Chirac of France, The vessel, a container ship, was under salmon stocks incandescent bulbs are to be phased out proposing the creation of a United tow to a south coast port in a January within three years and replaced by more Nations Environment Organisation, said: storm, but was grounded in Lyme Bay Climate change appears to be affect- efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. “It is our responsibility. The future of off south Devon, leaking oil and shed- ing Irish salmon stocks, according to Although they cost more, they can pay humanity demands it. We are coming to ding some of its containers. The Bay, scientists on the river Bush in north for themselves within twelve months. "If realise that the entire planet is at risk, known as the Jurassic Coast, is a World Antrim. They say warmer winters are the whole world switches to these bulbs that the well-being, health, safety, and Heritage site renowned for its interna- causing a disastrous false start to the today, we would reduce our consumption very survival of humankind hang in the tionally important wintering birds. It salmons’ annual migration. Believing of electricity by an amount equal to five balance.” The United Nations Environ- also has wildlife-rich reefs, with over spring has arrived, the juvenile fish are times Australia's annual consumption of ment Programme has argued for years 300 species recorded so far. Among leaving the safety of the river too soon electricity," Mr Turnbull said.

21 ensuite bedrooms with TV & direct dial phone Proprietor: Mark Murphy * Accommodation * Bar & Lounge * Weddings * Private Parties * Business Meetings The Islander’s Rest * Marina Facilities For further information phone: 028–20116 SHERKIN ISLAND Email: [email protected] Website: www.islandersrest.ie West Cork SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______19 Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland A Report for the Years 2004 and 2005

