From the Sherkin Comment 42

SHERKIN COMMENT

Issue No. 42 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2006

Bat Fauna of Sherkin Island Going for Gold at Nature’s Expense Monks of Scelig Michil Moonrise over Kakadu Daniel Buckley tells us about bats Rosia Montana in Transylvania is John Gore-Grimes on the Anthony Toole explores Kakadu, and how they are part of the island’s under threat from gold mining on a activities of the Christian monks a World Heritage Site and heritage. 5 massive scale. 7 on the island. 10 Australia’s largest national park. 20 New Zealand’s Cool Waters Paul Kay Wildlife Photography

Lucy Kay behind a Red Coral within the Gut (Te Awaatu Channel) Marine Reserve, New Zealand. Photograph by Paul Kay 2 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Contents Editorial EDITORIAL: “A Water Meter for Every House” ...... 2 Matt Murphy questions taking water from the River Shannon to supply Dublin. Seabirds Down Under Part II ...... 3 A Water Meter for Oscar Merne continues his study of birds in the southern hemisphere. Phosphorus - The Bringer of Light ...... 4 Anthony Toole enlightens us on the properties of phosphorus. Bat Fauna of Sherkin Island ...... 5 Every House? Daniel Buckley on the status of bats on the island. Channels & Challenges - The enhancement of salmonid rivers ...... 6 By Matt Murphy A vital manual from Martin O’Grady that will help to increase salmon and trout stocks. DUBLIN City Council, on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, has recently Going for Gold at Nature’s Expense ...... 7 announced that they are considering, as a John Akeroyd & Andrew Jones tell us how Rosia possible option, piping water over 100 Montana in Transylvania is under threat from kilometres from Lough Ree on the River gold mining on a massive scale. Shannon. It seems the Dublin area will Environmental Enforcement in Practice...... 8 have a shortfall in water supplies in a few Progress being made by the EPA. years due to the huge growth in both resi- Monks of Scelig Michil...... 10 dential and commercial development. John Gore-Grimes on the activities of the Before this option is taken it is essential that major studies be undertaken so that a Christian monks on the island. proper assessment can be made on what The Black Death in Ballincollig ...... 12 effect such a scheme would have on the Daphne Pochin Mould recommends a book on ecology of Lough Ree and Lough Derg. Ballincollig Powder Mills , Co. Cork. Taking water from Lough Ree may seem The Demise of the Irish Field Naturalist ...... 13 reasonable when the river levels are high Michael Guiry on the need to nurture an interest but summer water levels can drop in our natural history. severely. It cannot be forgotten that cli- Photo: Courtesy PDphoto.org nothing. Therefore they see no reason to what may only be a small percentage of Stingrays (Order: Myliobatiformes)in Irish Waters ..14 mate change is now with us and that we will have much drier summers. be prudent with its use. A householder extraction at the beginning could be a Declan Quigley continues his articles on rare fish In March 2000 the National Water could be allocated x litres monthly and “flood” in a number of years. Then which around our coast. Study was published. It found that unac- thereafter pay for the extra volume used. will have precedence, the River Shan- New Zealand’s Cool Waters ...... 15/16/17 counted for water losses varied Very quickly running taps and damaged non’s ecology or people using its waters pipes would be taken care of and many A photographic journey by Paul Kay in the significantly between regions but were on the east coast? other saving would be made. Collecting temperate waters of New Zealand. generally in the range of 40% to 50%. Of The issue of extracting water from rainwater for gardening and other uses A Spotlight on World Environmental Matters ...... 18 course, not all this water was wasted - a would be of immense help. A hugely Lough Ree needs to be examined by the Interesting news on the world’s environment from good proportion was just not being prop- EPA, our environmental watchdog. They erly metered and recorded. The report was Alex Kirby. already have much water data on our quite emphatic that water conservation Can Environmental Assessments & Environmental rivers and will now need to introduce fur- strategies should assume a high priority. “Huge savings in water use Impact Statements be effective tools for ther monitoring programmes, such as These should include: would result if a meter was managing our environment? ...... 19 • All supplies to each scheme should be river flow and flora and fauna. We cannot A US view from Michael Ludwig, on this metered; installed for every residence afford to mess about with nature. We must important subject. • All connections to each scheme and in the State.” be certain that this great river will not suf- Moonrise over Kakadu ...... 20 number of properties connected should fer ecological damage. If the east coast Anthony Toole explores Kakadu, a World Heritage be identified; does in time need extra water supplies • All non-domestic properties should be then maybe they should be extracted Site and Australia’s largest national park. important issue not being emphasised is identified and metered; Moths of Sherkin Island ...... 22 the excessive water use by the commer- below the Ardnacrusha Dam where the • Schemes should be divided into dis- Christopher Barry on the island’s moth cial world. A major educational ecological damage would be vastly less. trict meter areas, and permanent dis- programme would reap major savings of Maybe the time has come to encourage population. trict flow metering installed; water, which in itself would be of eco- residence and commercial development in Restoring the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary...... 23 • Meters should be re-calibrated regu- nomic benefit to businesses. counties where there is sufficient water Dennis Suszkowski reflecting on the current larly. Before transporting water from Lough supplies. I pose the question, should local health of the harbour. Local authorities with major Depart- Ree, indepth studies must look at the authorities have water supply as a condi- ment of the Environment funding were Publications of Interest ...... 24 effects on: tion in gaining planning permission? advised that all non-domestic water con- • Captain Cockle ...... 26 Tourism Worldwide lack of water is now a major sumers are to be metered by end 2006 and • More exciting marine facts from John Joyce. Farming issue for many countries. Because of a programme for active leakage control • Fish stocks Wrens & Dunnocks ...... 27 increased demand from development and should be put in place. Since this report • Possibility of more frequent algae Niall Hatch & Declan Murphy tell us more about was published, those local authorities that agriculture, many aquifers in the US are these two small birds. blooms carried out active leakage control works • Cost of pumping the water up the east falling so fast they are not being replen- Common Insects...... 28 have reduced significantly Unaccounted coast. ished. Are we in Ireland heading in the Another informative leaflet from ENFO. For Water rates. For example, in Dublin • Treatment costs (the Shannon waters same direction and is this the beginning of Insect Puzzle Page...... 29 they reduced from 42.5% to 28.7%; in are peaty) possible conflict between the east of the One Man’s Belief in the Young People of Ireland....30 Donegal it was from 59% to 39%; in • The knock on effects to the ecology of country and the rest? Urgent action is John T. Murphy on the work of John Murphy, Meath it was from 47% to 34%; and in Lough Derg. needed to get people to realise water sup- Kilkenny it was from 45% to 29%. recently retired Chief Executive of Gaisce. It needs to be remembered that once a plies are not never-ending. However, we must go further. Huge pipeline becomes a reality supplies can Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental savings in water use would result if a and will be taken from along its length by Matt Murphy, Director, Sherkin Island Competition 2006 ...... 31 meter was installed for every residence in other local authorities that may have Sherkin Island Marine Station the State. Many people believe that water water supply problems in the future. Thus Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Environmental Award 2005 ...... 32 is an endless resource and it costs them Co. Cork, Ireland. Presented to William McSweeney, Cobh, Co. Cork. +++++Subscription details on page 4+++++Subscription details on page 4+++++Subscription details on page 4++++ SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______3 kilometre back the road and set up a telescope on a tripod, focussed on Taiaroa Head. For a while we enjoyed watching three, four or five albatrosses wheeling about on the SEABIRDSSEABIRDS updraughting wind at the cliff. Another good experience of pelagic seabirds was when we crossed the Cook Strait which sepa- rates South Island from North Island. The first half of the ferry journey DOWNDOWN from Picton to Wellington was in the sheltered waters of the 30 km long Queen Charlotte Sound, where small rafts and feeding flocks of Fluttering Shearwaters (very similar to our Manx Shearwaters) were common. UNDERUNDER Then we came out into the Cook Strait and a full gale and enormous seas. The strait was alive with pelagic seabirds, with small grey, white and black Fairy Prions domi- PartPart IIII nant. With the rolling and pitching of the ship, the fierce winds and sea- spray everywhere it was difficult to watch the birds with binoculars, so I’m sure I missed many birds, but I had good views of many White- chinned Petrels and Salvin’s Above: A pair of Salvin's Albatrosses Albatrosses, a distinct sub-species of By Oscar Merne sitting on the sea. Right: A Wandering Albatross, with the White-capped Albatross. three Giant Petrels and a Cape Pigeon. But the best experience of all was IN the last issue of Sherkin Com- at Kaikoura, at the north-east side of ment (No. 41) I reported on our the seas around the main islands. South Island. This is a world- experiences with New Zealand’s Their nearest relatives in Ireland are renowned site for seeing large three species of penguins, as the first the breeding Manx Shearwaters, numbers of pelagic seabirds, usually part of a short series on the wonder- European and Leach’s Storm-Petrels, of twenty to twenty-five species. ful seabirds on the far side of the and the non-breeding Balearic, Weather permitting, dedicated boats world. In this article I continue the Great, Sooty and Cory’s Shearwa- sail out two or three times a day from theme, this time concentrating on the ters, which sometimes occur in large Kaikoura for whale-watching and pelagic seabirds which wander the numbers off our west coast. The last seabirds. On a beautiful, bright and southern oceans and come to land in two species are migrants from their Photos: © Oscar Merne calm morning I put my wife on a New Zealand and its islands only to breeding colonies in the South headlands, especially on the south- found ourselves on suitable head- whale-watching boat, while I went breed. This group comprises mainly Atlantic and South Pacific. west coast. In certain weather lands, but with limited success as far on a seabird trip. Apparently a very the albatrosses, petrels, gadfly Our breeding shearwaters and conditions (e.g. strong on-shore as the pelagic species were con- deep underwater canyon comes very petrels, storm-petrels, diving petrels, storm-petrels are nocturnal at their winds) many thousands can be seen cerned. The main exception was at close to the shore just south of Kaik- prions and shearwaters – all belong- colonies on remote and inaccessible passing. While travelling around the Shag Point (north of Dunedin) where oura, and this brings plankton-rich ing to the Order Procellariiformes. islands, but these and the non-breed- South and North Islands of New I saw over 1,000 Sooty Shearwaters cold waters to the surface. In turn, About forty species breed in the New ing species can often be seen by Zealand in November 2005 I tried – the same species which occurs each this concentrates fish, fur seals, Zealand area and occur regularly in “sea-watching” from prominent some “sea-watching” whenever we (northern) autumn off our shores – whales, dolphins and seabirds in the wheeling about off the headland, area. Within minutes of leaving the apparently fishing in a convergence port we were in the midst of Wander- zone. But we were more successful ing, Royal, Black-browed and in three other situations. Salvin’s Albatrosses, Northern and At Taiaroa Head, at the tip of the Southern Giant Petrels, Cape Petrels Otago Peninsula, about twenty kilo- (aka Pintado Petrels, Cape Pigeons), metres from the city of Dunedin on large Westland and White-chinned South Island, is the only mainland Petrels, five species of shearwaters breeding colony of the magnificent (including Short-tailed and the Royal Albatross – one of the great endemic Hutton’s Shearwater, which albatrosses, rather similar to the breeds in the snow-covered moun- Wandering Albatross, and endemic tains behind Kaikoura), Fairy Prions to New Zealand. The colony is very and several other seabird species. carefully protected from human dis- The birds are used to coming to fish- turbance and is fenced off from ing boats to forage on the discards, access. However, there is a fine visi- so to attract them to our boat the tor centre with impressive skipper released a net bag of frozen audio-visual material and a CCTV tasty bits from the stern, attached to a camera focussed on an occupied nest rope. This resulted in a feeding during the breeding season. The frenzy within a couple of metres. It colony is on the “blind” seaward side was a truly fantastic experience of the headland so we couldn’t get a almost to be able to reach out and view of the real live birds. However, touch Wandering Albatrosses and while we were watching a group of Giant Petrels right beside the boat. attractive Spotted Shags on their My wife had close encounters with nests at a nearby cliff, a Royal Alba- three magnificent Sperm Whales and tross came gliding into view. It was about 200 Striped Dolphins. huge, and we realised just how big it In the next issue I hope to con- was when it passed close to a Black- clude with an article on the other backed Gull (about the size of our wonderful seabirds of New Zealand. Great Black-backed Gull) and dwarfed it by what seemed a factor of three. The wingspan of the alba- Oscar Merne retired from Ireland’s tross was over three metres! We then National Parks & Wildlife Service moved to another headland about a in January 2004. 4 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 The prevalence of phosphates in the body By Anthony Toole means that it is generally safe as a food addi- tive. The calcium salt is present in self-raising IN the late 17th century, the German flours, while phosphoric acid itself is used as alchemist, Hennig Brandt heated the solid flavouring in some soft drinks. residue formed by the evaporation of urine. PHOSPHORUS Much of the phosphate in soil is insoluble The vapour that distilled glowed in the dark, and therefore difficult for plants to absorb. leading Brandt to name his new discovery When removed, it is not easily replaced. Unlike phosphorus, meaning ‘bringer of light’. Subse- elements such as carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, quent discoveries showed phosphorus to it is not re-cycled through the air. While other belong to the same family of elements as nitro- The Bringer of Light minerals are also necessary, the availability of gen, arsenic and antimony, and like the last phosphorus is often the factor that limits the two, it is extremely poisonous, a fatal dose growth of plants. Phosphates are therefore an being as little as 0.1 gram. It is also sponta- important component of most fertilisers. When neously inflammable, and has been responsible conifer forests grow on phosphorus-poor soils, for suffering and death on a huge scale. In com- these nominally evergreen trees readily drop plete contrast, it shares with the other family their leaves to replenish this essential element. member, nitrogen, the property of being indis- Other commercial products that contain pensable to all living organisms. phosphorus compounds include rust inhibitors The pure element is too unstable to exist as for coating steel and reducing corrosion in such in nature, but is widely distributed in engines, insecticides, weed killers, toothpaste phosphate minerals such as apatite from which and, surprisingly, flame retardants. it can be extracted. In the past, in addition to Of course too much phosphorus can have a urine, it has been obtained from bones and the Ironically, one of the cities destroyed in this The double helical structure of the DNA damaging effect. Phosphates are used in deter- droppings of sea birds, known as guano. way was Hamburg, where the element was first molecules that carry the genetic code is now gents, both to soften hard water and to suspend Phosphorus exists in three distinct forms, or discovered. familiar. The code itself depends on the dirt. The waste water often finds its way into allotropes, depending on how the molecules are In the naturally occurring state, phosphorus sequence of linked bases, which are supported rivers and lakes, along with sewage and the fer- arranged in the solid structure. Most dangerous is nearly always combined with oxygen to on both sides by backbones consisting of sugar tiliser run-off from fields. The result is is white phosphorus, a pale yellow, waxy sub- form a phosphate, and as such, it not only units and phosphate groups. excessive growth of plants, particularly algae, stance that is always stored in water. If exposed loses its toxicity, but becomes widespread in By far the largest concentration of phosphate in the rivers. When the plants die, the process to air, even in an enclosed space, white phospho- living things. in animals’ bodies is as hydroxyapatite, a form of their decomposition by bacteria removes rus smoulders until the oxygen is depleted. If A molecule of fat or oil is formed by a com- of calcium phosphate, in bones and teeth. As oxygen from the water and thus kills other bination of the alcohol, glycerol, with three this material is continually being built up and warmed, it bursts into flames, producing a thick, aquatic life. fatty acid molecules. If a phosphate group broken down, phosphate is needed in the acidic smoke. Red, or violet phosphorus, while In contrast, phosphorus is very sparse in replaces one of these fatty acids, then a phos- human diet to the extent of around 0.8 gram per still highly inflammable, is more stable and does the oceans. When fish die, their remains sink pholipid is formed. These compounds make up day. A balanced diet normally contains between not need to be kept in water. Black phosphorus to the sea floor. As the phosphates do not the outer membranes of all living cells. Within one and two grams per day, so deficiency is is unusual as a non-metal in that it shares with dissolve, they can stay locked into sediments the cells, the breakdown of foods such as sug- unlikely, the richest sources being fish, lean graphite the ability to conduct electricity. for centuries. ars and fats, and the transfer of their energy to meat, eggs and cheese. Though the phosphate The ready inflammability of phosphorus led the cells is mediated by adenosine triphosphate, concentration in nuts and flour is quite high, it to its use as the main constituent in the heads ATP. About five grams of ATP are present in is in a form designed to help seeds germinate, M.A. Toole, 65, Cheswick Drive, Gosforth, of matches, the manufacture of which exposed the body as a whole, but during the cycle of and is largely indigestible, and so unavailable Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5DW, U.K. one of the toxic effects of the element. In the energy production, each molecule is recycled to animals. 19th and early 20th centuries, workers in between two and three thousand times each match factories suffered from a painful and day. This amounts to a turnover of about one disfiguring disintegration of the jawbone, kilogram per day. ATP also stores energy dur- known as ‘phossy jaw’, as a result of inhaling ing photosynthesis in plants. Its versatility is phosphorus vapour. such that it also plays a part in the transmission During World War II, phosphorus was used of signals along nerves and in the synthesis of to devastating effect when thousands of tons of nucleic acids. Research is at present being it were dropped in incendiary bombs onto Ger- undertaken into the possible use of ATP as an man cities. It is estimated that the resulting energy source for heart pacemakers, thus elim- firestorms killed more people than did the inating the need for batteries. atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. SUBSCRIPTION FORM SHERKIN COMMENT is a quarterly publication of Sherkin Island Marine Station aiming to promote the awareness of our natural resources, their use and protection. 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. (sterling cheques accepted from UK); send €9.50 for Europe and €10.67 for the rest of the world (surface postage) – payable to Sherkin Comment, Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Ireland. Tel: 028–20187 Fax: 028–20407 Email: [email protected]

