AP2-4/2018 & AP5/2018 Lough Swilly Shellfish Cultivation Appeal

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AP2-4/2018 & AP5/2018 Lough Swilly Shellfish Cultivation Appeal AP2-4/2018 & AP5/2018 Lough Swilly Shellfish Cultivation Appeal Produced by AQUAFACT International Services Ltd On behalf of Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board February 2019 AQUAFACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES Ltd., 12 KILKERRIN PARK, LIOSBAUN ESTATE GALWAY www.aquafact.ie [email protected] tel +353 (0) 91 756812 fax +353 (0) 91 756888 Report Approval Sheet Client Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board Report Title AP2-4/2015 & AP8/2015 Lough Swilly Shellfish Culture Appeal Job Number 1505 Report Status Final Report Issue Date 05/02/2019 Rev Status Issue Document File Author (s) Approved by: Date Name 1 Draft 5.10.18 JN1505 ALAB E. Lough Swilly Draft McCormack v1 2 Draft 7.11.18 JN1505 ALAB E. Lough Swilly McCormack Draft v2 3 Draft 21.1.19 JN1505 ALAB E. Lough Swilly Draft McCormack v3 4 Final 5.2.19 JN1505 ALAB E. Lough Swilly Final McCormack Appeal Ref No. AP2-4/2018 & AP5/2018 Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board Technical Advisor’s Report Description Applications for 10 year aquaculture and foreshore licences for Mussel bottom culture and Pacific Oyster trestle culture in Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal. Licence Applications T12/37 A1, T12/37 A2, T12/37 B1, T12/37 B2, T12/37 B3, T12/37 B4, T12/37 C and T12/373 Appeal Ref No.s AP2/2018, AP3/2018, AP4/2018 & AP5/2018 Department Ref No. Applicants - Lough Swilly Oyster Growers Co-operative Society Ltd., Station House, Malin Road, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal - Alan O’Sullivan, Ballymacool Wood, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal Minister’s Decision Grant Licences on 30/11/2017 Appeal Type of Appeal Appeal against the decision of the Minister to grant renewal of Aquaculture and Foreshore Licences for the cultivation of Mussels/Pacific oysters in Lough Swilly. Appellants - Lough Swilly Wild Oyster Society Ltd. - Coastwatch Ireland - Adrian Weir Observers None Technical Advisor Aquafact International Services Ltd. www.aquafact.ie Site Inspection None Table of Contents 1. Appeal Details 1 1.1. Appeal Details & Observer Comments / Submissions .................................................................. 1 1.2. Names of Appellants ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Names of Observer ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.4. Grounds for Appeal ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.4.1. Lough Swilly Wild Oyster Society Ltd. ...................................................................................................... 1 1.4.2. Coastwatch Ireland .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.4.3. Adrian Weir .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1.5. Minister’s submission ................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1. T12/37 ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.2. T12/343 .................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6. Applicant’s response ................................................................................................................... 10 2. Consideration of non-substantive Issues 11 3. Oral Hearing Assessment 13 4. Minister’s File 13 5. Section 46 submissions 14 6. Context of the Area 16 6.1. Physical Description .................................................................................................................... 16 6.2. Resource Users ............................................................................................................................ 18 6.3. Environmental Data .................................................................................................................... 23 6.3.1. Water Quality ......................................................................................................................................... 23 6.3.2. Biotoxicology .......................................................................................................................................... 24 6.4. Statutory Status .......................................................................................................................... 26 6.4.1. Natura 2000 Designations ..................................................................................................................... 26 6.4.2. Protected Species ................................................................................................................................... 31 6.4.3. Donegal County Development Plan 2018-2024 ..................................................................................... 33 6.4.4. Buncrana & Environs Development Plan 2014-2020 ............................................................................. 34 6.4.5. Water Quality Status .............................................................................................................................. 34 6.5. Man-made Heritage .................................................................................................................... 35 6.5.1. Archaeological Study of Lough Swilly .................................................................................................... 35 6.5.2. Potential Impacts on Archaeology at licensed sites ............................................................................... 36 7. Section 61 Assessment 38 7.1. Site Suitability ............................................................................................................................. 38 7.2. Other uses ................................................................................................................................... 40 7.3. Statutory Status .......................................................................................................................... 41 7.4. Economic Effects ......................................................................................................................... 41 7.5. Ecological Effects ......................................................................................................................... 42 7.5.1. Designated Sites ..................................................................................................................................... 42 7.6. General Environmental Effects ................................................................................................... 44 7.7. Effects on man-made heritage ................................................................................................... 45 7.8. Section 61 Assessment Conclusions ........................................................................................... 46 7.8.1. T12/37 .................................................................................................................................................... 46 7.8.2. T12/343 .................................................................................................................................................. 47 7.9. Confirmation re Section 50 Notices ............................................................................................ 48 8. Screening for Environmental Impact Assessment 48 9. Screening for Appropriate Assessment 49 10. Technical Advisor’s Evaluation of the Substantive Issues in Respect of Appeal and Submissions/Observations Received 50 10.1. Legislative Issues ......................................................................................................................... 50 10.2. EIA screening ............................................................................................................................... 51 10.3. Ostrea edulis dominated community ......................................................................................... 55 10.4. Feral Pacific Oysters .................................................................................................................... 57 10.5. Disease ........................................................................................................................................ 59 10.6. Natural mussel spat .................................................................................................................... 60 10.7. Wild Fishery Dredge Licences ..................................................................................................... 61 10.8. Ecological Status ......................................................................................................................... 62 11. Recommendation of Technical Advisor with Reasons and Considerations 62 12. Draft Determination 63 13. References 64 List of Figures Figure 6.1: Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal. ....................................................................................................................... 17 Figure 6.2 Location of licensed sites T12/37 and T12/343 within Lough Swilly indicating licensed culture method. ..... 19 Figure 6.3: Lough Swilly Shellfish designated waters and bivalve production area. ..................................................... 25 Figure
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