THE Environmental Protection Agency 7. Compliance with discharge limits for the Table 1: The compliance rates based on monitoring results. (EPA) is required under Section 61(3) of the very large plants (i.e. >15,000 p.e.) has Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, improved; however the majority of to report on a biennial basis on the quality of smaller treatment plants are not comply- effluents being discharged from treatment ing with these limits. The compliance plants, sewers or drainage pipes which are rates based on monitoring results are sum- vested in, controlled or used by local authori- marised in Table 1. ties. This report provides an analysis of the 8. Local authorities failed to take the treatment of waste water for all agglomera- required number of samples at 38% of 1 tions (mainly cities, towns and villages) with waste water treatments plants with a pop- p.e. = population equivalent a population equivalent over 500 during 2004 ulation equivalent of 2,000 p.e. or over and 2005, the quality of discharges from and where samples were taken, 43% of Regulations and in particular that a nutri- NOTES waste water treatment plants and commentary these were taken incorrectly (i.e. Flowpro- ent management plan is used. 1 “agglomeration” means an area where the population on trends for the period 1998 to 2005. The portional or time-based 24-hour samples 5. Local authorities should prepare an odour report is based on information supplied by were not taken). and/or economic activities are sufficiently concentrated for management plan for each treatment plant urban waste water to be collected and conducted to an urban local authorities on an annual basis. 9. 121,750 tonnes of dried sludge was pro- operated by or on it’s behalf. The odour waste water treatment plant or to a final discharge point. The end of the review period (31st Decem- duced nationally by wastewater treatment management plan should be a documented 2 “sensitive areas” Those areas specified in the third ber 2005) also coincided with a significant plants in the period 2004-2005. 76% of procedure available at the treatment plant schedule of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, milestone in urban waste water treatment in this went to agriculture and 17% went to 2001 (S.I. 254 of 2001), Urban Waste Water Treatment at all times. (Amendment) Regulations, 2004 (S.I. 440 of 2004) and such Ireland, whereby secondary treatment was landfill. 6. Local authorities should determine other areas as may be identified pursuant to article 5 of the required for all agglomerations discharging to 10. 75 waste water treatment plants were whether all trade effluent discharges are Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. freshwaters and estuaries with population inspected by the EPA between 2004 and appropriately licensed and should check 3 Secondary treatment has recently been provided for two equivalents of 2,000 or greater and for agglom- 2006. Recurring problems identified at the compliance of existing licences of these agglomerations (Dungarvan and Carrick-on-Suir). erations discharging to coastal waters with waste water treatment plants visited dur- against their permitted discharge population equivalents of 10,000 or greater. ing audits, which are in need of corrective allowance. In particular local authori- From the report “Urban Waste Water The report includes a county-by-county action, include: ties should review the discharges from Discharges in Ireland - A Report for the Years • analysis of the performance of secondary Inadequate collection systems for the growing number of food preparation 2004 amd 2005”. The full report is available waste water treatment plants covering their waste water (e.g. combined sewer outlets, which may be significant con- for download on www.epa.ie. Printed version compliance against the Urban Waste Water overflows); tributors of grease and fat loadings to €20.00 from the Environmental Protection • Regulations, 2001. Inadequate screening of influent waste sewer networks and municipal treat- Agency, PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle The main findings of the report are: water and storm water overflows; ment plants. Estate, Wexford. 1. The overall level of treatment provided at • Insufficient treatment capacity; 478 agglomerations, which collectively • Poor assimilative capacity for dis- represent a total population equivalent charged effluent in some receiving (p.e.) of 5,627,456, was as follows: waters; and, • 11% of waste water arisings received • Poor sludge management on site and no treatment; incomplete sludge records. • 5% of waste water arisings received In evaluating the causes of the non-compli- preliminary treatment; ance with the Regulations the EPA has • 2% of waste water arisings received concluded that many waste water treatment primary treatment; plants are under increasing pressure from • 70% of waste water arisings received development that has taken place throughout secondary treatment; and, the country over the last number of years. The • 12% of waste water arisings received operation and management of some over- nutrient reduction in addition to sec- loaded plants has proved difficult for some ondary treatment. local authorities. 2. There have been delays in providing the In order to achieve compliance with the required treatment plants at a number of requirements of the Regulations and secure locations throughout the country. Of the improvements in the quality of effluents 158 agglomerations requiring secondary from urban waste water treatment plants treatment or higher by 31st December the EPA makes the following recommenda- 2005, the required level of treatment was tions: not in place at 30 of these agglomerations. 1. The provision of adequate treatment at the 3. Large agglomerations which were 303 agglomerations that did not have the required to have secondary treatment by required level of treatment by December 31st December 2000 but as yet has not 31st 2005 should be progressed as a mat- been provided are: Bray, Howth/Baldoyle ter of urgency. Local authorities need to /Portmarnock (Partial), Balbriggan, Killy- proceed swiftly with planned schemes in begs, Shangannagh, Sligo Town, Tramore, order to ensure full compliance with the and Waterford City. Regulations. 4. The largest untreated discharge to a sensi- 2. Local authorities should ensure that all tive area2 is from Killybegs (Co. Donegal) monitoring and analysis is carried out in with an estimated population equivalent accordance with the Regulations for all of 400,000 p.e. treatment plants including those that are 5. Secondary waste water treatment plants managed and operated by third parties on are now operational in the cities of Cork, behalf of the local authority. Limerick and Galway and these plants are 3. The frequency and volume of storm over- meeting the effluent quality standards set flows within each collection system out in the Regulations. should be assessed, mapped and ranked in 6. Nutrient reduction, which is required for order of polluting potential. discharges to specified waters considered 4. Where sludge is reused in Agriculture, sensitive to the risk of eutrophication, has Local authorities should ensure that the been provided for all agglomerations testing and management of the sludge is specified by the Regulations. compliant with the requirements of the 20 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 would be a few tufts of fur, some out their territory for other foxes. The feathers or a few drops of blood. For smell includes information as to bigger kills it can be equally difficult whether the fox is male or female, and detective work. Depending on how how old and healthy or strong it is. hungry the fox is or how big the kill During the mating season foxes get is, it may decide to bring the kill particularly smelly! Scents can say home to the den, leaving very little whether a female is pregnant or even trace above ground. More often than if she has young cubs. Scent is a very FOFOXX not the fox will eat his kill above important form of communication. Irish name: Madra Rua ground, leaving hints such as drop- pings or paw prints. However, the Fox talk French name: Renard bones of larger animals will be dis- Foxes have up to 20 different calls, German name: Rotfuchs carded outside the den when the meal 8 of which are just used by cubs. is finished, so that would be a good Foxes are actually quite quiet in that son in January and February. A place to look to see what your foxes they will only call about once every female fox, a vixen, is pregnant for have been eating. Some fox foods five hours. Some of these calls are 53 days and has a single litter per include: rabbits, eggs, hares, insects, friendly and can be quite complex, year. Cubs are born in March/April rats, worms, mice, fruit, hedgehogs, whereas others are aggressive and and the average litter is of 4-6 cubs. scraps and birds. much simpler. Here is a list of the 8 The tiny fox cubs only weigh 50-150 most commonly heard fox calls. grams at birth and are not able to Tracks Barks/ yells: By far the most com- open their eyes till they are at least 9- A track is the footprint an animal mon calls. These are aggressive 14 days old. At 4-5 weeks of age they leaves in the ground. Did you know calls used to mark out territory. are finally able to leave the den but that foxes have five toes on their front Shrieks: By vixens to attract dog still need their mother to look after paws but only four on their hind foxes in winter; long calls starting them until they are weaned at 8-10 paws? The fifth toe on the front paw is gradually making it easy to find weeks. During this time the vixen raised up though, so it doesn’t actu- the caller may choose to move her cubs several ally show in the track. Unlike us the Growls: Very like a dog’s growl and times to different dens for safety. The left and right footprint or paw print also used as a threat fox family stays together until the are almost identical so it can be diffi- High whines: Usually follow barks Photo: © ENFO autumn, by which time the cubs are cult to tell them apart if you only find Wow-wow barks/ staccato barks: Description locate, unlike badger setts, which are adult sized, at this time the young will one print. It is easier to tell the fore Multiple barks (3-6), which can more conspicuous. Often all that is disperse from the parents range to and hind paws apart, as the forepaw is be heard far away and are used for Red foxes vary in colour from pale seen of the dens are runs through the find their own territory. Young males slightly larger then the hind paw. friendly communication yellow to deep reddish brown, with undergrowth made by foxes travel- will move up to 40km away and When looking for fox tracks, be Ratchet calls: A short burst of sharp white or pale underside. The tail is ling to and from the den. In urban young females up to 10km.Once the careful not to confuse them with dog c-c-c-c-c sounds. Ritualised ag- thick, long and bushy, almost always areas dens are usually located in young have established a new terri- tracks, as they are quite similar. Here gressive call. with a white tip. Fox’s ears are quite dense undergrowth or neglected gar- tory they will stay there for life. The is a table to help you tell the differ- Yell whines: Signifies intense sub- long and pointed. dens. Often urban dens may be fox cubs will be mature enough by ence between them. mission to another fox Body length 50-100cm located under sheds or other man- the following mating season to start Screams: Defensive or threat calls Tail length 30- 45cm made features and occasionally they their own families. In captivity, foxes Hind Foot 13-16cm are located under or even inside can live for up to 12 years, but in the Paw length 5cm houses! Fox den locations in Dublin wild, with dangers like traffic, hunt- Fox Track Height at shoulder 30-40cm have included: gardens, sheds, com- ing and fights between males, foxes • Small pads (5cm in width approx.) Weight 4 – 9 kg post heaps, a church basement, a typically only live for 3 or 4 years. • Front paws are distanced from the central pad. Range & Habitat utility room of a private house • All the pads are spaced apart. (amongst the laundry!) and in a scrap Feeding habits After humans, foxes are one of the • The claw marks are slender and long. car in a junkyard! Foxes are nocturnal creatures –that most widespread of animals on earth. • A fox’s track is more slender and elongated is, they are most active at night. If They can live in deep forest, arctic tun- compared with that of a dog. How to tell if a den is in use… undisturbed, they may be seen during dra, open grassland or city streets, but • Stick your head a little into the en- the day as well. Foxes are omnivores. they prefer areas of highly variable trance hole and have a good This means that they eat other ani- Dog Track vegetation. Their favourite place to smell! If you get a sharp acrid mals as well as plants. Among the live is in or near scrub, woodland or • Large pads (size variable) ‘carnivore’ smell then the den has fox’s favourite foods are rabbits, other tall vegetation. In cities, urban • Front paws are close to the central pad foxes in it. birds and small rodents, such as rats. foxes prefer areas of detached or semi- • All the pads are close together • Look for food remains like bones Sometimes the fox gets a bad name detached housing with large gardens. • The claw marks are short and rounded and feathers spread out around the from farmers who blame them for • A dog’s track is rounder and shorter than that A Fox’s Home entrance. This could mean that killing lambs and poultry. Foxes in of a fox there are young in the den. fact rarely prey on lamb and it makes Foxes live underground in ‘dens’ • In good weather foxes like to do a up a very small part of their diet. or ‘earths’. These are just like rabbit bit of sunbathing outside the den. Where lamb or sheep is taken it is Droppings holes only bigger. In fact, sometimes References: Look for signs of trampled grass most often scavenged from animals Fox droppings can be quite easy to a den is made from an old rabbit hole Bang, Preben (1974) Collins Guide to Animal near the entrance. that has already died from other recognise, so you’ll know if a fox has Tracks and Signs. Collins, London. or a badger’s set. Foxes usually have • The droppings, urine and food re- causes. Foxes do, however, prey on been about. They are similar to that of a number of dens within their terri- Delany, M.J. (1982) Mammal Ecology. Blackie mains left by foxes make for very poultry and will take chickens or a dog but are spirally twisted with a & Son Ltd, London tory. Outside of the breeding season, fertile soil. As a result, lots of other poultry that is not properly point atone end. The colour can vary Harris S. (1986) Urban Foxes. Whittet Books they may spend much of their time plants will be growing nearby, es- fenced in. Bird’s eggs are a real deli- between black and grey depending on Ltd., London above ground in thick cover. During pecially in spring, maybe even cacy and very nutritious too, so not what the fox has been eating. Berries Hayden T. & Harrington R. (2000) Exploring the breeding season the vixen selects some unusual ones that need very surprisingly, foxes will take them in autumn give a darker colour Irish Mammals. Town House Ltd., a den in which to have her cubs, once Dublin. rich soil. whenever they can. A fox will bite whereas animal bones give a paler born the cubs may be moved from Nowak, Ronald, M (1999) 6th Edition Walkers • In urban gardens fox cubs often into the egg so the whole shell is bro- whitish colour. Fur, feather and bone den to den if disturbed. Many dens Mammals of the World, Vol 1. The make their presence known ken and then lick up the yolk and egg fragments of small animals can be have only one or two entrances John Hopkins University Press, through collecting toys, boots and white off the ground. Sometimes if a found in droppings all year round. In London. whereas breeding dens may have sev- other bric-a-brac, demolishing fox finds an egg but isn’t hungry, it the summer, the hard outer skeleton Van den Brink, F.H. (1977) A field Guide to the eral entrances. In urban areas foxes flowerbeds and rooting up lawns. will hide it under some moss, as it is of insects called chitin may be seen. Mammals of Britain and Europe.Wm live at higher densities than in the Collins Sons & Co., Ltd, London. too delicate to carry back to the den. Beetles are a particular favourite. countryside. This is probably due to Family Life In the summer and autumn, the many Because foxes use the distinct smell Thanks to: David Wall, Dept of Zoology, UCD urban foxes having a more regular & Dr John Rochford, Dept Of Zoology, TCD A home range is typically occupied different fruits and berries available of their droppings to mark out their source of food… thanks to us! In by breeding male, a breeding female become a major part of the diet. In territory, droppings will commonly Dublin fox densities average around Written by Justine Cavanagh. and their cubs. Often a second non- particular, cherries and plums, which be found in elevated places such as 1.04 fox families per km2. In rural Issued by: ENFO – The Environmental breeding female (the offspring of a are eaten whole from the ground. tree stumps, tall grasses or on large areas densities may be several times Information Service, 17 St Andrew previous year) will remain in the ter- rocks. lower than this. Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: (01) ritory and help to rear the cubs. Very Evidence of a kill 8883911 (01) 8883933 Fax: (01) 888 occasionally two females may rear When a fox eats a mouse or a small Communication How to recognise a den… 3946 e-mail: [email protected] web site: cubs in the same territory or even in bird, there is rarely much sign left of Like all other mammals, foxes Fox dens are often concealed in www.enfo.ie the same den. Males fight to defend the kill. The prey is usually eaten leave their distinctive smell every- thick undergrowth and can be hard to their territory during the mating sea- whole. The only evidence of a kill where they go. Usually this is to mark SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______21 Jewels in the Mud