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Name ...... Address ...... Signature ...... Date ...... STAFF: Editor, Matt Murphy; Editorial Assistant, Susan Murphy Wickens; Typesetting, Susan Murphy Wickens; Publisher, Matt Murphy. ISSN 0791–2447 © 2006 Sherkin Island Marine Station website: www.sherkinmarine.ie SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______5 species in Europe, 17 in scarce or absent. The bat By Daniel Britain and 10 in Ireland, fauna of Irish offshore islands making up a third of Ireland’s is not very well known. Bats Buckley mammal fauna. Worldwide, are known to occur on Cape these animals can be divided Clear (1 resident species and 2 Bat Fauna of DUE to the presence of the into three groups based on vagrants), Clare Island (3 sea, islands are extremely dif- what they eat; fruit eaters, species) and Rathlin Island (1 ficult places for terrestrial insectivores and carnivores. species). Sherkin Island’s bat mammals to colonise. If the All bat species in Ireland and fauna was unknown until island is close enough to the Europe eat insects and spi- quite recently when a survey Sherkin Island mainland then some can swim ders. In temperate regions of was conducted in August 2006 across, such as the case of the world where there is a by the Cork County Bat foxes on Sherkin and badgers winter and insects are unavail- Group when four species were on Coney Island. Of course able, bats can go into found to occur on the island; semi aquatic mammals such as hibernation during cold peri- the common pipistrelle, the otter can colonise islands ods to avoid starvation and the soprano pipistrelle, brown much farther out and because harsh weather. long-eared and Leisler’s bats. of this were probably one of Irish islands can be very Given the size of the island, the earliest mammalian difficult for bats to live on this is quite a diverse number colonists to reach Ireland at because they are generally of species. the end of the last ice age. small in size with a limited So what is so great about Most mammals rely on human number of habitats. One of the Sherkin Island for bats com- aided transportation to get most important habitats for pared to other offshore there, either intentionally in most bats in Ireland is decidu- islands? Firstly, Sherkin is the case of rabbits or acciden- ous woodland. This habitat quite close to the mainland tally in the case of the wood provides foraging habitat for and so is much easier to mouse. But due to their ability woodland edge and woodland colonise than say Cape Clear. to fly, bats are one mammal interior species and roosting Secondly, because it lies in the group for which colonisation sites for both woodland bats shelter of Roaring Water Bay, of islands shouldn’t be a prob- and bats that forage in other trees find it much easier to lem. Bats are the only habitats. Very few of our grow here than Cape Clear, mammals that can truly fly. islands have any substantial which is much more exposed. Above: Brown long-eared bat. Their wings are actually mod- tree cover, either due to the Sherkin Island also has some ified arms with elongated harsh winds coming off the good pockets of elm wood- Right: Soprano pipistrelle bat. finger and wrist bones making Atlantic Ocean that burns the land that provide excellent Far Right: Common pipistrelle bat. up the basic structure and sup- leaves of trees or because of foraging habitat for the brown port for a double membrane of human clearance of the origi- long-eared bats that are a Below: Leisler’s bat. skin which envelopes them. nal native woodlands there for woodland interior species that Aerodynamically, bat wings the creation of agricultural feeds mainly on moths, catch- habitat destruction, roost act like sails on a boat, catch- land or building material and ing them in flight or by destruction, pollution and ing the wind and, because of fuel. The pollen records from gleaning them off foliage. human persecution. So what the presence of fingers, are Lough Ordree tell us that Sherkin also possesses some much more maneuverable in Sherkin was once covered in freshwater bodies that provide can be done to protect the bat flight than bird wings. This mixed woodland of oak, pine foraging habitat for the pip- populations on Sherkin? Cur- ability to fly has allowed bats and hazel and it is likely that istrelle species and Leisler’s rently, roosts are at risk due to to colonise every continent in the island would have pro- bat. Leisler’s are likely to be the renovation of houses, the world except the Antarctic. vided suitable habitat for a non-resident visitors here due whereby access is prevented Bats belong to the order number of species. to the small size of the Island, due to filling in of entry points Chiroptera, which means hand All Irish bat species have which would probably not be during building work. Bat wing. This order is extremely adapted to roosting in human big enough to maintain a resi- roosts need to be identified rich and diverse, containing dwellings and this may allow dent population. and the house owners edu- approximately 1,100 species. some species to live on islands Bats are threatened both cated about the beneficial There are 47 known bat where woodland cover is globally and locally from nature of bats so roosts are tol- Photos: © Conor Kelleher Enough to make your mouth water erated and retained during increase this habitat for bats repairs. It should be pointed and other aquatic life such as Great new pack. Same great taste. Dubliner has been awarded its 5th Gold Medal in succession out that bats are protected dragonflies and frogs. The at The National Cheese Awards 2003. To find out why, just pick up a pack of 10 Dubliner Slices under the Wildlife Act 1976 small amount of elm wood- today and try them for yourself with this simple great recipe. (amended 2000) and it is ille- land on the island needs to be gal to disturb bats in their protected and expanded if Flour tortillas with refried beans roosts. possible. Ingredients: 8 corn or flour tortillas, 8 slices of Dubliner If Landowners on the island The bats of Sherkin are part Cheese, 250g hot refried beans (refritos), 2 teaspoons wished to enhance their lands of the island’s heritage, just as chopped fresh jalapeno or serrano chilli, quarter crisp for bats they could plant trees much as the abbey and other lettuce, such as iceberg, 100g pitted olives, green or black, around their farm buildings archeological sites. They need 250g salsa, 125ml soured cream, 8 cherry tomatoes and hedgerows and treelines to be protected and appreci- (optional), sprigs of coriander (optional), 2 fresh red along their field boundaries to ated. So the next time you are chillies, chopped (optional). Serves 8. link up important foraging wandering through the elm Method: Soften the tortillas with a little water and put in sites. The creation and expan- tree lined road on the way to a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) Gas Mark 4 for about sion of broadleaf woodland the Jolly Roger pub keep an 12 minutes. Spread 2-3 tablespoons of the refried beans would also increase the eye out for those “flying gob- on each tortilla. Add Dubliner Slices, chilli, lettuce, olives, amount of foraging habitat for lins of the night” and take salsa and cream. Fold the base of the tortilla, then fold bats especially the brown some time to observe their over the 2 sides like an envelope. Serve warm with cherry long-eared and potentially skillful flight and precarious tomatoes, coriander or chillies. provide suitable roosting sites existence on a small but in the future. The protection of diverse island on the edge of existing freshwater bodies the Atlantic. the secret’s in the taste. from pollution would ensure For more details contact Carbery today. Phone: (023) 47222 Fax: (023) 47541 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.carbery.com that their value as bat foraging Daniel Buckley, Cork County habitat would be ensured. Bat Group. Again, landowners could dig new waterbodies which would 6 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 CHANNELS & CHALLENGES The enhancement of salmonid rivers

effect, salmon stocks will return to Fencing, Reconstructing Pools in By Matt Murphy their former numbers, that the Rivers, Two-stage Channels, Other anglers will be in the clover and that Instream Programme, and Benefit of HOW timely the book “Channels thousands of salmon and trout Enhancement Programmes. & Challenges - The enhancement of anglers will revisit Ireland to fish our The manual is thoroughly unique. salmonid rivers” is with the ending rivers. This is so far from the truth. It is filled with over 300 photographs of the drift net salmon fisheries at The ban is but the beginning. Much and diagrams, showing the condi- sea. The non-angler may be forgiven work and research will have to be tions before and after work has been for thinking that with the ban now in undertaken both in Ireland and on the undertaken, and thus what can be high seas to understand the many achieved. It is primarily for fisheries other problems, which are causing biologists, workers and engineers but the decline of the Atlantic salmon. it is an invaluable resource for any- Photos: © “Channels & Challenges” This book addresses one of the one involved in the restoration of Rejuvenation of a river bank over 5 years.The original bank line was rebuilt with most important issues in the decline water quality for all animals and rocks, backfilled, planted with willow slips and fenced off. of salmon and trout stock, that is the plants in a river or stream. enhancement of the major salmonid It is also a vital resource for established and solved, which is a progress is to be made in expanding river catchments in Ireland. Under salmon and trout anglers who must mammoth task. It is hoped they will this programme. the Irish fisheries enhancement pro- realise how essential it is to manage continue with their campaign to gramme (1994-1999) led by Dr. our salmonid rivers and what solu- save the salmon. “Channels & Challenges - The O’Grady, natural techniques were tions are necessary to achieve that With this manual, Martin enhancement of salmonid rivers” by used to restore riverine habitats goal. I make no apology for saying O’Grady, of the Central Fisheries Dr. Martin O’Grady. 2006 across Ireland, resulting in over 250 again that drift netting has been but Board, has shown true commitment Price: €30.00 (plus postage) part of the salmon problem. The miles of river and streams being and dedication to the sustainability Available from The Central Fisheries groups that won the battle on drift recovered, with fish stock up to 30 of Irish salmonid fisheries. The staff Board, Swords Business Campus, netting have yet to win the war.. of the Fisheries Boards carried out times greater than the pre-works Swords , Co. Dublin. Tel: 01 This cannot be achieved unless the the works undertaken during this conditions. This manual by Dr. 8842600 Fax: 01 8360060 Email: many reasons for the decline can be programme. Their work is crucial if O’Grady describes these techniques, [email protected] Web: www.cfb.ie heretofore not employed in Ireland, for example the use of natural wood and timbers, and rocks and boulder materials. The author divides his manual into eleven chapters: The Value of Base- line Surveys, The Critical Importance of Water Quality, The Natural Physical Form of Irish Chan- nels, How to Recognise Healthy Channels from a Salmonid Perspec- Changes to a rocky stream over a seven-year period, following tive, When is a Channel Seriously stabilisation of the bank using logs and Damaged from a Fishery Perspec- A simple single notched weir is the most suitable stone weir structure for small channels (< 3.5m basewidth). Monitoring data indicate that they have greatly increased the salmonid carrying capacity of small channels for 0+ to 1+ year-old fish. bushy tree tops. tive?, Addressing Habitat Problems,