evidence for the palaeo-detec- nologists and paleolimnologists Water Framework Directive to For more information see By Catherine tives. The location, abundance at the Environmental Change reconstruct past chemical and www.palaeolim.ie. Dalton and condition point toward the Research Centre in University biological conditions as a environmental conditions College London. The tradition means of supplementing gaps Dr. Catherine Dalton, under which these various life of examining lake sediments instrumental records. This LAKES are sparkling, Department of Geography, forms prospered. was pioneered in the south with recent development has fos- University of Limerick (Mary reflective and spectacular fea- Palaeolimnologists assume Declan Murray in University tered a wealth of research Immaculate College), South tures in the landscape. For an that lake muds have accumu- College Dublin. More recently projects in the last 5 years island nation we are particu- lated over the history of the examination of lake sediments quadrupling the number of Circular Road, Limerick, larly well populated with lakes existence. Surface sedi- has been recommended as a palaeolimnologists working in Ireland. lakes (over 11,000 lakes) ment ‘cores’ samples are methodology under the EU Ireland. especially along the western extracted using drilling coast. As well as providing an devices that are lowered by important landscape feature, a gravity on a rope into surface source of drinking water, sediments. More sophisti- amenity and recreation, what cated rod-based corers are is perhaps less well known is operated from rafts when that lakes provide us with an longer Holocene lake sedi- important archive of geo- ment cores are required. This graphical information. A small raises the question about the Harvesting but growing number of Irish sediment accumulation rates researchers call themselves and the depth of lake sediment palaeolimnologists, or people archives. The sediment the Sea’s who reconstruct past lake archive is potentially as old as environments. This archive is the lake. The amount of sedi- essentially the lake muds that ment extracted depends on the have accumulated in the bot- accumulation rate in the lake Renewable tom of lake basins. and the type of coring device The misnomer that our used to extract the sediment. lakes are bottomless has been A highly productive lake is well and truly dismissed by estimated to accumulated 0.5 Resources palaeolimnologists. The cm of sediment annually so a majority of lakes in Ireland 1 m core is assumed to contain have developed in the c. 50 year archive. When sedi- Holocene period (over the last ment cores are extracted layers 10,000 years) in hollows and are often visible, representing depressions gouged out in the different environmental condi- landscape by retreating gla- tions over time. However in the ciers. Profiling these majority of lakes the sediments geological basins is a rela- are relatively homogenous and tively under-developed area in require more sophisticated lab- Irish research as is sedimen- oratory procedures to extract tology. Much of the academic information on the catchment- interest has centred on the lake history. water basin. Diatoms are of particular What may appear as rela- interest to this author. tively homogeneous brown Diatoms have been called mud to some contains a ‘plants with a touch of glass’. wealth of information to These microscopic plants are palaeolimnologists. This found in all lakes as well as information is extracted from the sea and make up about a mineral, plant and animal quarter of plant life by weight detritus that accumulate in the and produce a quarter of the mud. Mineral fragments are oxygen we need. Their explored in terms of their uniquely patterned siliceous chemistry, isotope signals and skeletons enable their preser- general morphology. Biologi- vation as ‘jewels in the [lake] cal fragments contain proxy mud’. A Victorian hobby material representing aquatic arranged the cells in artistic plants remains (pollen, macro- assemblages on microscope fossils, fossil algae, algal slides. pigments) insects (larval and The study of lake mud had adult stages). Some remains an auspicious start in Ulster Generating investment, employment are intact and are visible to the with the appointment of Frank naked eye, others are more Oldfield as Professor of Geog- and market opportunities in the fishing fragmented or are so small raphy and Dean of the School that they require examination of Biological and Environ- and aquaculture industry under a microscope with up to mental Studies at the New x1000 magnification. The University of Ulster in 1967. technology used to analyse Frank went on to become, materials and glean clues among other things, Executive An Bórd Iascaigh Mhara, The Irish Sea Fisheries Board, about past environments has Director of IGBP Past Global Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland. advanced at a spectacular rate Changes (PAGES). Among in recent decades. Traces of his many students at Coleraine Tel 01 284 1544. Fax 01 284 1123. past environments can show was Rick Battarbee, who now Email [email protected] Website www.bim.ie up in mineral, plant and ani- heads up a large group of lim- mal form, providing important 22 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 slopes are relics of Victoria’s By gold rush, which began here in 1851. Mining continued Anthony Toole into the early 20th Century, by Wild Melbourne which time around 250 miners WITH a population of some were employed here. At 3.3 million, Melbourne is a Pound Bend, a tunnel was dug sprawling city. Its Central to divert the river and so Business District is quite com- expose its bed for mining. At pact, and has been referred to the same time, the hills were as a Golden Mile. The resi- completely denuded of trees. dential area, however, Since the closure of the mines, hemmed in by Port Phillip the area has reverted to its nat- Bay to the south, extends for ural appearance and twenty kilometres to the west fast-growing manna gum trees and north and double that to have recolonised the river- the east. Though there are banks and hillsides. Many of more than a dozen National Australia’s iconic animals, and State Parks within a kangaroos, wallabies, wom- morning’s drive of the sub- bats and platypus have urbs, some of the most returned. important work toward the At Pound Bend, a reserve protection of wildlife is done within the park has been cre- much closer to the city, and ated specifically for koalas. even within its boundaries. There are footpaths through At Werribee, on the south- the forest, and though the western edge of the city, and koalas may at first be difficult covering an area of 11 000 to spot, they can more readily hectares on the Port Phillip be seen when one knows what Bay coast, lies the Western to look for. The trees are very Treatment Plant. This huge tall, and the animals, even at area was set aside in the 1890s their most active, are almost to handle the sewage of the immobile. Nevertheless, they rapidly growing conurbation. Toole Anthony Photos: © usually appear as incongruous Even today it treats the efflu- Pelicans at Werribee. swellings among the higher ent of more than half branches of the eucalyptus. Melbourne, including that of in turn, has attracted huge waders. Many have migrated in Victoria. Marsh harriers and plans include measures to A short distance to the west the 1.6 million inhabitants of numbers of birds to Werribee, from Alaska, Siberia, Japan white-bellied sea eagles are conserve the flora and fauna of Pound Bend is a tiny, and the west, north and central with the result that in 2001, and China. Records show that among the birds of prey that of the wetlands, and make even more specialised protec- suburbs and most of the city’s the wetlands were listed under some ringed birds have made are often seen. About 60 Werribee a world leader in tion area, the Pauline Toner industrial waste. Much of this the Ramsar Treaty as of inter- the journey at least ten times. orange-bellied parrots migrate this field. Butterfly Reserve. The is cleaned by passage through national importance. Large numbers of Australian to Werribee from Tasmania The Western Treatment Eltham Copper butterfly was a series of lagoons, in which More than 270 species of teal, shoveller and shelduck for the winter. This is an Plant was originally set up to first recorded in 1938. Twenty solids progressively settle, bird have been recorded at winter here along with grebes, extremely endangered bird, divert sewage from the Yarra years later, it was presumed and bacteria, helped by aera- Werribee and its smaller satel- coots, pelicans, black swans with an estimated total of 150 River, Melbourne’s main extinct, but a small number tion and sunlight, purify the lite protected areas, Point and white ibises. Waders surviving in the wild. watercourse, which flows into were rediscovered in 1987. It water before its discharge into Cook and Cheetham wetlands. include red-necked avocet, Werribee is no longer the the city from the north-east. is now known to be present at the bay. This is almost as many as in pied stilt and the much rarer sole treatment plant for Mel- The several wooded parks that fewer than twenty sites at The lagoons, and Lake Bor- the world famous Kakadu Cox’s sandpiper, buff- bourne, though it remains the line the riverbanks from the three widely separated locali- rie, which was created from a National Park in the Northern breasted sandpiper and Asian largest. As the city expands, suburb of Warrandyte almost ties in Victoria. small swamp, are completely Territory. Bird watching and dowitcher. 700 pairs of pied there are new housing devel- into the city centre illustrate The numbers of this very artificial. Apart from the treat- fishing are allowed all year cormorant breed here and opments in the surrounding its success. The purpose of rare butterfly are low ment areas, there are rivers, round, but only by permit. raise their chicks during win- area. These have necessitated some of these parks is largely because of the isolation of its estuaries, dry plains, wood- With little human interference ter. Several artificial perches changes in sewage handling. recreational, while others are populations, the loss of habi- lands and mudflats. These and no shooting, this has have been built around Lake Odours need to be eliminated. dedicated to quite specific tats and its unusual life cycle. have all been enriched by become a wildlife haven. Borrie to replace trees that The lagoon system is being conservation projects. The adults lay their eggs only nutrients from the plant’s dis- Upward of 60,000 birds have either fallen or rotted expanded. The emphasis has Warrandyte State Park lies on the Sweet Bursaria plant, charges, which feed a large arrive here in the autumn, away, making this the only moved toward recycling 24 kilometres from the city on which the caterpillars invertebrate population. This, including up to 20,000 breeding area for cormorants rather than discharge. These centre. Scattered around its depend for their food. In

Werribee River mouth.The Western Treatment Plant lies beyond the far shore. Yarra River at Yarra Bend. SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______23 their nocturnal foraging, they past an almost unbroken series Over a six-month period, are accompanied by Noton- of parks and reserves, before it they moved five kilometres cus ants, which feed on sugar comes to the Yarra Bend Park, downstream and eventually secretions on the caterpillars’ where a unique and highly settled at Yarra Bend.

skins. In return, the ants pro- successful experiment has An area of 26 hectares has Toole Anthony Photos: © tect the caterpillars from been carried out. now been allocated as a flying insect predators. For two decades, fruit fox reserve, and the vegeta- The Pauline Toner reserve bats, also known as flying tion there will be continually is named after Victoria’s first foxes, inhabited the Royal regenerated until it, and the woman cabinet minister, who Botanical Gardens in the bats reach a sustainable level. was an active campaigner for centre of Melbourne. As An almost identical problem the butterfly. Volunteers carry their numbers approached 30 has arisen in Sydney, so the out conservation work, such 000, the damage they did to pioneering work in Melbourne as revegetation, protection of the trees became devastat- is now being seen as offering habitat and track manage- ing. As the species, on a a possible solution. ment, with financial support national scale is threatened, from Victoria’s Department culling was not an option. M.A. Toole, 65, Cheswick of Sustainability and the Relocation was the only Drive, Gosforth, Newcastle Environment. solution. In an operation that upon Tyne, NE3 5DW, U.K. As everywhere in Australia, was the first of its kind in the Fruit Bats (Flying Foxes) at Yarra Bend. the Aboriginal names have world, the bats were moved been overlaid with later appel- to a site at Horseshoe Bend, lations that reflect the origins farther up the Yarra. When of the European settlers. So they tried to return, or invade the Yarra snakes its way nearby residential gardens, between the suburbs of Don- they were subjected to noises caster and Heidelberg, and which drove them back.

A close-up of the fruit bat.

Koala, Pound Bend Reserve. 24 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 Recent EPA publications PUBLICATIONS