Visit www.naturesweb.ie Download an exciting newsletter for children, featuring interesting and informative news on nature and the environment. Produced by Sherkin Island Marine Station SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______7 an EU Habitats Directive priority By John Akeroyd habitat. Some of the most exciting plant communities were on cliffs, & Andrew Jones rocks, screes and old mine debris con- GOING FOR GOLD taining heavy metals, with species ROMANIA has many wonderful such as stonecrops and the fern Asple- traditionally farmed landscapes, nium septentrionale. A characteristic especially in and around the plant of this habitat – probably a Carpathian Mountains. Rich in unique Romanian plant community as plants, wildlife and human culture, at Nature’s Expense yet undescribed by botanists – is a these special places are now threat- white-flowered catchfly, Silene ened as Romania joins the EU, and nutans subsp. dubia, Red-listed and political and social pressures demand endemic to Transylvanian mountains. profound change in the countryside. Similar ‘Calaminarian’ habitats are One of the best such landscapes lies protected in the EU (e.g. in North around the historic village of Rosia Wales and Derbyshire), for their rare Montana in the Apuseni, low but sce- and unusual plants. nic mountains in western Thus we were distinctly puzzled Transylvania, an outlier of the by an Environmental Impact Assess- Carpathians. Here the threat is more ment commissioned by Gabriel drastic and immediate – a huge open- Resources which concluded: “this is cast gold mine that will erase the one of the most impacted areas of village and three adjacent mountains. Romania, with severely affected bio- Gold and other rare metals have been diversity” and is “of no major mined here for more than 4000 years, interest for biodiversity”. True, the but as an integral element of the rural district has witnessed millennia of economy alongside agriculture and human activity but any impact has forestry rather than on a massive and undoubtedly enhanced rather than destructive scale. destroyed this ecological and cultural Proposing the new mine is Gabriel landscape. Indeed, in July this year Resources, a Canadian-Romanian UNESCO added the tin and copper company which has some govern- mining landscape of SW England to ment support and has conducted a its prestigious list of World Heritage vigorous publicity campaign in the Sites! We would argue strongly that Romanian media. The company, Rosia Montana is a Romanian which claims the support of many national treasure, a site of interna- local people, emphasises job creation tional importance that elsewhere in and eventual restoration of the land- Europe would be a prime candidate scape once the mine has ceased for conservation. production after some 20 years. It Certainly, species-rich grasslands, admits that the extraction of the gold Andrew Jones Photos: © perhaps because they are still wide- (present at low concentrations, an Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera and Purple Viper’s-grass (Scorzon- thera bifolia) – and all this in attrac- spread in Romania, haven’t always ounce per ton of rock) will be poten- era purpurea subsp. rosea) and tive mountain scenery. rotundifolia), a ‘priority habitat’ gained the recognition there that they tially hazardous, involving use of Globeflower (Trollius europaeus), The woodlands were mostly semi- under the EU Habitats Directive. deserve as habitats of major ecologi- cyanide leaching and a settling lake both Red-listed in Romania. We natural plantations of spruce or Scots Rare plants in the ‘High Nature cal and cultural significance (not for residues confined by a massive spotted eight grassland orchids, six pine, but still plant-rich. But we did Value’ hay-meadows, a magnificent least attracting tourists and enhanc- dam. Yet it is confident that there is on the Romanian Red List, including see Grey Alder (Alnus incana) in a ing the country’s image abroad). But no major threat to the environment. mix of flowers, included the medici- Bug Orchid (Orchis coriophora), gully growing with the big Balkan the area also holds populations of Unsurprisingly, the mine has run into nal herb Arnica (Arnica montana, Burnt-tip Orchid (Orchis ustulata) endemic yellow daisy Telekia spe- animals of international importance, considerable opposition from envi- listed in the EU Habitats Directive) and Lesser Butterfly-orchid (Platan- ciosa, a damp woodland type that is ronmentalists – locally, nationally including wolves, birds such as Red- and in nearby Hungary (where the backed Shrike and Black Ministry of the Environment has Woodpecker, and scarce butterflies. made its opposition clear), victim of Another feature is the presence of massive pollution in 2000 when a rare metals and other minerals. And similar dam failed in Romania, Rosia Montana retains important spilling toxic material into the archaeological and historical remains Danube river system. from ancient Dacian and Roman We visited Rosia Montana in July gold mines to architectural gems this year, at the invitation of local such as steeply pitched thatched environmental group Alburnus barns and 18th century classical-style Maior. In minutes and within easy buildings. The district demonstrates walking distance of the village – a historic links between mining, farm- perfect base for visitors interested in ing and forestry, and associated land natural history – we found ourselves use and biodiversity. Apart from the in a mosaic of pristine wildflower- cultural loss if the mine project were rich meadow and pasture, to be realised, it would be impossible grass-heath with dwarf brooms, bil- to restore, for example, acid bogs and berry and ling, cotton-grass mire, associated mires or even the wetter and sphagnum bog with sedges and hay-meadows, evolved over thou- sands of years. Short-term economic Clockwise, from the top: gain resulting in environmental destruction can surely be no substi- The landscape, around the historic tute for the long-term economic village of Rosia Montana in the low but potential of sustainable tourism and scenic mountains in western other rural development. Transylvania, is under threat from mining on a massive and destructive scale. Dr John Akeroyd, Editor of ‘The

Within easy walking distance of the Wild plants of Sherkin, Cape Clear village is a mosaic of pristine and adjacent islands of West Cork’ wildflower-rich meadow and pasture, a (1996), has been visiting Romania ‘priority habitat’ under the EU Habitats Directive.Right: since 2000. He and European grassland expert Dr Andrew Jones Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera have collaborated since 2003 on rotundifolia) studying the wildflower-rich Bug Orchid (Orchis coriophora) meadows of Transylvania. 8 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Environmental Enforcement in Practice

creased vigilance and waste, particularly haz- By John Feehan cross-border co-operation. ardous waste, on and off • Unauthorised collection of site (identified as an issue THE Office of Environ- waste is a significant prob- in 8 out of 12 classes of in- mental Enforcement (OEE) lem, with over 50% of dustrial activity). was established in October local authorities reporting • Poor containment of pollut- 2003, as a dedicated and dis- problems in this area. Un- ing materials (identified as tinct office within the regulated, small-scale an issue in 7 out of 12 classes Environmental Protection ‘man in the van’ operators of industrial activity). Agency (EPA). The establish- account for some of the re- • Inadequate air emission Photos: © EPA The number of activities licensed by the EPA currently stands at 715. ment of the Office, which ported increase in illegal control and monitoring followed 10 years of licensing fly-tipping. (identified as an issue in 6 activity by the EPA, coincided drinking water from small pri- that steps be taken to protect plants can have a significant • 80% of local authorities out of 12 classes of indus- with the completion of a vate supplies such as private water supplies where risks are impact on water quality in the identified backyard burning trial activity). strategic review of the work of wells. The quality of water identified. The OEE wel- waters to which their effluents as a significant issue. This the Agency. The strategic supplied by private group comes the pro-active approach discharge. All local authorities activity contributes over Waste activities review identified a need to schemes is, however, improv- being taken by local authori- should review the operation, 50% of all dioxin emissions While the EPA licenses 81 ensure better enforcement of ing, with the compliance rate ties in relation to this issue. maintenance and management in Ireland and is more landfill facilities, only 36 are environmental legislation for E. Coli, the most important of urban waste water treatment prevalent in rural areas. active. EPA licensed facilities indicator of drinking water Waste water treatment plants in their functional areas against a background of con- in Ireland are being operated quality, improving from Almost all of Ireland’s and prepare corrective action cern about illegal dumping of to a much higher standard than Compliance with licences 74.9% in 2003 to 78.1% in urban waste water, irrespec- programmes for plants that are waste in the greater Dublin previously, with improved granted by the EPA to 2004. A key concern high- tive of the level of treatment, in breach of the standards. Pri- area and the discovery of management, design, monitor- lighted in the most recent is discharged to estuaries and ority should be given to waste from the Republic of industrial and waste activities ing and resources. The report is the potential risk to freshwaters. The most recent implementing corrective action Ireland in illegal sites in introduction of the licensing water supplies and public report by the OEE concluded programmes at plants that are Northern Ireland. Industrial activities regime has led to the installa- health arising from the para- that 18% of waste water aris- having a demonstrably nega- A number of enforcement An integrated pollution pre- tion of gas collection priorities were identified by site Cryptosporidium. ings received no treatment, tive impact on the waters to vention control licence (IPPC) infrastructure at most landfill which they discharge. the OEE and this article pro- is the vehicle through which facilities. As a result there has vides summary information In 2003, discharges from many of the European Direc- been a 33% reduction in the municipal waste water treat- on progress towards achieving tives are implemented in volume of landfill gas emitted ment plants were suspected to these priorities for 2004 and Ireland. European law to the atmosphere. However, be the source of pollution in 2005. requires enforcement of these compliance by the waste the case of 354 of 1,222 pol- The priorities are as follows. Directives. The licences industry needs to improve in luted sites, including 22 cases • Unauthorised waste activi- granted by the EPA provide the following areas: of serious pollution. The OEE ties. • for the enforcement of multi- Landfill gas and leachate has prioritised the seriously • Compliance with licences ple pieces of legislation across treatment at older landfills. polluted sites where a waste granted by the EPA to in- • all environmental media in Accuracy of waste records. water discharge was the main dustrial and waste activi- • one document. The enforce- Odour abatement at trans- suspected cause of serious pol- ties. ment work of the OEE is fer stations and compost- lution. All relevant local • Local authority environ- targeted at facilities that have ing facilities. authorities have now been mental protection perform- continually shown significant contacted and instructed by the ance. non-compliance with relevant Local authority OEE to prepare action plans to • Enforcement of environ- legislation or that present a environmental protection improve plant management. mental protection legisla- potential risk to the environ- tion. performance ment. The number of activities Water quality • Complaints about environ- The EPA exercises a super- licensed by the EPA currently Surface water quality (lakes mental pollution. visory role in respect of the Landfill gas monitoring stands at 715. The number of and rivers) has improved • Prosecution of environ- environmental protection closed sites currently stands at slightly in recent years when mental offences. activities of local authorities. 145, approximately two-thirds Cryptosporidiosis is a noti- The OEE audits and reports 13% received preliminary assessed against the require- fiable disease that can cause of which are activities ceased on local authority perform- treatment, 2% received pri- ments of the Phosphorus Unauthorised waste activities fever, stomach upsets, weight and the remainder of which ance in the areas of drinking mary treatment, 58% received Regulations. However, a wor- loss and diarrhea and can be In 2005 the OEE published are at various stages of clo- water, waste water treatment secondary treatment, and 9% rying trend is the continuing fatal in the young and old the first factually based sure. The licences granted by and water quality. received nutrient reduction in decline in the number of river account of the nature and the EPA have required indus- and those with weak immune addition to secondary treat- stations recording the highest extent of unauthorised waste try to review the way they Drinking water systems. ment. It was evident that the biological water quality. conduct their business, to The OEE has recommended frequency and method of Efforts need to be stepped up activity in Ireland. It set out an The most recent drinking innovate where necessary and that all local authorities assess emissions sampling was, in if Ireland is to meet water action plan that is now being water report concluded that to decouple production from the vulnerability of public many cases, not to the stan- quality targets set out in the implemented by the relevant the quality of drinking water environmental pollution. water supplies to Cryp- dard required by law and was Phosphorus Regulations and agencies through the Environ- provided to 84% of the popu- Studies have shown that tosporidium, commencing not sufficient to establish indeed the more stringent tar- mental Enforcement Network lation by the sanitary licensing of industry has been with the larger treatment compliance with the relevant gets of the EU Water (EEN), which is co-ordinated authorities in public water an effective method to control plants. So far 363 risk assess- regulations. Framework Directive. Tack- by the EPA. The report high- supplies and public group ments for Cryptosporidium Auditing of local authorities ling pollution from sewage lighted the following findings: emissions and to reduce pollu- schemes (which get their • have been carried out. The and urban waste water treat- treatment and agricultural Large-scale illegal dump- tion load from pre-licensing water from public supplies) supplies assessed provide ment plants highlighted sources remains the greatest ing of the type that oc- levels. However, the licences was satisfactory while the water to about 59% of con- examples of good practice as challenge. New powers under curred in Co. Wicklow in granted to industry are very quality of water provided to sumers served by public water well as deficiencies that the European Communities 1997-2002 was no longer stringent and a number of less than 7% of the population taking place, and illegal compliance issues are evident supplies. What is required require correction. However, (Good Agricultural Practices by private group schemes was now is that risk assessments cross-border movement of across the range of industry poor performance of any waste for the Protection of Waters) unsatisfactory. The remainder be carried out on the remain- waste had reduced signifi- licensed. These issues include: water treatment plant is a cause Regulations enhance the of the population gets its ing public water supplies and cantly as a result of in- • Poor management of for concern as even smaller enforcement tools available to SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______9 local authorities to deal with resources, expertise and inves- of the environmental perform- Convictions were handed agricultural pollution and the tigative capacity of all public ance of licensed facilities. The down in 16 of these cases, OEE recommends that local sector agencies and govern- EPA received 1,077 com- three were referred to higher Drifting authorities fully enforce these ment departments that can plaints regarding licensed courts and one was dismissed Regulations. The success of contribute to enforcing envi- facilities in 2004 and 1,123 on a court technicality. Most the implementation of water ronmental law and stamping complaints in 2005. The num- of the charges related to per- Back pollution measures will be out illegal waste activity and ber of complaints received by sistent breaches of emission By Dave Kearns ultimately judged over the other environmental crime in the EPA with regard to IPPC limit values, failure to install coming years by keeping track Ireland. Over 900 staff from facilities decreased from 711 infrastructure and failure to Red and blackened berries of changes in water quality. about 50 agencies are now in 2004 to 466 in 2005. How- submit information to the EPA Opulently declare summer's The EPA is continuing its involved in the network. The ever, complaints about waste as required under licence con- Departing love water monitoring programmes modus operandi is that work- facilities increased from 366 in ditions. The Director of Public Golden hair grass nods farewell to assess whether the neces- ing groups of experienced 2004 to 657 in 2005. The most Prosecutions directed that Thistle tops wither sary improvements in water practitioners from relevant common cause of complaint Books of Evidence be served Upon declining green quality actually happen. agencies are established to was odour. The enforcement in the three cases that were Grateful to have There is a wide array of deal with a specific issue, such response has been to focus referred to higher courts. As of Lived vibrantly information already available as illegal dumping of waste. inspections on the facilities the end of December 2005, the In the elusive to local authorities about pol- The working group analyses that gave rise to most com- EPA had 11 District Court Window of light lution blackspots and action the problem and agrees the best plaints in 2004 and 2005. As a cases on hand; a further case Dead leaves float by needs to be taken against sus- way to tackle it. Depending on result of increased enforce- is with the Director of Public In homage to the how pected causes of pollution to the problem, this may result in ment and new technology Prosecutions for considera- In response to the why ensure compliance with the direct enforcement action, such there has been a significant tion. Legal action by the EPA as co-ordinated roadside and improvement at these facili- water quality standards. In led to investment by licensees Berries, grass, thistles, leaves facility inspections involving ties. Nine of the ten facilities many cases the causes of poor of approximately €19 million Teach several agencies, or the build- with the most complaints in water quality are known and in improvements to site infra- Acceptance's truth ing of capacity in enforcement 2004 do not feature in the need to be targeted by co-ordi- structure and management. In response to agencies through the prepara- 2005 list, or showed a substan- nated actions including The wind's calling tion of guidance or the delivery tial reduction in complaints. In harmony with the investment, advice, education Further Information of training. The success of this Since the establishment of Mistress of light and enforcement. approach is exemplified by the the OEE, 575 complaints Further information on the No questions dramatic turnaround in compli- about matters that are the work of the Environmental Just rhythm Enforcement of ance with waste export responsibility of local authori- Protection Agency and the With the circle environmental protection regulations at recent port ties have been investigated, Office of Environmental Of her loving sun legislation inspections in Dublin, with a using the powers granted Enforcement is available on shift from 100% non-compli- under the Protection of the the EPA website www.epa.ie. To effectively enforce the The simple glittering prize ance in 2004 to 100% Environment Act, 2003. wide range of environmental Ignored by my compliance in 2005. John Feehan, Environmental legislation the Office of Envi- Distracted magpied mind Vegetating in worry's clasp. ronmental Enforcement Prosecution of environmental Protection Agency, Office of established the Environmental Complaints about offences Environmental Enforcement, environmental pollution Regional Inspectorate, John Dave lives in Clonsilla, Dublin 15. Many of his poems Enforcement Network (EEN) In 2005, 20 cases were are inspired by nature especially the animals, birds and in 2004. The network aims to Complaints from the public brought against licensees Moore Road, Castlebar, fauna on the Royal Canal near where he lives. harness the collective can be an important indicator before the District Courts. Co. Mayo.