ERTDI Report No. 33: Management in the ExtractiveIndustry – Non-Scheduled Minerals. ISBN: 1-84095-163-X ERTDI Report No. 53:Climate Change – Modelling Carbon Fluxes from Irish Peatlands: Towards the OF INTEREST Development of a National Carbon Fluxes Inventory for Irish Peatlands. The Historic Countryside include geology, climate, seashore given priority to investigating over the private sector policy-makers, ISBN: 1-84095-206-7 and farming. If I were to visit the the past 50 years. They include: and governments of the impor- of the Saxon villages of Aran Islands again, I will not be Damage to structurally complex tance of investing in protected ERTDI Report No. 55: Identification of Reference Southern Transylvania without this wonderful guide. habitats and benthic habitats, areas. changes to coastal environments John Akeroyd – Status for Irish Lake Typologies Using from the effects of fishing or land Palaeolimnological Methods and Techniques (IN-SIGHT) Fundatia ADEPT, Saschiz, Depend on Nature runoff, habitat cover availability Value ISBN: 1-84095-211-3 Romania. Pp. 86, with many Ecosystem Services and natural mortality, as well as Counting ecosystems as colour photos supporting Human the influence and role of the cover. water infrastructure Many issues for the betterment of ERTDI Report No. 56: Climate Change – Estimation of ISBN (10)973-0-04533-X Livelihoods fish stocks are discussed. Bottom By Lucy Emerton & Elroy Bos Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Agriculture and (13)978-973-0-04533-8 Sue Mainka, Jeff McNeely, fishing and its impact on habitat, Strategies for their Reduction IUCN Available from Fundatia Bill Jackson Marine Protection Parks, artificial www.iucn.org ISBN: 1-84095-212-1 ADEPT, 32 Oakley Road, structures and restoring a produc- Chinnor, Oxon OX39 4HB IUCN tive marine environment. The ISBN: 2-8317-0720-X € ERTDI Report No. 59: Water Framework Directive: Price: £12.00 incl. p&p/2006 Available for downloading comments made in the foreword Price 10.50/2004 on www.iucn.org by Prof. Quifiones of the Centre Reference Conditions and Eutrophication. Impacts in This beautifully illustrated This practical guide explains for Ocean Researches in Chile are book introduces the historic Saxon Price: £8.50stg/2005 the most important techniques for Irish Rivers. very much to the point. He states Villages of southern Transylvania the economic valuation of ecosys- ISBN: 1-84095-223-7 Human wellbeing depends on that the author is drawing our at- in Romania. Here in the foothills tem services, and how their results the capacity of the earth’s natural tention to a key factor for the of the Carpathians there survives a are best incorporated in policy and systems to provide ecosystem proper management of benthic and ERTDI Report No. 62: Investigations into why Existing medieval landscape, a remarkable decision-making. It explains, step goods and services. We rely on demersal populations/communi- Environmental Technologies are Underused. place of remote villages, ancient by step, how to generate persua- ecosystem services’ to provide the ties that until now has not been ISBN: 1-84095-230-X forests and flower-rich hay-mead- sive arguments for more sustain- basics of life - food, water, shelter, properly accounted for - the im- ows, all of huge scientific, cultural able and equitable development clothing and clean air - and to reg- portance of habitat and cover. This and human value. The author decisions in water resources man- ERTDI Report No. 64: Guide to Commercialisation of ulate our climate, to pollinate our book is highly recommended, es- pleads for old and new to be com- agement. It shows that invest- Environmental R&D Outputs – A Manual for crops and to inspire our societies pecially for fishermen, fisheries bined in a sustainable economic ments in nature can be and cultures. Yet, at the same time, managers, scientists and decision- Researchers in Receipt of Environmental Research future, with farming, quality food investments that pay back. the biological diversity that deliv- makers. and Development Funding. production, traditional crafts and ers these services is being lost. Ten key messages are put for- ISBN: 1-84095-229-6 eco-tourism at the heart of sustain- This 37 page book lists and dis- ward. They include: able development and conserva- cusses ten actions and their first Proceedings of the • Putting ecosystems into water Code of Practice: Environmental Risk Assessment for tion. This book is for visitors and steps for achieving development Workshop Stream equations anybody interested in European • Correcting the balance sheet Unregulated Waste Disposal Sites. goals through environmental man- botany, natural history, conserva- agement. They include: Building a Secure • Adding up the benefits and ISBN: 1-84095-226-1 tion and human history; a Roman- • Integrated ecosystem manage- Financial Future: Finance costs ian edition goes out to schools and ment for human wellbeing & Resources • Using valuation in water deci- 2020 Vision. ISBN: 1-84095-227-X government offices. into development planning sions and implementation. Vth IUCN World Parks • Improving standard planning See Something? Say Something! – Leaflet Nature Guide to • Promote equity, especially Congress practices the Aran Islands gender equity, in natural re- Durban, South Africa, This book should be on the Many of these publications can be source management. September 8-17, 2003 shelf of planners, water engineers, • Explore and support payments in fact anyone involved in deci- downloaded free from the EPA website www.epa.ie Con O’Rourke IUCN for ecosystem services. sion making where water or habi- The Lilliput Press www.iucn.org • Ensure at least minimum en- tats are concerned. www.lilliputpress.ie vironmental flows in all water ISBN: 2-8317-0842-7 ISBN 1 84351 078 2 management schemes. Price: £9.00stg/2003 Nature Conservation • Restore landscapes and Price: €15.00/2006 The Sustainable Finance Concepts and Practice seascapes to benefit people Stream (SFS) of the Vth IUCN Ireland’s offshore islands are and nature. World Parks Congress set the Edited by Dan Gafta unique places to visit. The Aran Is- stage to better understand the & John Akeroyd lands off the west coast are the value of biodiversity, the costs most famous. Much has been writ- Marine Habitat and Cover Springer Berlin Heidelberg of conserving it, and what needs ten about their literature, social New York Their Importance to be done to secure its financial Visit history, folklore and language but www.springeronline.com future. Critical to this effort is little of their natural history. This for Productive Coastal the cost of managing protected ISBN: 978 3-540-47228-5 book by Con O’Rourke will help Fishery Resources www.naturesweb.ie areas. greatly to focus on the island’s Price €200.00/2006 By John F. Caddy A particular challenge identi- natural history. The chapter on The proceedings of an interna- fied throughout the Congress is flora has lovely photographs of the Oceanographic Methodology tional conference held in Cluj, Ro- that of communication. Services plant life of some of the 437 Series UNESCO Publishing mania, in 2005, this volume brings provided by protected areas are species found on the islands. The together papers on the conserva- http://publishing.unesco.org not fully understood, identified, Download an history of botanists on Aran makes tion of species, habitats and land- and appreciated. Building solid in- exciting newsletter interesting reading. The greatest ISBN: 978-92-3-104035-1 scapes in Europe and worldwide. stitutional arrangements for fi- botanists of the late 19th century € Topics covered include studies of for children, Price: 26.00/2007 nancing protected areas is and the early 20th century were flora, fauna and ecological history featuring This book addresses a large but essential. visitors - Hart, Colgan and for the evaluation of biodiversity, interesting and poorly-defined area, namely the A number of regional case stud- Praeger. Colgan identified 419 of and multi-disciplinary ecology as application of field studies in ma- ies from different parts of the informative news on the above 437. In the late 20th a tool of of conservation. rine ecology to the assessment and world stress the financial chal- nature and the century, Webb, and the outstand- The book emphasizes links be- management of demersal fish- lenges of managing conservation ing Maura Scannell from the Na- tween widely different fields of re- environment. eries. It argues that when fishery programs, and demonstrate the po- tional Botanic Garden, also visited search and between science and resources are depleted harvest tential to successfully develop sus- the island. There is a chapter on the wider community. It will be of controls alone are ineffective for tainable financing mechanisms. the fauna of the islands in which great value to those who practice their recovery and subsequent Experiences also suggest that the photographs of the birds, and and teach nature conservation, to conservation. The author ad- well-executed analyses of social especially the butterflies and landscape architects and town Produced by Sherkin Island Marine Station dresses fundamental issues that and economic benefits of biodi- moths, stand out. Other sections planners. fishery scientists should have versity conservation can convince SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______25 Limerick Nature Walks Calling all Radio Officers Illustration: © “Limerick Nature Walks” Illustration: © “Limerick Nature THE RADIO OFFICER, known to generations of seafarers as “Sparks”, was an integral part of life on board ships in the days before satellite communications rendered the job obsolete. Guglielmo Marconi - the first Radio Officer, was the originator of the wireless communication system. On board ship, he or she had to operate the radio transmitter, direction finder, echo sounder and radar, and quickly repair anything that went wrong with this equipment. Radio Officers first went to sea in merchant ships in 1900 and for almost a century they provided a vital WHEN will most people realise that link between ship and shore. The Radio Officer just a few miles from their home the became recognised as an indispensable part of ensur- world of nature is waiting for them? ing the safety of life at sea following the Titanic There is no doubt that quite a few resi- wonderful and the colour maps for each disaster of 1912. dents of Limerick city and county do not walk are superb. The Radio Offi- realise the true beauty of their own This is a wonderful book and it should cer continued to county - and indeed this can be said be a must for every school in Limerick provide safety and about residents of every other county in County and beyond. By getting children commercial radio Ireland. The saying “far away hills are interested in these walks they can, as communications greener” would sum up the insane rush only children can, get their parents out and radio, radar to foreign parts for holidays. But there is and about. Limerick Nature Walks is a and electronic real beauty waiting just outside our template for a similar book for each maintenance doorsteps and this book shows us just a county in Ireland. (Matt Murphy) duties onboard fraction of it. merchant ships It describes 35 nature walks within the Castleconnell Riverwalk “Limerick Nature Walks” until late 1990’s boundaries of County Limerick. They but the advent of include the Barnagh Tunnel, Foynes description, the author mentions various by Geoff Hunt. ISBN: 0-9540545-2-0 satellite GMDSS Wood and Murroe Woodland. A map is species of animals and plants that the Published by Gaelscoil O Doghair (the automated provided for each walk, giving its loca- walker should be on the look out for. 2006. Available from Newscastle West Global Marine tion within the county, the distance of the The final section of the book has lists of Bookstore Ltd, Market Yard, Newcastle Distress and Safety System) ensured that the demise of walk, the best place to begin and how birds, butterflies and dragonfly species West, Co Limerick. Price: €20.00. the specialist officer for communication was long it would take - based on a person that were recorded in Limerick. The www.newcastlewestbookstore.com inevitable. walking 4km per hour. Within each walk wildlife photographs in the book are Radio Officers’ Association The main purpose of the Radio Officers’Association is to ensure that the work, life and times of the Marine, Aeronautical, Coastal Stations and Clandestine Radio Officer are not forgotten. In slightly less than 100 years the marine Radio Offi- cer came and went but during that time many thousands of men and women enjoyed a challenging, enjoyable and truly unique profession. The Radio Offi- cers’ Association was formed in 1995 to ensure that these experiences are not forgotten. This contribution to life at sea is being recorded for posterity and the Association does so in an exemplary way. The Association publishes a quarterly newsletter called QSO, which generally comprises of a booklet of information about past and forthcoming events, sea stories and memories together with details of current communication systems. It also includes an update of association documents, former Wireless College news, book reviews, letters to the editor and much more. Membership of the Radio Officers’ Association is open to suitable qualified serving or former Radio Offi- cers of the Merchant, Coast Station, Civil Aeronautical or Covert services. Tom Frawley and Colman Shaugh- nessy would like to make contact with former Merchant Navy Radio Officer and any other Irish Radio Officers.

Website: www.roass.org Email: [email protected] [email protected] 26 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 Junior Pages Junior Pages Junior Pages SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______27 Learn about birds with Summer Migrants BirdWatch Ireland

Feeding Wild Birds Leaflet By Declan Murphy Download this leaflet from the Learn about Birds section on BirdWatch Ireland’s website at www.birdwatchireland.ie NOW that the long days of summer are with us we can enjoy many different species of birds that migrate from Africa to spend the summer months here in Ireland. Our best known summer visitor is undoubtedly the Learn how to identify the birds in your garden with our Swallow, but there are many other birds that make the long journey to Africa and back. The reason so many Free Garden Bird Charts. Send a SAE to: BirdWatch birds make these long and dangerous journeys is food. Birds like Swallows, Swifts, Warblers and Wheatears are Ireland, P.O. Box 12, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. all insect feeders and although there is food in abundance during the summer months, there are far fewer insects around in the harsh months of winter. BirdWatch Ireland has over One of the first birds to arrive here from Africa to spend the summer with us is the Wheatear. This is a 10,000 members and has small bird, quite like a Robin in shape, with a black mask on its face and a distinctive white rump visible when branches throughout the coun- they fly. The males usually arrive first, from mid-March onwards, and are a lovely sight with their slate grey try which organise events and outings in your area. Why not backs, peach coloured under-parts and black face mask. When they have refuelled after their long journey, they get your school to join? Write fly on to their mountain breeding grounds and set up territory before the females arrive a few weeks later. to us or visit our website for Shortly after the Wheatears arrive, Sand Martins, Swallows, House Martins, Swifts and a host of warblers all details: www.birdwatchireland.ie reach our shores during the months of April and May. All of these birds can be seen throughout the summer months before they leave our shores in the autumn on their long journey south to their wintering grounds in BirdWatch Ireland has two Africa. educational web sites, catering for learning about birds in It's quite amazing to think that some of these birds begin their first journey to Africa only a few weeks after schools. leaving the nest! 0 Visit the Working with Birds web site to learn about Swallow watching and feeding birds The Swallow usually arrives here in Simply go to www.birdwatchireland.ie and go to the ‘learn Ireland in the first few weeks of April, about birds’ section however there are often early individu- als which are seen in February or BirdWatch Ireland, P.O. Box 12, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. March. There are even sightings in Tel: 01-2819878 Fax: 01-2819763 December. The well known saying "One Email: [email protected] Swallow doesn't make a Summer" is certainly a very correct one! Swallows Website: www.birdwatchireland.ie can be easily identified by their deeply forked tails, iridescent blue upperparts and white underparts. When seen at close range the reddish coloured face can often be seen. They have a fast, Bird Quiz dashing flight and make a lovely sight Why do Swallows fly to Africa? as they feed low over fields and water- ways. The male sings from a perch close The first five correct answers drawn will each receive a copy of to the chosen nest site and the long ‘The Usborne Spotter’s Guide to Birds’. Answers on a postcard to ‘Sherkin Comment’, Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin twittering song is one of the most Island, Co. Cork. beautiful sounds of the summer. Swal- lows feed exclusively on the wing and take a wide range of flying insects, Photos: © Daragh Owens travelling huge distances each day to collect enough food for itself and it's young. The nest, which is always located in a shed or building is cup shaped and built from mud and lined with feathers and grass. 3-6 eggs are laid which hatch after two weeks and the young fly after a further three weeks. There are usually two, some- times three, broods. This means that a single pair of Swallows can produce up to 15 offspring! However, many of these will perish on the long journey to Africa and back, even so enough birds always survive to ensure that our harbinger of the summer months is always there to keep us company.

House Martin The House Martin arrives a little later than Swallows usually in late April or early May. It is similar in appear- ance to Swallows, but is smaller with broader wings and a shallower forked tail. The most obvious difference however is the striking white rump on the upperparts. It is a less agile flier than the swallow and doesn't feed low over fields preferring to feed higher up and around buildings. Unlike the Swallow it nests on the outside of a building, especially under the eaves of houses. They make a domed shaped mud nest with a small entrance hole at the top. 3-5 eggs are incubated for two weeks and the young fly after a further two weeks. They are a sociable species with several nests often built on the one building forming a loose colony. Two broods are usual but sometimes a third brood is raised with young in the nest as late as October. 28 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 “Trout in the Classroom” Photos: © Eastern Regional Fisheries Board

Children releasing fry. A group shot of participants in “Trout in the Classroom”.

By Des Chew tles of frozen water into the tank twice participate in this project for 2007. For further information on the daily to keep the water temperature The idea for the project came from education projects carried out by below 10 degrees, while others removed Philip Jennings from Blanchardstown THERE was great excitement in Mul- the Dublin Angling Initiative and the dead eggs with a turkey baster! Youth Service and the programme was huddart National School and Scoil the Eastern Regional Fisheries Some children and their parents came to run by Des Chew of the Dublin Angling Olibhre primary school recently as both the school every day during the Christ- Initiative. Well done to everyone who Board, please visit Dublin schools took part in the DAI mas holidays to continue to monitor the took part in this special project, espe- www.fishingireland.net (Dublin Angling Initiative) ‘Trout in the eggs just as would staff in any fish farm. cially the children. Classroom’ project. This special project There was great satisfaction and per- allows children, under supervision, to sonal achievement watching the eggs rear trout eggs in their school. The change and develop and then on the 28th LEAVE YOUR practical nature of this project brings FOOTPRINTS December 2006, the young fry started the subject to life for children and they 2007 International Blue Flag ON THE SAND AND to hatch from their eggs with the egg all have a role to play in ensuring the NOT YOUR WASTE. sac attached to their bodies. The moni- eggs reach maturity and are released Beaches in County Cork toring of water temperature and The Blue Flag Operators in into the wild. Ireland urge the public to help removal of the debris continued up until The International Blue Flag campaign is a voluntary scheme co-ordinated in Ireland Trout farming and egg rearing is a retain Blue Flags at beaches by Tuesday 16th January when the two by An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland, with support from the Department of doing some simple things when complex process, for even the most the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and on behalf of the Foundation visiting the beach. On your next schools came together on the banks of for Environmental Education (FEE, www.fee-international.org). experienced fish farmer. In order to beach visit: the river Tolka to release the fry which This International award is universally recognised as the benchmark for beach - Stay safe. Know your flags. ensure success, the water temperature quality. It ensures the following Beach Quality criteria are maintained: Look at the safety signage were now free swimming and had fully and follow your lifeguard’s must be regularly monitored, the eggs - excellence in water quality and a committed monitoring programme absorbed the sac so that the trout fry - Provision of adequate safety and services, safety equipment and warning signals advice. (or ova) must be protected from natural of potential hazards. - Respect the fragile beach could live their life in the river Tolka. habitat, particularly the light, a constant flow of water and oxy- - Beach Management programme, Good Infrastructure, accessibility and litter control. sand dunes. Sand dunes The project gave the children a won- - Provision of environmental information and education gen and the continuous removal of dead are a very important derful awareness of their local river and This year Cork has been awarded 10 Blue Flag Beaches. These awards reflect the natural ecosystem and eggs and any debris which may encour- work carried out and the continued commitment by the Councils local area offices, coastal defence system. gave them a degree of ownership and Please do not trample the age fungal growth and destroy the eggs Environment Department and Voluntary Community Groups. responsibility for the welfare of the dunes – use footpaths and must be carried out. designated pathways. river. They recorded all the data as they ✧ Youghal Front Strand Driving, motorcycling, In spite of these challenges, the chil- scrambling and horseriding went along, times, dates, temperatures Claycastle dren in both schools managed to rear destroy the dunes. Please etc. More than 110 children were directly ✧ Shanagarry Garryvoe try and prevent these over 600 trout fry successfully with activities. involved and attended the release of the ✧ - Follow the beach code of very few casualties. The eggs were Old Head of Kinsale Garrylucas fry into the river Tolka at Mulhuddart. conduct. donated by the Central Fisheries Board Garrettstown - Use litterbins if provided or Last year, this section of the river ben- better still Bring Your Litter Trout Fish Farm in Roscrea, Co. Tipper- ✧ Clonakilty Inchydoney efited from major spawning enhancement Home with you! ary and were delivered to the schools in ✧ Rosscarbery Owenahincha - Recycle at the local development work where gravel beds facilities provided. Follow late November 2006 by Des Chew of the The Warren the signage. were created and resting or holding pools Dublin Angling Initiative. The aquariums ✧ Skibbereen Tragumna - Keep dogs on a leash and were dug out to improve the trout habi- clean up after your dog. which were donated by Pet Stop in Blan- ✧ Mizen Head Barleycove - Respect other beach users. tat. This work was carried out by Fingal - Join in beach clean/activity chardstown town centre were already in County Council and the Eastern Regional days or organise your own place awaiting the arrival of the eggs. if you have the initiative. Fisheries Board. On the day of release, For further information : The project involved numerous visits to ➢ on issues of beach management and water quality contact the environment The Blue Flag award has rangers from the Tolka Valley Park, fish- section, cork county council benefits to the local community, where amenities and the schools where children learned all 021– 4532700 www.corkcoco.ie or local area office. eries officers from the Eastern Regional environment are enhanced and about their local river, the Tolka, and ➢ For information on Blue Flag Beaches contact: An Taisce Blue Flag Office, Fisheries Board, youth workers from a shared responsibility for the the life cycle of the trout and salmon. Tailors Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8. beach and the local Foroige Youth Project, members of the tel 01– 7077068 [email protected] www.blueflag.org environment is promoted. These Each child received a booklet and a fish ➢ On issues of information regarding special protection areas, natural awards also have a positive Tolka River Environmental Alliance and species brochure that was produced by heritage areas contact Heritage unit, knock on effect for tourism in teachers from both schools were present Cork County Council 021–4818006 the County. The local authority the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, ➢ On issues of water safety contact www.iws.ie depends on the full co- to support the initiative. operation of the public in with puzzles and colouring games to Six schools in the Tolka Valley catch- maintaining and progressing the assist with this educational programme. Blue Flag Scheme along our ment area are already booked to IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE AT THE BEACH! beautiful coastline. The children took turns placing bot- SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______29