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Victoria Cross, Cork Telephone (021) 4545655 Facsimile (021) 4342996 10 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Michil. The sixth cell stands separate disapproval of the abbatial autonomy vive. He knew also that the tempta- from the other five at the eastern which had been at the core of the old tion to join one of the new Orders boundary wall of the enclosure. The Irish monastic system. would decimate the numbers of aspi- seventh cell which was built outside A new order of monastic life rant monks who might otherwise the original entrance gate, was buried emerged to mark the end of the tradi- have wished to continue the old MONKS for years under rubble and stone. This tional Irish monastic system. The rule monastic ways. In 1222 Abbot cell may have been used as a guest of St. Benedict spread throughout Eoghan sailed to Ballinskelligs Bay cell for penitents or other visitors. Europe although it was about seven with his community of just three eld- The old monastic order probably century’s later when a Benedictine erly monks. lived and prayed on Sceilig Michil monastery was first established here. There is no fuel on the Sceilig from the time of Fionan’s arrival until The Cistercians and Augustinians, Michil. Apart from the fact that cook- Abbot Eoghan decided to abandon whose orders had already submitted ing would have been contrary to the the monastery in the early part of the to diocesan authority and conse- austere philosophy behind the thirteenth century. The Book of Inish- quently to Rome rule, settled in anchorite way of life, there is not a falllen describes a terrible storm in Ireland. single bush nor tree and there never the year 1222 – “A great wind Abbot Eoghan, who had learned of was any turf. The monks, probably, throughout Ireland, and it wrecked the rules of St. Benedict, could not did not cook. They grew peas, beans houses, churches and great woods understand how a community could and radishes in their gardens. At that and sank many ships and it was worship God when its fathers and time the mighty potato had not found known as ‘the Great Wind’”. brothers could sleep, eat three meals its way to Ireland. Storms, which were common-place a day and drink wine. Two of the The monks lived in their cells on these Atlantic rock pinnacles, greatest temptations which were to be which were sheltered from fierce would hardly have persuaded the avoided in the old Irish monastic tra- Atlantic storms. They lived there monks to abandon their Monastery. dition were sloth and gluttony. Abbot without light or heat throughout the There were dramatic climatic changes Eoghan could not help feeling that darkened part of the year but they during the twelfth and thirteenth cen- these new Orders had, at once, suc- must have looked forward to the turies. It became much colder and the cumbed to both. river Thames froze over each winter. It Although the storm of 1222 had was then that the Norse inhabitants of damaged the cashel and the terraces Greenland disappeared without a trace and although it had blown the timber leaving that barren and frigid land to off what they called “the new its original inhabitants. Ireland too church”, it may not have been the OF became colder. deciding factor which prompted A social transformation was taking Abbot Eoghan to abandon the place in Ireland. The Vikings had monastery. There were just eight SCELIG MICHIL been defeated at Clontarf. They were monks left before the storm. Three of soon followed by the descendants of those were so old that they had

Photos: © John Gore-Grimes an earlier Norse invasion which had already carved the crosses of stone settled and intermarried in the which would soon adorn their graves. known as the Scellic Rocks. They province of France called Normandy. When the storm broke, three of the By John Gore-Grimes landed on the larger of Scellic Rocks The Norman colonisation was very youngest monks had run down the in the year 588 and at once set about different from the marauding inva- North steps, taking them two at a MUCH of what is written about the building a cashel and cells within the Skelligs is legendary and many of the sion of the Norsemen. The Normans time, in an attempt to retrieve the net walls. were systematic. They did not plun- which was tied across the mouth of accounts of the activities of the Chris- Although it is sometimes recorded tian monks and anchorites on Sceilig der, pillage and rape but rather they the cove which is variously known as that the monastery on Sceilig Michil Michil are based upon brief reports in with its terraces and majestic stair- the Book of Inishfalllen, the Annals cases, were built by Fionan and the of the Four Masters and other vol- twelve brothers, it is unlikely that umes. Some of the history of the they could have accomplished so occupation and building of the much in such a short time. In 588 Fio- monastery is taken from folklore and nan was already an old man, allowing in that sense it is fanciful. that fifty years was a venerable age at Fionan was a young man when he that time. Building the seven cells or joined the community at Clonmac- clochain (stone houses), the two ora- nois. He studied the writings in the tories with three attendant leachta monastery’s scriptorium and was (altars/shrines), together with the ter- especially impressed by the account of the life of St. Anthony who had races to support them and the walls to advocated total solitude as a means of enclose them, was clearly a task which getting closer to God. Fionan spoke lasted for several hundred years. The of this with Abbot Brendan who had monastery is at an elevation of 550ft himself been a great ocean wanderer. above sea level. It is built on the south- Brendan encouraged Fionan to follow east side of the Northeast peak 108ft in the footsteps of the hermit Anthony above the valley which separates the but he cautioned Fionan that he Northeast peak from the South peak should not go alone. He should take (geographically the west peak). This with him twelve brothers, in the way dramatic and elevated valley is known of Christ. as Christ’s Saddle. The South peak is It took time for Fionan to choose his where the true hermits of Sceilig twelve companions and it took time to Michil lived from time to time in total build a skin covered boat, large enough isolation on small ledges or terraces. Photo (and inset): © Kate Byrne to accommodate this small community That peak is 714ft high. Above: The Scelig Michil enclosure. Inset photograph of the Author.Top right: The East steps tumble down from the Monastery. and their meagre supplies. Eventually Five cells stand in a row with their they drifted down the Shannon and backs to the prevailing wind beneath when they reached the ocean Fionan the ridge of the Northeast peak. settled in their lofty, fortified strong- Fishing Cove, Blue Cove or North lightened part when the gloom of told the brothers that they should rest Behind them is a nineteenth century holds. They took and developed the Cove. The wind howled in from the winter lifted and the sea birds their oars and see which way the boat stone wall which is sometimes most fertile and productive land. north-west and the Atlantic swell returned in plenty to nest on the would drift. This was the ‘peregrinatio referred to as the Lighthouse wall. The old monastic order with its heaved as it struck the rock wall of ledges. In summer, salmon would absolute abbatial authority was the cove. The monks were still about have drifted into their nets in Blue pro Dei amore’ meaning, ‘wandering Behind the Lighthouse wall is a large replaced by the system which thirty feet above the water when a Cove. Once skinned and cleaned, the for the love of God’. It was just how sloping, flat area. Looking from there remains today. Territorial dioceses huge wall of sea came crashing in. It salmon were wind dried in prepara- Brendan the Navigator had found his across to the South peak and seeing were established and overseen by rose up to a height of fifty feet and tion for eating. way from the shores of Kerry to the its sharp pointed summit, it is easy to Bishops appointed from Rome. A when it retreated, the monks had dis- There are no springs on either of eastern shores of North America. imagine that much of the stone which second more subtle and, perhaps, appeared in the ocean. They were the Scellics and when Fionan arrived The ‘peregrinatio’ guided Fionan is now contained in the cashel, the more sinister invasion ran parallel never seen again. in 588 he had to think long and hard and the twelve brothers to the steep terraces and the monastery, was quar- with the Norman invasion, as Rome Abbot Eoghan knew that the as to how he would provide water for rocky pinnacles which rise so dramat- ried from what was once a higher and extended its influence and its strong diminished community could not sur- the community. There is of course ically from the Atlantic and which are more pointed second peak on Sceilig SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______11 ample rain fall so, at once, Fionan proceed quickly to the Eye of the the narrow ledges which, in places, peak, the monks could see the Etgal spent nine days on the Lean- chiselled out two cisterns in the ridge Needle on the South peak. Prepare are just one foot wide. Enda stopped invaders retreating down the steps. ing Rock and, from time to time, above the monastery site. These cis- the boulders when you have passed on this narrow path before climbing They had captured Etgal and it some of the brothers went to visit terns were linked by channelled trough the Eye and conceal yourself through the Eye. He had been fol- appeared from the Abbot’s slow and him. The Norsemen spotted the groves, which were cut into the rock on the hermit’s ledges which are up lowed. He heard incomprehensible painful progress, that they had treated monks on the rock and jeered them slabs. The water was guided from the there”. shouts and chatter. He thought he him badly. The monks could see that from their langskip. They rang the cisterns through those channels The monk Enda spoke: “But what heard the words: “De den derre their garden on the Northeast peak captured silver bell in mockery as which, eventually ran beneath the of you Abba, you must come with us” munke”, but he was not sure. had been ruined by the Norsemen but they ate their food and drank their clochain and filled two cut-out hold- Abbot Etgal replied: “Brother, Then he saw the fist of a hand grip- they had not spotted the nets set in the likor. They did not launch their boats ing tanks located, literally at street from the langskip. They were confi- level, in what might fairly be dent that it would only be a matter of described as “main street Sceilig time before the monks surrendered Michil”. These cut-out basins are themselves in exchange for food. there today and the rainwater is still The Norsemen had underestimated channelled in to fill them. The chan- how long it takes to starve a man to nelled groves also served to prevent death when he has spent a life-time of an accumulation of water collecting fasting and of depredation. On the under the monastery and carrying the ninth day Abbot Etgal was no longer buildings off the site and down into standing on the Leaning Rock. He lay the sea below it. sprawled across the flat black stone in Lent was a time of double devotion the position of a crucifix. Some and double fasting. During Lent the black-backs had pecked the skin off monk’s normal labours of mainte- nance and preparation, were the back of the Abbot’s meagre neck. suspended as they spent more time On that day, the Norsemen launched praying around the leachta. Apart their boats from the langskip and from occasional summer visits from landed again on the Leaning Rock. mainlanders calling to do penance or They picked up Etgal’s lifeless body to be married in a period when mar- and dropped it in a heap. riage was prescribed on the mainland, The Norsemen returned to their the monks remained in solitude. langskip. They had exhausted their Photos: © John Gore-Grimes When the Vikings came to Ireland supplies of food and likor. They Above: The Abbots cell in the foreground and three other cells looking eastwards to pulled up the heavy stone that had in 795, they showed no interest in the the little Scelig. two barren rocks which stand alone in served as their anchor and sailed east. the ocean. They pursued monastic Right: The Necessarium built conveniently close to the Monks garden There are many more stories of treasure on the mainland but only monastic life on Sceilig Michil rarely bothered about isolated off- these Finngaill seek two things. Trea- ping the steep cliff rock at the corner between 588 and 1222. It is a spiritual shore islands. From time to time the sure and blood.” of the ledge path just beyond the top place. It is a place of enchantment community at Sceilig Michil had seen Etgal produced the silver bell from of the Saddle path. Enda picked up a and magnificence. Richard Foran of Viking vessels pass close by. beneath his robe. The monks under- rock and, as the tall, broad shouldered Valencia, is the attendant at the Light- Sceilig Michil was raided in 824. stood what the Abbot had said to Viking with dirty tangled blond curls house and when we spoke he said: The monks had observed a high- them and they scattered reluctantly, and cold blue eyes came around the “I have been coming out here for prowed vessel with many men but obediently, down the stone steps corner and continued the pursuit with nineteen years and before that I standing on deck looking up at the to the Saddle. Abbot Etgal followed broad sword and axe at the ready, served as a supernumery at the Skel- clochain’s on the Northeast peak. The them slowly. Enda blessed himself and hurled the lig Lighthouse. I think I know every sun caught their shining metal hel- The monks crossed the Saddle and rock at the Viking. The Viking inch of Sceilig Michil but, in spite of mets and sent a dazzling flash to the ran up the pathway leading to the ducked and Enda’s rock flew passed that, I see and learn something new eyes of the watching monks. South peak. Enda paused at the top of the invader’s helmet. This Norseman each time I come here”. Abbot Etgal was a kindly monk the path. He heard an ugly cry from straightened up quickly but, as he did George Bernard Shaw visited who, since birth, had one leg shorter the edge of the saddle and seconds so he lost his balance and fell to his Fishing Cove. Damage had been Sceilig Michil on the 17th August than the other. One arm was missing later wild men with horns on their death, screaming all the way down done to the clochain and stones had 1910 and after his visit he wrote: from the elbow and his nose and ears head, shields on their back and with into Seal Cove some 600ft below. been removed and thrown wantonly “But for the magic that takes you had all but rotted away. Etgal never drawn swords in front of them, A second Viking came around the into the waters below. out, far out of this time and this stepped up from the top step onto the corner and Enda threw another rock. As the sun touched the Atlantic complained of the wretchedness of world, there is Skellig Michael ten grass of the Saddle. This one struck the Viking in the face. horizon, helmeted figures were seen his condition. miles off the Kerry coast, shooting On hearing of the ships of the “Hey der du da munke”. The Viking, thinking the better of it, to return to their langskip. Enda and straight up seven hundred feet sheer Finngaill in the ocean below the They surrounded Etgal and beat retreated. Enda heard the strange for- the brothers climbed down to the Sad- out of the Atlantic. Whoever has not monastery, Abbot Etgal directed his him savagely to the ground. They eign tongues of these Norwegian dle and, from there, they could see stood in the graveyard and the bee- small community to gather up the snatched the bell and rang it loudly Vikings bickering incomprehensibly. that Abbot Etgal had been placed on hive oratory does not know Ireland small bronze crosses, the silver chal- and then they saw Enda and some of Enda climbed up through the Eye of the Leaning Rock below. The Leaning through and through”. ices and the chrismal, with the them ran up the hill after him. the Needle and as he emerged from it Rock is close to the South landing but And so you must go there! Sacrament inside. He spoke to his The climb from the top of the path he saw that a pile of boulders had it is just separated from the Scellic. community; above the Saddle, through the Eye of been collected which would be used Etgal stood on the sloping summit of “Run now and take these items the Needle, is hazardous enough and to repel any unwanted visitors. the Leaning Rock with his arms out- John Gore-Grimes, Cavendish with you. Descend to the Saddle and only one man at a time can pass on From the upper ledges of the South stretched, preparing for his death. House, Smithfield, Dublin 7.