CONDENSATION The Water Cycle When rising water vapour hits the cold air in the sky, the vapour turns into liquid, forming clouds. This is Can you put the correct number in each box on the right? called condensation.

EVAPORATION The sun heats up water in rivers, 3 lakes and oceans, turning water 2 into steam or vapour. This steam rises and goes up into the air.

PRECIPITATION Precipitation occurs when so much liquid has collected in the clouds that 4 the air cannot hold it any longer. The water falls back to earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow.

COLLECTION Water from the clouds may fall back into rivers, lakes and oceans, or fall 1 on land where it soaks into the earth and collects under the ground. This water may seep into rivers, lakes and oceans, beginning the water cycle again. Illustration: © Sherkin Island Marine Station

Fair Weather WEATHER 1 2 Which silhouette matches the picture in box 1? (Answer below) QUIZ 3 W I N D

Each sentence below contains a hidden 4 word, one of which is shown. Fill these 5 words into the grid on the right and then unscramble the highlighted letters to 6 reveal an item that takes advantage of 7 fine weather! 8

1 2 9

10

11

1. The farmer cut the wheat in the field. 2. I met Laura in the restaurant. 3. A pantomime is a show in December. 4. From the attic loud noises could be heard. 345. The weather seems unusual at present. 6. Mary put new arm patches on my sweater. 7. My brother made waves in the swimming pool. 8. I celebrate my birthday in May. 9. The room is too stuffy. 10. The gruff ogre live alone in the castle.

11. The dog is lost or maybe it is just hiding?

Item: Washing Line. Washing Item: 6. warm; 7. dew; 8. ice; 9. mist; 10. fog; 11. storm. storm. 11. fog; 10. mist; 9. ice; 8. dew; 7. warm; 6.

: 1. heat; 2. rain; 3. wind; 4. cloud; 5. sun; sun; 5. cloud; 4. wind; 3. rain; 2. heat; 1. : Q W 4. No. Silhouette : W F UIZ EATHER EATHER AIR

: 1. Collection; 2. Evaporation; 3. Condensation; 4. Precipitation. Precipitation. 4. Condensation; 3. Evaporation; 2. Collection; 1. : C W ANSWERS: T ANSWERS: YCLE ATER 56 HE 30 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 GAISCE The President’s Award in Third Level Education

Physical Recreation, Community Involvement By Eunan Mc Entee and Adventure. You choose from three award One of the group working on the roof. levels Bronze, Silver or Gold. I had all ready completed my Bronze award in school so I Why I decided to take part in Gaisce decide to do my Gold award. - The Presidents Award? Adventure WHEN you start college in first year you immediately get caught up in the social way of I went with eleven students from Let- life, which takes up a huge amount of your terkenny IT on a voluntary trip to Thailand. time. When I got as far as third and fourth year Over the sixteen days, the group was invited to I started to realise the opportunities I had work with people suffering from HIV and Aids. missed out on in my first years at college. You In Thailand, these people are often left home- have an amazing opportunity to experience dif- less and lacking adequate care due to a lack of ferent things in college. knowledge about the condition. Upon landing After talking to Letterkenny Institute of in Thailand, the group was brought to‘The Technology (LYIT) Gaisce leader Hannah Camilain Centre’, where they were given a tour Glackin, I decided to join the Gaisce society. of the facility by Father Giovanni who has The Presidents Award was set up in 1985 for worked tirelessly to improve the living condi- young people between the ages of 15-25. Each tions of the local people. This is one of three participant has to complete tasks of their choice rehabilitation centres he has set up in the region in four different categories; Personal Skill, of Rangong. During the trip, the eleven stu-

The construction group taking time to pose for the camera.

dents were divided into two groups. One group assisted with the construction of accommoda- Physical Activity tion while the other was responsible for I took up canoeing and surfing for this sec- educating the local people on how to preserve tion of the Award. It took a lot of hard work and their dwellings. The construction group built a commitment to get to a level where I could flight of steps leading down to a lake, which actually enjoy the sport. Now I often go out acts as an aquarium. They also built a pigsty in surfing and canoeing trips around Donegal, order to house more pigs for meat for the peo- mighty craic! ple and also for selling on. Overall, the group found their time in Thai- Community Involvement land to be a truly enjoyable and life-changing experience. They would like to pay tribute to I was a member of the Students Union in all those who supported them and worked hard LYIT and it was my mission to make clubs and behind the scenes, in particular Dolores Car- societies a real success by creating a wider rwick. Due to public generosity, the group was spectrum of activity to attract students that able to donate €1500 to the housing project, wouldn’t usually get involved. I believed that €3000 for the ‘Jack and Jill Foundation’ and retention could also be tackled by getting peo- €1000 to Father Giovanni to cover the cost of ple involved in different aspects of college life. medication in his rehabilitation centres. First year students are less likely to drop out if they were involved in a club or society. To sum up the Gaisce society has in a way Personal Skill changed my life giving me the opportunity to I was always interested in music with a spe- take up new hobbies and experience new cial love for traditional music. I have attended things, a life changing experience, what more The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann every year for can I say. Thanks. Get involved with Gaisce if seven years now. I play the drums and a friend you get the opportunity. Sean Mc Cague encouraged me to take up the Bodhran. I got lessons and fell in love with More information from: Gaisce – The playing in sessions with friends. I feel very President’s Award, The State Apartments,