Ireland’s environment - Who does what?

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The Environmental Protection Agency’s new guide explains who does what and who to contact about your environmental queries.

Contact the EPA to order your guide to Ireland’s environment. LoCall: 1890 33 55 99 Email: [email protected] Web: www.epa.ie 12 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 TheThe BlackBlack DeathDeath inin BallincolligBallincollig

And now Jenny Webb and Anne Donaldson sparkless transport from one unit to the next by have given us a well produced little book giving horsedrawn little barges. Some coal was used the history of the Royal Gunpowder Mills. to create steam to dry the powder grains, and in Charles Leslie and John Travers started the charcoal production. There was a large coal business in 1794, evidently with an eye to the store at the site known as the culm yard. But hostilities with France. Here the authors sadly here the authors err in saying culm is a type of exhibit that “sea blindness”, so common today, coal dust. It is actually a type of low-grade saying the need was for the Army and making coal, mined in north Cork and used in lime no mention of the Navy, which was the great kilns and such works as mills, where very great

Photos: © Daphne Pochin Mould user. Every navy ship carried as many guns as it heat is not needed. The mills stretch for about a mile and a half along the River Lee. Here, from the air, is part of the complex, could, and it was the fire powder and the superb Packed in wooden barrels, ranging from with the old buildings cleaned and accessible. seamanship of the fleet that kept Napolean in 100lb down to two or even less, the gunpowder check and unable to invade Britain, just as the was loaded into horse drawn wagons to travel peaceful uses too, to blast rock in quarries, Navy and Air Force halted Hilter. And at the the few miles to Cork and waiting ships. In By Daphne Pochin Mould mines, railway tunnels, but again mishandle it same place, mention is made of the slave trade, August 1803, the wagon leaked powder and and it would kill. And Ballincollig made the how gunpowder was left a trail down the THE late George Kelleher was a man with a stuff for about a hundred years and had an one export to Africa to street, which ignited by passion. He wanted to save the Powder Mills excellent safety record. buy slaves and ship a spark from a horse’s and make the people of Ballincollig appreciate So George Kelleher explored the local ruins them to America. But hoof. It caused alarm the treasure that lay in the tangled wood by the and other gunpowder mill sites. He hunted in the returning ships but no damage, and river Lee - its history and its importance. I libraries and archives, and ended up with a vast brought sugar, no “tea request came from the think for most of us “Powder Mills” mean knowledge of the subject. Better still, he got and cotton” as the city authorities to find nothing. What powder? Face powder, flea pow- people interested and Cork County Council authors state. Tea came another route. der, dust blown on the wind? But the powder ended up buying the land from the Department from China and Mur- The mills kept up to that Ballincollig in the county of Cork pro- of Defence, with the result that the growing phy’s of Cork (and date: in 1856 a turbine duced was the black powder of death - town of Ballincollig got a Regional Park. This Midleton distillery) (more efficient than a gunpowder. This powder let guns spit death, great amenity includes all the mills’ remains, as had a little brig, which water wheel), made by demolished castle walls, wrecked cities, and well as playing fields and woodland and river- went to fetch it, when Perrotts of Cork and allowed a few men so armed take possession of side walks. Here you can walk the dog or pick she arrived in Cork. one of the first in Ire- vast lands whose inhabitants had only swords FIRE! The Connaught Rangers fire a volley with your way from one ruin to the next, tracing There was an auction their muskets. Uniforms in those days were very land, was installed to and spears and the bow and arrow. True it had every stage of the making of this deadly powder. widely advertised in colourful but muskets were not very accurate. work the saw mill (tim- the Cork papers listing ber for the casks). It is all the different teas. still to be seen on site. Gunpowder is a mix of charcoal, made on At that time, some 500 men, women and chil- the spot, and imported sulphur and saltpetre dren worked in the mills, and a family might (potassium nitrate). There is a long process of earn £3.15 a week. refining, mixing, pressing, glazing with The new book provides very full information graphite - giving the black colour. All these about the whole story. Illustrated with both stages can be followed in the separate ruins in black and white colour photographs in plenty, it the park and are detailed in this book. has as well a section on the flora and fauna of As a WMD (weapon of mass destruction) the Park, such as how bat boxes have been security was always vital. Workers were searched fixed to some of the trees. For those who know Next issue December 21 going in for matches, metal items, and stolen the Park, it will add to their understanding of it, Free with the Irish Farmers Journal in coastal areas and in key towns on the inland waterways network powder going out. A barracks was built at and introduce others to this huge and important Ballincollig to guard it with a regiment of artillery piece of industrial archaeology. * Aquaculture * Marine and freshwater policy (not cavalry, as stated in the book - that came * Inshore fisheries and regulation later. The troops had over a mile gallop on site). Jenny Webb & Anne Donaldson. “Ballincollig The site was ideal for the purpose. The river * Island living * Marine and freshwater research Royal Gunpowder Mills - A Hidden History” Lee provided power - a weir, just below Innis- * Marine Tourism and development 1845885406 Nonsuch Ireland, Dublin carra bridge, directed water into a canal system. € * * 125pp 21.99. Seafood processing National and international This powered water wheels and provided * Marketing and retailing legislative frameworks of seafood regulating seafood production * Marine engineering * The issues pertaining to the & technology commercial exploitation and * Support industries and ancillary development of the marine and services freshwater environments

Inshore Ireland keeps its readers updated on these and other such important matters. It’s also the most cost-effective means of communicating with the industry and represents the perfect opportunity for you to get your message to this hugely influential audience.

Editor: Gillian Mills - 01 2354804 / 087 2902045 - [email protected] Features: Gery Flynn - 091 844822 / 085 7475797 - [email protected] Advertising: Roger Cole - 01 2859111 / 087 2611597 - [email protected] 36,000 copies distributed to coastal communities on an all-island basis Contact us with your editorial and ad requirements

Iron, muzzle loading, cannons came in all sizes from small to very large.They fired round cannon balls. Don’t miss out These are some example on display at Charles Fort, Co. Cork. SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______13 The Demise of the Irish Field Naturalist

what public service television in other countries can do so well, There are other encouraging signs. Recently, I put on a night By Prof. Michael Guiry and newspapers are under even worse pressures. class one wet, dark and windy winter. Twenty-five hardy souls Something else that has virtually disappeared in Ireland is the attended every Tuesday for 10 weeks to my academic rantings IRELAND, from a position in Victorian and Edwardian times gifted non-professional. (I avoid the somewhat pejorative use of about seaweeds, their beauty and uses; and when we went to the of being a world leader in the quantity and quality of its field “amateur” as many of these supposed amateurs are very gifted shore, they could only be pried off it with difficulty, drank pints naturalists, is in danger of losing any independent capability in with studently gusto, and sang some inappropriate songs on the this important area. people.) These include stars in the areas of ornithology, botany, way home in the bus. It would be the very hard of heart that You may wonder why I use the term “naturalist” rather than entomology, and zoology. And they manage to shine whilst could not be gladdened by this. I was put in mind of Praeger “biologist” or “ecologist”. The reason is simply that a naturalist holding down daytime jobs that are completely unrelated to their “dragooning” his Victorian gentlefolk naturalists with a whistle, is a very much broader person than either of the others. A natu- so-called hobbies. It is these people who will now carry the flag ralist takes pride in knowing a very large range of animals and for Irish natural history, and I have no hesitation in doffing my and I went back to my supposed ivory tower in hope and peace. plants, and many such naturalists are often knowledgeable biol- academic mortarboard to them. Hopefully they will always be ogists or ecologists or both. A naturalist is a person with whom with us, and much more could be done by the third-level sector Prof. Michael Guiry, Director, Martin Ryan Institute, NUI, you would, or should, be delighted to spend a day with as you to facilitate them. Galway, Ireland. would return home enriched with an astonishing range of knowledge. The Irish naturalist par excellence was the polymath Robert Lloyd Praeger. He was trained in Belfast as an engineer, took part in archaeological excavations, worked as a librarian, was probably Ireland’s most eminent botanist, and, above all, was the prime driver of the Clare Island Survey of 1910-11. The Survey is justly regarded as the outstanding achievement Harvesting of Irish natural history during which the island and the “adjoin- ing mainland” was scoured for every single plant and animal species that could be found by Irish and international experts. Now being resurveyed by the Royal Irish Academy, the island is the Sea’s truly one of the best-known areas of western Europe, and also one of the most untouched, at least in relation to the rest of con- tinent. Renewable With such an eminent past, one would think that official Ire- land would take pride in its heritage and encourage a new generation of naturalists. Not so. Most universities, museums and botanic gardens, where such Resources people found refuge in the past from the glaciers of public penny-pinching, are under pressure to employ everything but biologists and ecologists, not to mind naturalists. With our so- called Science Foundation Ireland funding only “applied projects” (a phrase which induces in me a frissance of fear) in biotechnology and information technology, what do you expect? The Marine Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency have as part of their legislation-driven missions impor- tant roles in the assessment and protection of Ireland’s natural resources. However, their mission, like that of SFI, is driven by a two-faced national policy of lip-service to European regula- tory regimes and the perceived necessity for “near-market” research to fuel the “information society”. The necessity for holistic development seems to have been lost. Third-level research is also now driven by a similar necessity to show increasing research funding each year, and the nearer market it is, the happier are the funding agencies. “Academic freedom” may soon become one of the richest oxymoronic jokes in any language. Irish academics have scarcely any freedoms left despite it being enshrined in the Universities’ Act (1997). I see myself and many of my colleagues as the last of the aca- demic Mohicans that will shortly be wrung completely out from the system by overcrowded and underfunded universities being driven by economic political correctness. Should the universi- ties continue to be forced along this track, we will have no independent academic voices left in this country to call a halt to the worst excesses of public policy. What to do? Well, I am greatly encouraged each year by the numbers of students that want to do Marine Science in Galway and who want to do it for its own sake. Bringing such students to the seashore is such a pleasure. They want to know about their environment; they want to know the correct names for things Generating investment, employment that they see alive; they want to preserve their surroundings; they want to be naturalist, biologists and ecologists. For them, and market opportunities in the fishing the pressures of the “information society” are vague; oddly, they never seem to get any older! and aquaculture industry There are many more people like these and it is our duty to find a way to encourage them. Éamonn de Butléir, Gerrit Van Geldren, Michael Viney, Tim Robinson and the Murphys of Sherkin all found ways to popularise natural history, but the An Bórd Iascaigh Mhara, The Irish Sea Fisheries Board, forces ranged against them are huge: greed, selfishness, destruc- tiveness, strange EU regulations worthy of a place in ‘Lord of Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland. the Rings’, and, in particular, a horrible kind of Irish clientism Tel 01 284 1544. Fax 01 284 1123. in which the client is as much in thrall as our forbearers were to Email [email protected] Website www.bim.ie the absentee landlords. Even RTÉ and other broadcasters are now having difficulty in doing what they did in the past and 14 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 STINGRAYS (Order: Myliobatiformes) in Irish Waters

Great Barrier Reef, it was reported that only By Declan T. Quigley 17 fatalities had been recorded worldwide Common Stingray and only twice previously in Australia. Dasyatis pastinaca (Sketch: © Audrey Murphy) STINGRAYS belong to a relatively large Although the majority of stingray injuries group of rays (Order: Myliobatiformes) which result from people accidentally stepping on is currently represented by 183 known species. them in shallow water, it is likely that many return their catch “alive”, perhaps localised rod The majority of stingrays are benthic, found stingray injuries and fatalities go unrecorded, Violet Stingray on mud and sand in shallow tropical and warm & line pressure may constitute a significant especially in remote regions of the world. temperate waters but occasionally down to threat to the species too? (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) Columbian health authorities register more depths of 200m. Although they are mostly In northern European waters it has been than 2000 cases of freshwater stingray (Fam- The violet stingray (P. violacea) is the only marine, they often enter estuaries and some observed that the stingray becomes noticeably ily: Potamotrygonidae) injuries annually. member of the group that is exclusively tropical species are restricted to freshwater more common during the summer and autumn Indeed, over a 5-year period in one small pelagic. It is considered to be probably cosmo- (South America, Africa & South-east Asia). months and that this may indicate a northward politan in tropical and subtropical seas local hospital there were 8 deaths, 23 amputa- migration of the species. Although all of the Eleven species have been recorded from the worldwide. Only two specimens have been tions of lower limbs, and 114 other cases ISFC specimens were taken between April and Mediterranean Sea, eight of these from the recorded from Irish waters, both taken in alba- where victims were unable to work for up to September, the species has been taken by com- North-east Atlantic and four of these from Irish core (Thunnus alalunga) surface drift-nets off 8 months. In the US, about 1500 stingray mercial trawlers during the winter months waters (Table 1). the south-west coast (50o N, 14o W) prior to injuries are reported annually. Although fatal- when angling effort is significantly lower. Per- Relatively inactive fishes, stingrays are usu- their banning during the late 1990s. The recog- ities have not been recorded in European haps the species migrates further offshore ally found partially concealed in sand or mud nised world rod & line caught record, waters, it is likely that stingray injuries do during the winter months returning inshore or slowly swimming over the bottom by undu- weighing only 6.2kg, was captured off Corsica occur but data appears to be lacking. during the summer? lating their large rounded pectoral fins. Food during June 2001. generally consists of a variety of bottom-living The common stingray is one of the largest organisms, including crustaceans, molluscs, Common Stingray representatives of its group. It is reported to attain a maximum total length (TL) of 250cm. Devil Ray worms and small fishes. Stingrays are (Dasyatis pastinaca) ovoviparous (embryos develop within the The world record rod & line caught specimen, (Mobula mobular) oviduct), producing a small number (2-9) of The common stingray (D. pastinaca) is a weighing 201.4kg, was captured off the Azores live young after a gestation period ranging wide ranging species throughout the Eastern in September 1999; the largest specimen The devil ray (M. mobular) belongs to a from 4 to 12 months. The stingray’s low Atlantic, occurring from southern Norway caught on rod & line in Irish (and UK) waters, small sub-family of stingrays that includes the fecundity makes them extremely vulnerable to southwards to the Mediterranean and Black weighing only 33.2kg, was taken in Tralee Bay gigantic zooplantophagous manta ray (Manta overexploitation. Seas, and onwards via the Canaries to South during May 1999. There is no evidence that the birostris) which can measure 8m in width and A number of morphological features dis- Africa. species breeds in Northern European waters. weigh 3 tonnes. In the Eastern Atlantic the tinguish stingrays from other rays. Apart Although the species has been recorded devil ray is found southwards from northern from having relatively large brains from all around the Irish coast, it seems to be Eagle Ray Spain and Portugal, throughout the Mediter- (stingrays are regarded as quite intelligent more common, at least locally, in the south and ranean (but not the Black Sea), and onwards fishes), all stingrays have one or more ser- south-west. Almost 84% of all the rod & line (Myliobatis aquila) via the Canaries and Azores to Senegal and possibly strays into the North-Western Atlantic rated caudal spines situated close to the base caught specimen common stingray (weighing The eagle ray (M. aquila) has a distribution ≥ from New Jersey to Cuba. There is only one of their whip-like tails. These formidable 13.6kg) recorded by the Irish Specimen Fish similar to the common stingray. While it has Irish (and Northern European) record; a single spines, which can be up to 35cm long, are Committee (ISFC) since 1960 were captured been recorded fairly frequently in UK waters, specimen was reported from the south coast of only used in self defence. Glandular tissue in Tralee Bay. Although the species is regarded there are only 4 confirmed occurrences from on the underside of the spine secretes excru- as unpalatable and is usually discarded by Irish waters (Ardfry, Co Galway, 1800s; Timo- Ireland c1830. The latter specimen is on dis- ciatingly painful venom. Although normally commercial fishermen, concerns have been league, Co Cork, July 1888; Magilligan Bay, play in the Natural History Museum in Dublin. placid, injuries caused by threatened expressed about the potential commercial Co Derry, July 1958; and off Fastnet Rock, Co stingrays are relatively common in some overexploitation of the species in Irish waters. Cork, September 1965). It grows to a moder- Declan T. Quigley, Dingle Oceanworld (Mara parts of the world, albeit fatalities are con- This hypothesis is not well supported by the ately large size; the UK rod & line record Beo Teo), The Wood, Dingle, Co Kerry. Mobile: sidered to be relatively rare. fact that only 43 rod & line specimens have weighing 27.9kg was taken during 1989. 087-6458485; Email: [email protected] Following the recent highly publicised been recorded rather infrequently since 1960, fatal injury of the wildlife conservationist including 56% of these over the last decade Steve Irwin while filming stingrays on the (Figure 1). Although anglers now generally SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______15 Whilst not a true coral, the ‘red coral found in Fiordland certainly looks the part. Its vivid crimson sprays jut out from reefs injecting splashes of yet more colour into what is often New Zealand’s Cool Waters already a rather gaudy scene. Massed zoanthid anemones provide carpets of yellow, encrusting pink algae covers parts of the reef and many large, brachiopods, and red, orange and even green sponges add their impact too. Rock lobster abound in the totally protected marine areas, unafraid they sit on ledges wav- ing their long antennae at the passing, visiting divers. For the most part the undersea inhabi- tants are unafraid and merely curious, especially the blue cod which clearly consider divers as curiosities. These docile fish will con- gregate around a diver, sitting on the seabed and watching to see what is going on. At times they are so nosey that they have to be gently pushed away or they might stare into a diver’s mask seemingly transfixed by the diver’s face, or perhaps their own reflection. Jock Stewarts too, sit on the seabed. These fish have a distinctive jagged crest of a dorsal fin, large slightly sad eyes and a large down- turned mouth. They are common in Fiordland. A rather more tropical looking fish is the leatherjacket, a triggerfish without scales and having a leathery skin. These too could be curi- ous and alternated between being camera shy and wanting to see what the camera was! Down on the sand, we found large sea pens and what are locally referred to as horse mus- sels but which we would call fan shells. Fur seals are inquisitive creatures in the water (Fiordland) New Zealand fur seals are found in Fiord- Photos: © Paul Kay land and like many seals they are playful. We Off North Island are world famous areas land). Small brightly coloured triplefins sit dived near the rocks on which they were bask- By Paul Kay such as the Poor Knights Island – now a totally amidst vivid patches of sponge, whilst more ing and sure enough, they joined us, wary at protected marine area. Here moray eels can be familiar looking scorpionfish patiently await an first but soon with growing confidence. They NEW ZEALAND’S waters are temperate – found together with actinothöe anemones – this unwary meal to swim past. Dead men’s fingers dived, swam in twirls and shot past us in an dis- marginally warmer than those found around Ire- equates to a mix of Mediterranean and Irish (a near relation anyway) are familiar but in a play of their fast, powerful, graceful, complete land. They do vary though from North to South waters (although to be fair there are some (very blue water context which gives them a slightly mastery of their environment. and the marine life found there shows this. rare) records of Morays being found off Ire- strange look. Fiordland is itself spec- North of The Poor tacular. As its name Knights, in the Bay of implies it is a fiordic sys- Islands, lie the remains tem of deep water, steep of the Greenpeace vessel mountainous sides and it “Rainbow Warrior”, now rains – a lot. It is a land of re-sunk in a marine mist, ever-changing light reserve. Nature has had and landward has some the final say on this ship stunningly remote and as her bows are now beautiful country. We home to beautiful, bril- travelled in a small boat liantly coloured jewel up one of the rivers to the anemones – as if nature east and the only way I is having the last laugh at can describe it is to liken a government’s neurosis the journey to that and stupid actions! described by Conan- Whilst North Island Doyle when his has a decidedly warmer, A leatherjacket (triggerfish) makes an elusive characters canoe through less temperate feel to its subject as it darts around in a mixture of the undergrowth – dense curiosity and trepidation (Fiordland) undersea, South Island vegetation, fallen trees, does not. We set off from slow moving water and a the southernmost harbour towards Fiordland feeling of being tightly enclosed. Stepping and visited Ulva Island on route. Here we onshore did little to alter this view, streams, found flightless wekas – a bird about the size of waterfalls and luxuriant growth. a small chicken with an assumption that On our last day in Fiordland it rained – hard. footwear is edible! And dived on a shallow but Water cascaded from the mountains with fascinating sandy seabed. Here we saw the waterfalls forming everywhere. Cloud seemed curious, waddling and quite unmistakable pig- to drop to sea level parting occasionally to fish and encountered a young, rather reveal thickly forested mountains, before clos- enthusiastic sea lion who became just a little ing in again. Fiordland’s greatest asset is too boisterous under water. probably its inaccessibility. It is truly an area of Fiordland, which is a huge area on the south- outstanding natural beauty both above and west coast of South Island, is cool and harbours below water. some of the most amazing marine life to be found in temperate waters. For a start it has an Paul Kay BSc FRPS is a professional estimated 60,000 black coral colonies, many of photographer, specialising in marine wildlife them in water so shallow that they can be seen photography and the sale of underwater by looking over the side of a boat! photographic equipment. Stock Underwater The black corals are actually white and are Photography www.marinewildlife.co.uk. themselves hosts to other animals, most notice- ably the serpent stars which coil around Suppliers of Seacam Silver Underwater Photo branches and enjoy a mutualistic relationship Equipment www.underseacameras.co. Tel. 0044 with the coral. In return for a perch, they clean 1248 681361 or 07702 411614 - Skype the coral. (See overleaf) 16 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______17

An oblique swimming triplefin sits on top of a serpentstar which is coiled around black coral in the Gut (Fiordland) New Zealand’s Cool Waters

ABOVE: Blue cod are very approachable and show no signs of fear at being approached with an underwater camera (Stewart Island).

ABOVE: Snorkelling with fur seals is an excellent way to meet them on their own terms. They cannot resist getting into the water to see what is going on (Fiordland). LEFT: This fish is known as a Jock Stewart and is resting A colourful encrusted seabed with a blue-eyed on part of the wall in Acheron Sound, Fiordland. triplefin off the Cavelli Islands.

Photos: © Paul Kay Large sea pens (Sarcophyllum sp.) ~30cm high Zoathids anemones are stunningly are found in the sand within Fiordland - this colourful and surprisingly abundant in Photography by Paul Kay one was in the Gut. some parts of Fiordland such as the Gut. (Read his article on the previous page)

A rock lobster on the rock walls of Fiordland.