Photos: © Eunan McEntee privileged to have played along some of the Dublin Castle, Dublin 2. Tel: 014758746 most talented musicians in Ireland. Eunan McEntee during his trip to Thailand. Web site: www.p-award.net or www.gaisce.ie E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 ______31 Why support the RNLI - the facts • People on powerboats and yachts, THE purpose of the RNLI is to save lives at sea in the Republic of kitesurfers, jetskiers, windsurfers, Ireland and the UK. fishermen, sailors on merchant ves- sels like cargo ships. Frightened, exhausted, in a battered yacht being tossed about by high seas, Crew training – train one, save many a sailor makes a desperate mayday call. • Did you know that more than 90% of Days later, he and his crew will think new RNLI volunteers don’t come from about how they survived their ordeal. sailing backgrounds? tions and others who help raise money. They will remember the glimpse of an • RNLI crew members come from all orange and blue lifeboat; her crew This means the RNLI is a big team and walks of life – doctors, metal workers, everyone has an important part to play. members risking their lives amid huge shop assistants, graphic designers, waves to leap aboard. They will remem- All these people give something back to firefighters, translators, hair- their local community. ber being taken to the safety of the dressers and librarians... lifeboat and the feeling of relief that • But what RNLI crew members all washed over them. share is the willingness to risk their Why we need your help And they will know that those RNLI life to save someone who’s in danger. Training for one crew member costs volunteers saved their lives. • It’s only training that turns someone £1,000 who wants to save lives into someone Plus the all-weather lifeboat crew kit: • The RNLI has been making rescues The lifeboat service who can. Gloves £20 like this since 1824, and over the • The RNLI believes their crew mem- Boots £40 years the lifeboats have saved more • In 2004 the lifeboats launched 7,656 bers deserve the very best training. Trousers £205 than 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a times – that’s about 21 times every It costs £1,000 a year to train a crew Jacket £235 charity and therefore relies on gener- day. member, which is why they need your Safety helmet £180 ous donations and people raising • That’s 21 dads, mums and children who help to raise money. Lifejacket £500 money to make sure the lifeboats can were rescued and brought back safe By helping them raise money, you’ll be help- keep saving lives. and sound to worried families. Teamwork ing to support their brave crew members. • The RNLI’s brave and selfless crews Now there’s nothing stopping you! are prepared to risk their lives every Who do they rescue? The RNLI depends on people who offer time they get a shout. The call can their time and energy for free. As well as Find out more at www.rnli.ie • People on the beach who get swept out the lifeboat crews, there are shore come day or night and they have to be Registered charity number CHY2678 (RoI) to sea, sometimes on a lilo or a rubber helpers who help launch the lifeboat and ready, 24 hours a day, to drop every- 209603 (UK) dinghy, or swimmers and surfers who take it back to the station. There are thing and head to the lifeboat station. Reproduce from the RNLI Fact Sheet “Why Support get caught in rip currents. people who look after the lifeboat sta- the RNLI - the Facts” 32 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2007 Issue No 43 Buddy, can you spare a glass of water?

where aquatic resources don’t benefit and may even be harmed By Mike Ludwig by the discharges. The Rio Grande River with the Sandia Mountains behind. One of the easiest solutions to water shortages is redirection THE availability of water regulates where populations inhabit from one location to another. The Romans left some of the ear- the rivers. Clearly, the tainted wastewater diminishes habitat the land. Unfortunately, water is limited by nature and geology. liest evidence of this practice with their viaducts and other functions and values but a City of sixteen million people has In fact, the United Nations has deemed the need for drinking plumbing devices that redirected water to Rome. Today, virtu- sanitation needs. water the 21 Century’s most pressing problem. Whether it is the ally every large City imports water from varying distances and What to do? (1) In the US, before relocating water, conserva- US, Europe, Egypt or China, obtaining water has created unex- sources. But, as the saying goes, it’s not nice to fool Mother tion and plugging leaks have saved billions of dollars. 2) pected consequences for humans and our environment. For Nature. Perhaps one of the most troubling consequences of our Withdrawls are timed to periods when flows of freshwater are at instance, the Rio Grande / Rio Bravo del Norte Watershed that increasing reliance on water from outside a watershed is the their peak. In New York they use “High flow skimmers” to take forms the southwestern border between the US and Mexico is so impacts to the natural systems. Water relocations have a variety fresh water from rivers during heavy winter and spring rainfalls. used that the Cities of Brownville and Matamoros on the Gulf of of impacts but at the largest scale it is the effect on flows in the Mexico cannot rely on the River for drinking water (In 2001, the donating and receiving waterways that are the most troubling. Since the excess water would simply flow to the sea, the flow petered out before reaching the Gulf!). No longer can these Reduced water flows in the drained system mean its character- removals can be a small percentage of the total flow and impacts Cities get drinking water but must instead pay to drill wells or istics are changed and at its mouth, the estuary diminished. One are minimised. 3) They use natural conditions to set limits on install desalination plants. In Egypt, the construction of the of the worst consequences can be an increased encroachment of the volume of water removed and 4) If none of the above do the Aswan High Dam has altered agriculture practices, increased salt water and an altered mixing zone. Those changes, in turn, job, New York taps as many waterways as possible and takes as disease occurrence and altered the quality of life of people can alter sediment and pollutant deposition or erosion, habitat little as possible from each river. Even with all these measures, above and below the dam. While these “water rights” conflicts types and availability (functions and values), flushing, and salt- New York is experiencing water rationing and the problems will are between humans, what of the environmental “costs” associ- water intrusion to upriver water supplies. worsen as global climate change advances. New York’s prob- ated with redirecting water from natural systems to ones Conversely, the addition of large volumes of used freshwater lems are representative of those in Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, designed for human use? In the Pacific Northwest of the US the to otherwise established estuaries can alter mixing characteris- New Orleans and Cleveland use of Columbia River water for irrigation has been curtailed in tics and the length of river in which the natural estuarine Whatever the choices, take the time to invoke all the water favour of providing humans and fish with sufficient flows to processes occur. The daily, 1.8 Billion gallons of wastewater conservation options and address the potential adverse impacts meet their needs. Crops are damaged by the lack of water. In discharged from New York City is taken from rivers throughout of water relocations. Those steps can do much to maintain parts of Europe, water use has been regulated for fish protection the State and even the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. The healthy ecosystems. but now human needs and wastewater dilution are causing concentrated discharge of so much tainted freshwater in such a stresses that threaten those practices. Will the fish survive? As short reach of waterway interrupts the natural estuarine mixing humans need and use more water, we are seeing that the water processes and destroys valuable habitat for aquatic resources. Mike Ludwig, Ocean & Coastal Consultants, 35 Corporate can actually be cleaner at release but it is being put in places These impacts have damaged the way aquatic resources live in Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611, USA.

The Water Framework Directive

WHAT IS THE WATER FRAMEWORK? HOW WILL THE CFB DELIVER THE FISH ELEMENT OF THE WFD? The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a European Directive Stock surveys will be conducted on short sections of certain rivers, in introduced in December 2000 establishing a new framework for the some lakes and estuaries. The work will commence this year using protection and management of water resources throughout the standard European methods. Work will progress on a three year rolling European Union. programme (one third of sites will be assessed each year).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THE IRISH CONTEXT? WHAT IS THE TIMESCALE FOR THE FISH MONITORING ELEMENT The objective of the WFD provides for "the protection of the status of all OF THE WFD? Irish waters (i.e. no deterioration to be allowed) and the achievement of The details regarding fish stocks must be included in a report to Europe at least good status by December 2015". covering the period 2007-2009.

WHO WILL BE ADMINISTERING THE WFD IN IRELAND? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FISH MONITORING? In Ireland the Directive is administered nationally by the Department of The information obtained from the fish monitoring programmes will be the Environment, Heritage and Local Government through the used to evaluate the measures introduced to protect and restore waters. Environmental Protection Agency. Implementation will be advanced by the seven River Basin management groups. All enquiries to: The Central Fisheries Board WHO WILL DELIVER THE FISH ELEMENT OF THE WFD? Swords Business Campus The Central Fisheries Board is delivering the fish element of the WFD Swords and will compile information about the fish species occurring at certain Co. Dublin specified locations, their abundance and age patterns. The CFB will be Tel: 01 8842600 working closely with all stakeholders including Regional Fisheries Email: [email protected] Boards, Fishery Owners, Angling Associations, Fisheries Representative Web: www.cfb.ie Bodies and other Government Agencies.