Dead men's fingers (Alcyonium aurantiacum) in the Poor Knights Marine Reserve. 18 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 A Spotlight on World Environmental Matters by Alex Kirby Climate change may be harming midwife toads tion. Up to 60% of birds caught for the pet trade are establishment of a global organisation committed to thought to die before they reach their destination. slowing the loss of plant and animal species. Writing in Researchers who studied midwife toads in Spain’s the journal Nature, the 19 signatories have urged the Penalara Natural Park between 1976 and 2002 say Volunteer needed in UK for nuclear dump setting-up of an Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiver- climate change may be worsening a disease that sity, a counterpart to the Intergovernmental Panel on threatens many amphibians worldwide. Details are The UK has decided to bury its radioactive waste, Climate Change. The group includes the former IPCC published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal but any site will have to be “in a geologically suitable head, Robert Watson from the World Bank, and Peter Society B. More than 100 amphibian species are area”, with no community forced to accept one. Some Raven, director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The affected by the disease, chytrid fungus: some die experts say it could take 40 years to build a reposi- 2006 Red List of Threatened Species showed more quickly, but more resistant individuals can still carry tory. A report in July from the Committee on than 16,000 plants and animals heading for extinction, the pathogen. The fungus infects the skins of Radioactive Waste Management said waste would need including a third of amphibians and a quarter of mam- amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders and newts) and to be buried at least 500m below the surface. Local mals. Hippos and polar bears have recently been placed impairs their ability to absorb water. The researchers councils will be invited to volunteer to have a nuclear on the list. Human activities, notably the destruction fear warming temperatures could be harming the dump in their area, with those chosen receiving multi- and damaging of habitats, threaten 99% of Red List creatures’ immune system or increasing the ability of million pound investment. Finland is building an species, and climate change is recognised as a growing the fungus to grow faster. underground repository and looks likely to become the threat. Other problems include alien species, over- first country in the world to dispose of nuclear waste exploitation and pollution. Humans make too many demands on the planet in such a way. WWF says humans are degrading the natural world Iceland resume commercial whaling “at a rate unprecedented in human history”. The Save the planet and save money Iceland has announced that it is resuming commer- group’s Living Planet Report said vertebrate species Sir Nicholas Stern, a former World Bank chief cial whaling, despite the international ban in force populations had declined by about a third in the 33 economist, says governments must cut greenhouse since 1986. It said it would catch nine fin whales and years from 1970. By 2050, it said, with human depre- emissions or face economic ruin. Sir Nicholas, who 30 minkes in 2006/7, as well as maintaining its scien- dations continuing at their present rate, humanity chaired a UK Government review set up to analyse the tific whaling programme. By late October it had caught would need two planets to satisfy its demands - if the financial implications of climate change, concluded three fin whales. The International Whaling Commis- resources were still there. But if everyone in the world that doing nothing could tip the global economy into sion allows any member state to catch whales of any lived at the same level as the UK, it would take three the worst recession in recent history. His report species so long as it is done in the name of research. Earths to supply them. Another WWF report, the Eco- challenges conventional economic thinking, by arguing Commercial whaling still remains banned, to try to logical Footprint, said humanity’s demand on the that tackling climate change, far from being unaf- allow endangered species to recover and because of biosphere more than tripled between 1961 and 2003. fordable, will actually save industrial nations money. revulsion at the way the mammals are killed. Fin whales The carbon dioxide footprint rose more than ninefold The US refused to join the Kyoto protocol, the inter- are the second largest animals on Earth, almost as long in the same period. The overall footprint exceeded national agreement on greenhouse gas emissions, as blue whales, and are known to grow to more than 80 biocapacity by 25% in 2003, up from 21% in 2001. partly because President Bush said it would harm the feet in length. They are listed as endangered by economy. Temporary ban on wild bird trade a success IUCN-The World Conservation Union. The European Commission called on Iceland to reconsider its decision The UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Amazon deforestation has slowed to resume commercial whaling. says hundreds of thousands of rare and exotic birds Brazil says international criticism that it is using the have been saved from death or captivity by a tempo- Amazon rain forest to produce soya and beef is mis- Australian rabbits cause trouble near Antarctica rary ban on the wild bird trade. The Europe-wide ban, taken. It says only 0.27% of the country’s soya crop is which the Society says should be made permanent, grown in the Amazon region, and less than 1.5% of its Australian rabbits are accused by WWF of came into effect on 27 October 2005. The RSPB says beef. Brazil is the world’s biggest beef exporter and destroying the habitat of threatened seabirds on Toco toucans, made famous by Guinness adverts, are the largest soya exporter after the US. In Septem- remote Macquarie Island, near Antarctica. The group amongst birds still alive in the wild because of the ban. ber, preliminary official figures showed that the rate said the rabbits were stripping Macquarie of its Without it, many toucans, parrots, owls and other of Amazon deforestation had slowed by 11% this year. grasses and causing landslides which destroyed the birds would now be caged pets, and many more would nesting sites of penguins and albatrosses. It wants an have died on the way. The RSPB says the pet trade is 16,000 plants & animals heading for extinction immediate cull. threatening 60% of the world’s 350 parrot species and 10% of the 1,200 bird species now at risk of extinc- A group of leading scientists has called for the Alex Kirby is a former BBC environment correspondent.

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 2006 Issue No 42 ______19 Can Environmental Assessments & Environmental Impact Statements be effective tools for managing our environment?

water and all are dependent on func- as if they were sponges that selec- By Mike Ludwig tions and values of their varied tively collected the PCBs. As a way habitats, a full read of the EA/EIS is to protect floating nuclear power sta- I LIKE to read a good Environ- needed to appreciate the implications tions from accidental collisions with mental Assessment (EA) or the of authorising, funding or undertak- ships, the owners wanted to place expanded version, an Environmental ing the proposed action. mines around their facility. How Impact Statement (EIS) and so Unfortunately, a full read of the more about planting poison ivy on sand should you! Just as the stories in complex EA/EISs can require weeks dunes to keep people from trampling Earth in the Balance Ecology and the as the documents can be thousands of down the more important and sensi- Human Spirit and The Da Vinci Code pages long. While brevity is encour- tive, dune grass? More recently, I can capture a reader’s imagination so aged it is seldom provided. read that explosions on liquid natural too should the “story” presented in gas vessels wouldn’t harm fish an EA or EIS. Where else can one Photo: © Robbie Murphy learn why a project is designed as it because the gas wouldn’t sink, it creation and the presence of the “no EA/EIS process. I described the US is, the nature of its environmental “For me, a good EIS tells evaporates quickly and any flames action” and, when the action technique because I think it works so impacts, how they might occur, and the story of what a new would rise into the air. involves impacts in the water, the ways to avoid, minimise or mitigate But, usually, as an Aquatic well. AND, not all development is project might do to or for Least Environmentally Damaging them? Whether you are a neighbour, Resources Manager I sit down and bad, many are beneficial to our envi- the environment and I rely Practicable Alternatives in the EIS. community leader or a member of a read how a proposed activity will be ronment (a sewage treatment plant regulatory agency, reading the docu- on the documents to undertaken and consider how the The first requires a discussion of the lessens the pollution into a local ments explains a project and helps perform their principal negative, neutral or even positive consequences of not undertaking the waterway). Demand good documen- decide its fate. The guiding law for function; helping decision impacts along with the possible alter- proposal. The second must present tation and subsequent monitoring to producing my reading is the National makers make informed native designs, construction practices the least impacting design! The pro- prove the claims of compatibility are and operating parameters will impact ponents of the project must describe Environmental Policy Act. The Act choices that lead to true. Happy reading! requires that project proponents seek the Public Trust Resources that I those alternatives and present an implementation or denial manage. That these documents are argument supporting their project in the help of everyone who might be Mike Ludwig has recently left impacted by the project. This “scop- of projects.” capable of presenting an unbiased comparison to not moving ahead and government service and now works ing” effort seeks to identify potential assessment of a proposed activity is why they may not be using the most impacts, sources of data, data gaps assured by the involvement and environmental friendly design. for Ocean & Coastal Consultants, and evaluation procedures needed in review process employed in their Not all places have the same Trumbull, CT 06611, USA an EA. A good EA provides an For me, a good EIS tells the story overview of a proposed activity and of what a new project might do to or the environment in it which it will be for the environment and I rely on the placed. Then the document identifies documents to perform their principal and discusses the potential for the function; helping decision makers occurrence of significant adverse make informed choices that lead to environmental impacts should the implementation or denial of projects. proposed activities be undertaken. However, just as in making sausage, The identified significant adverse lots of things go into the creation of environmental impacts are discussed an EIS. During the “manufacture” Where Patients come first in terms of their threat to natural process resource managers help resources and whether the impacts develop a draft edition. When we get are significant or insignificant and the draft, my responsibilities shift to A subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc., one of the largest and most successful whether they can be avoided, min- protector of aquatic resources and I imised or offset. The reader is along with the other stakeholders, healthcare companies in the world, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd introduced to the workings of the review and comment on the draft has been based at its manufacturing facility at Ballydine, Co. Tipperary proposed activity and the habitats assessing its completeness and accu- since 1976. and species at and around the site racy in characterising items of where the activity might cause importance to us. All substantive impacts. comments are supplied to the authors The Ballydine plant employs 350 people in the manufacture of important If the EA finds only minor impacts and must be addressed in subsequent healthcare products used in the treatment of high blood pressure, high versions of the document. The pro- a “finding of no significant impact” cholesterol, angina, asthma and osteoporosis. The company is investing (FONSI) report is drafted and the cedure may seem complicated but evaluation is complete. Often, the the product is, usually, a useful tool. €100 million in a new Formulation R&D and manufacturing facility at the EA effort reveals that impacts are Over the course of my career I site that will create 120 new positions by 2009. likely and they will be significant. have read some very strange state- Such a finding means the EA must be ments in otherwise normal EA/EIS supplemented with information documents. For instance did you Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd about how the identified impacts can know that dredging of harbours is Ballydine, Kilsheelan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary be avoided, minimised or mitigated good because people like to watch the dredges work? In another EIS, a Tel: 051 601000 Fax: 051 601241 and that is an EIS. One need read PCB spill problem would be solved only those portions of the document E-mail [email protected] by placing large numbers of fish in that contain the subjects of interest Visit our website: www.msd-ireland.com the polluted waterway and every but because the creatures of the land year, collecting and treating the catch are tied to the creatures of the air and 20 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42

Moonrise over Kakadu

gallop, and we had taken two days to get this Moonrise over Yellow Water. far. Stretching for 100 kilometres east to west and double that north to south, it is Australia’s still submerged. After several hours being and much of the Wildman rivers, and is divided largest National Park, a Ramsar wetland and a amazed by the rock art of Nourlangie, we from Arnhem Land by the East Alligator. In the UNESCO World Heritage Site. booked our campervan onto the Cooinda site monsoon season, the floodplains cover several To qualify for World Heritage status, a site and awaited the boat for the late afternoon trip hundred square kilometres. Even our campsite must fulfil at least one of ten criteria, which on Yellow Water. had been inundated less than two weeks earlier. cover either its significance in human cultural Kakadu is the only National Park in the As the dry season advances, and the waters development or its importance in the natural world that contains the entire catchment of a shrink, the wildlife, including 2.5 million birds, environment. Of more than 800 sites world- major river system, that of the South Alligator. become concentrated into the resulting bill- wide, over three-quarters are listed for purely It also encompasses the smaller West Alligator abongs. cultural reasons. Kakadu satisfies no fewer than five of the criteria, and is one of only 24 sites to be listed as of both cultural and natural significance. Kakadu has been inhabited by humans for probably 50,000 years, and was almost cer- tainly one of the first areas in Australia to be settled by the Aboriginal peoples. It plays an important role in their creation myths, those wonderful, richly textured stories that incorpo- rate the physical landforms, the birds, animals, fishes and their relationships with the settlers. At places such as Ubirr and Nourlangie, these

Photos: © Anthony Toole Photos: © myths are exquisitely illustrated in rock paint- Water lily. ings, which give a unique insight into Aboriginal culture and history. The traditional owners manage the National By Anthony Toole Park jointly with the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage. EVERYTHING here is big: the birds, the It is a wilderness, cut by only two surfaced trees, the red rocks. From high viewpoints, the roads, the Arnhem Highway from Darwin to Jabirus, pied herons and egrets, with crocodile just visible in foreground. wilderness of eucalypt forest reaches into a dis- Jabiru, and the Kakadu Highway from Jabiru to tance limited only by the abrupt wall of the Pine Creek. A short road north to Ubirr and the 400-kilometre Arnhem Escarpment. Even the border with Arnhem Land is impassable in the span of a spider matches that of my hand. wet seasons, as are the unsurfaced roads that Yellow Water Billabong was no different, are generally navigable only by 4WD vehicles. though at a first glance, it appeared nothing Six seasons divide the year in the Aboriginal more than a broad river. The boat meandered calendar, though half this time is dominated by through half-submerged trees, freshwater man- the storms that precede and follow the mon- groves (Darlingtonia) and a huge acreage of soons of December to March. This year, the water lilies. Further expanses of water opened rains lasted longer than usual, and Cyclone out around each bend, and as the first crocodile Larry, which in March had battered North drifted silently across the bow, we realised we Queensland, had prolonged their effects. The were in the middle of a vast wetland, and that result was that we were unable to get through to the nearest dry shore was a long way off. Ubirr, while the roads to several outlying bill- The Yellow Water region is home to around 50 kinds of fish, as well as two types of crocodile, freshwater Big as it is, Kakadu is not a place to see at a and the larger and more dangerous saltwater. abongs and the spectacular Jim Jim Falls were SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______21 As our boat left its moorings, a flock of mag- pie geese crossed the skyline. To either side of us, an enormous carpet of water lilies stretched toward the distant trees. Egrets and tall jabirus tiptoed through the vegetation. Darters deco- rated half-submerged logs, wings outstretched, as immobile as statues. Pied herons gazed into the water, searching for a meal among the roots of the Darlingtonia. At this point in the season, there were 30 or 40 bird species in the Yellow Water region. Over the next few months, this would rise to around 75. During a year, more than 280 species of bird have been recorded in Kakadu as a whole. This represents one-third of all Australia’s birds. In addition, around 50 kinds of fish swim here as well as two crocodiles, freshwater and the larger and more dangerous saltwater. No species have been introduced, and the river is completely unpolluted, making this a pristine environment. We spotted our first ‘saltie’, a 3.5-to-4-metre The Golden orb weaver spider. giant, after about ten minutes. Over the next hour-or-so we came across another six, some lilies, the trees and the gaunt, leafless skeletons Over a period of several minutes, the sky Photos: © Anthony Toole Photos: © shone with something resembling an alpen- darkened and the sharp boundary between veg- gliding through the water, others resting on Egrets (above) are one of the birds that tiptoe patches of mud among the trees. Three weeks through the vegetation in Kakadu National Park. glow. The boat slowed and began to drift in etation and water faded and vanished. The earlier, when the water was 2.5 metres deeper, silence. A silver glimmer, the topmost curve of moon rose higher and the first stars appeared. only two crocodiles had been seen. Now, the over the smoke and flames of a bush fire. the moon, peered tentatively through a dip in Almost imperceptibly, the magic quietly sub- depth had fallen to one metre, and shrinkage of We sailed away from the water lilies and into the tree line, before disappearing behind taller sided to nothing more than that of a beautiful their habitat had brought 15 or 20 into Yellow a flooded jungle. Large trees, tinted pink by the greenery. It re-appeared, and though it seemed tropical night. Yet the effect on us lingered. Water. In another month, the area over which light of the sinking sun, stood proud of the not to move, in little more than a minute, it was We returned to the mooring half-an-hour we now sailed would be completely dry, and water. A rare and secretive sacred kingfisher above the trees and opening a gap, which later than scheduled. As we stood in the pitch the crocodiles would have retreated to the landed on a stick, but flew away as we increased noticeably while we watched. The dark and sticky heat, awaiting the shuttle bus muddy remnants of scattered billabongs. approached. conversation receded to a whisper, consisting for the short trip back to the campsite, nobody We passed beneath a white-bellied sea eagle, The boat passed out into open water once mostly of gasps of astonishment, just audible complained. The talk was muffled. An owl more. The sun had now sunk behind the trees to perched magisterially on a high branch, unper- against the staccato click of cameras and the hooted in the trees nearby. The Milky Way the west, which became black shadows against a turbed by our proximity. A whistling kite flew soft lap, lap against the sides of the boat. As the glowed like a vivid white streak across the pro- background of an increasingly Götterdämmerung over us, carrying nest material, and settled on a moon rose, its reflection drifted clear of the lily found blackness of Space. fire. The reds and oranges of the sky reflected tree. Its relative, the black kite, though not in field, and acquired its own independence, flick- onto the water to give it an eerie luminosity. evidence here, was overall the most abundant ering, fragmenting and changing shape with the M.A. Toole, 65, Cheswick Drive, Gosforth, Then something magic happened. bird we saw throughout Kakadu. At one time, line at the edge of the lilies and the ripples on Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5DW, U.K. The sky to the east grew dark, yet the raft of the surface. we witnessed as many as two dozen circling

An Post have issued this unique set of postage stamps depicting some of the country’s major Inland Waterways, the Barrow, the Shannon, the Erne and the Grand Canal.

Also available is a 24 page Prestige Stamp Booklet for €12.

Order your stamps and Prestige Stamp Booklets from www.irishstamps.ie or call 01 705 7400 or visit the Philatelic Shop, GPO, Dublin 1. 22 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Workers at the Sherkin Island marine Station have been studying moths since the late 1970’s. During this time they have recorded a number of the larger or ‘macro’ moths, as they are com- Moths of Sherkin Island monly known, that exceeds more than one quarter of the British Isles species list (800+ species). This is impressive species richness on an island that, by land area comparison, is only one ten thousandth the size. Sherkin Island encompasses a great variety of different habitats which in turn boast a famously vast array of wild plants, plants which moths rely upon for food as well as shelter. This variety of habitats is the single most important reason for the wide diversity of moths on the island. Species typical of coastal, marsh, heath and garden habitats as well as deciduous and coniferous woodland can all be found in rela- tively close proximity to each other. The island’s climate is another factor that is conductive to moth numbers. Warmed by the Gulf Stream species are able to grow, mature and reproduce rapidly. For example the Brim- stone and Dark-barred twin-spot Carpet can Photos: © Sherkin Island Marine Station Brimstone Moth Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet exhibit two or three generations a year whereas in colder, greater latitudes only one generation is possible. terns and lifestyles far exceeds that of the but- day-flying Burnet and Forester moths also pos- Sherkin is also placed in a very favourable By Christopher Barry terflies, who for too long have enjoyed sess antennae with a club-like appearance. location as regards migrant moths which typi- undeserved, yet useful, publicity. Having bold colours like these is probably poor cally arrive from warmer climes in southern MOTHS have a long standing and unde- What is the difference between moths and camouflage but these particular paint jobs Europe and north Africa. Several infrequent served reputation as unattractive, grey flapping butterflies? Unfortunately there is no clear advertise toxic qualities to non-insect preda- and spectacular visitors such as the Convolvu- bugs of the night which can reduce cupboards answer to this question as the division is a pop- tors. The well known and instantly lus Hawk-moth and the Crimson Speckled of clothing to tatters. Hopefully this article will ular one made for convenience rather than a recognisable Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae have been recorded as well as more common help to dispel some of the negative publicity scientific one. The most straightforward gen- also has similar colouration and again is dis- visitors like the Scarce Bordered Straw, Angle which currently exists and continues to persist. eral rule that can easily be observed, is that tasteful to non-insect predators owing to its Shades and the Vestal. In general most Firstly, not all moths eat cloths, in fact only butterflies have clubbed antennae whereas larval diet of the toxic plant Ragwort, Senecio migrants cannot survive the winter, however as a very small number of very small moths from moths do not. A more rigorous but difficult to jacobaeae. the world’s climate continues to warm it is rea- one family actually do; so if a moth you see is see character are structures that help to couple Moths are sometimes unpopular, like loudly sonable to expect that some may become any bigger than half a matchstick be assured it the fore and hind-wings in moths which butter- dressed adolescents, for their involuntary established on Sherkin given that acceptable will not be interested in last season’s fashions. flies lack. Exceptions of course exist, for attraction to bright lights at night. There is no food plants exist for the larvae. Dull, grey-brown bugs they are not either; on example members of the colourful and vivid universally accepted scientific reason for this Even without the spectacular visitors men- closer examination the variety of colours, pat- behaviour however the most common explana- tioned above Sherkin Island and many places tion goes like this: moths navigate by in Ireland have numerous beautiful and fasci- maintaining a constant angular relationship nating species. The Garden Tiger is an instantly with a celestial light (amongst other means), on recognisable species both as an adult and as a encountering an artificial light the moths spiral busy, black hairy caterpillar or ‘woolly bear’ as towards it due to their more rapidly changing they are sometimes known. Unfortunately the position relative to it. Another explanation is Garden Tiger is a species (along with the that lights cause a visual distortion (the Mach Cinnabar) that has shown dramatic declines in band) which is amplified by the compound numbers in the British Isles recently (though eyes of moths. It has been postulated that not on Sherkin) indicating significant changes moths, as nocturnal creatures, should aim, for to their habitats. reasons of personal safety, to travel by the Today widespread changes in land use cou- darkest routes possible. The visual distortion pled with population increases threaten the places an artificial dark area adjacent to the integrity of our natural spaces; without careful light source; when moths approach lights they planning we may cause irreversible damage. are actually aiming for the darkest place visible The abundance and diversity of groups of ani- to them. As the moths move towards the light mals such as moths can be very useful in the imaginary darkest area changes position helping to judge our success in integrating our resulting in them spiralling in towards it. human requirements with those of the natural Moths are important to overall diversity for world. To avoid compromising our natural several reasons. As primary consumers they are environment and thus a range of natural a significant link between plants and animals resources that we take for granted, such as the further up food chains which currently include air we breathe and the water we drink, we must a number of threatened species. Rare species of pay closer attention to the impacts of our Bat like Bechstein’s, Grey Long-eared and lifestyles. Horseshoe all rely upon adult moths for a sub- stantial proportion of their food. Both Find out more: caterpillars and adult moths are common sources of food for a number of birds including Eyre, D. (2004) Moth Records from Sherkin species that have shown recent declines such as Island, Co Cork, 1977-1997: Macros. Irish Bullfinches, Spotted Flycatchers and Corn Naturalists Journal, Vol. 27 No.12: 468-480. Buntings. Some plants also rely on moths for Ford E. B. (1972). Moths 3rd Edition. Collins the pollination of their flowers; in the case of Clear-Type Press, London & Glasgow night blooming flowers light pollution can Majerus, M. (2002) Moths. British Wildlife affect their reproductive ability as well as that Publishing. of the moths themselves. Young M. (1997) The Natural History of As a species rich group of primary con- Moths. T & A D Poyser Ltd sumers with high overall biomass and often http://www.habitas.org.uk/moths/ species specific associations with larval food- http://www.butterfly- plants moths are influential components of conservation.org/index.php ecosystem dynamics. For this reason they are http://ukmoths.org.uk/ good indicators of the impacts of changes in land use and can provide a sound means of Christopher Barry was formerly a volunteer examining habitat integrity over time. biologist at Sherkin Island Marine Station. SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______23 RESTORING THE NY/NJ HARBOR ESTUARY

and East Rivers), a vast remain in effect because U.S. Army Corps of By Dennis network of channels of contaminants in their Engineers has recently (over 250 miles of fed- flesh; sediments in navi- been authorised to Suszkowski eral channels) and gation channels are too develop a comprehensive berthing areas has been contaminated to dredge ecosystem restoration WITHIN the last two excavated to enhance and dispose of economi- plan for New York Har- years, it has been possi- navigation, and countless cally; and some shellfish bor. In addition, a major ble to reflect on the tons of industrial waste beds have remained scientific initiative, the Scientific measures of the environmental health of New York Harbor have improved as current health of the and human sewage have closed for decades. Now Contamination Assess- much as ten-fold in the past 30 years. NY/NJ Harbor Estuary in been discharged into the the challenge is to ment and Reduction provide answers to ques- date in restoring the region is challenging, but light of the avalanche of estuary over the years, address the legacy of pol- Project (CARP), is near- tions thought to be NY/NJ Harbor Estuary achievable. The next year environmental laws, reg- with large amounts of lution, and restore ing completion. impossible to address in has been remarkable. will likely be a critical ulations and programs toxic chemicals becom- bottom and wetland habi- The CARP’s purpose the past, such as: What Given the monumental time for getting restora- promulgated in the U.S. ing lodged in bottom tats that have been is to develop scientific sediments are acting as physical and chemical tion planning on the right since the early 1970s. sediments and posing altered or lost. But com- tools to evaluate the rela- contaminant sources to changes that have track. The Hudson River Foun- continuing threats to pub- prehensive restoration tive significance of other areas of the estu- occurred, particularly dation for Science and lic health and the will require the emer- sources of problematic ary? What happens if you over the past 150 years, Environmental Research, environment. While gence of new kinds of contaminants to New Dennis Suszkowski, dredge out contaminated full restoration is impos- Inc. published a report in many plant and animal collaborations and part- York Harbor, thereby Hudson River sediments? Will the clean sible. However, the 2004 showing that scien- species have adapted and nerships. While the providing a technical Foundation, 40 West areas become re-contam- vision of a vibrant estu- tific measures of the even flourished within environmental programs framework from which 20th Street, 9th Floor, inated? Cleaning up what ary with a flourishing environmental health of this changing environ- developed over the past actions can be taken. In sections of the harbor ecosystem, free of public New York, NY 10007- New York Harbor have ment, others have thirty years have been particular, it is identify- will produce the most health concerns and one 1866, USA. improved as much as ten- suffered declines and very effective, they were ing the most important benefits? which enhances the eco- [email protected] fold in the past 30 years. near obliteration, like the able to narrowly focus on sources of pollutants that The progress made to nomic vitality of the www.hudsonriver.org The “State of the Estu- oyster. specific issues within tra- are contaminating sedi- ary” Report – the first Despite these abuses, ditional administrative ments in shipping comprehensive look at the overall condition of and political controls. channels and constrain- the environmental condi- the estuary has improved Generally, single govern- ing dredging operations. tions of the estuary – dramatically: Contami- ment agencies at the state And it is also addressing examined trends by nants in sediments have or federal level took con- the management question tracking key environ- decreased to levels one- trol of a particular of what fraction of those mental indicators over tenth of those observed problem. Future restora- chemical loads would time and across the har- 30 years ago; levels of tion, however, will have have to be reduced in bor. The report is contaminants in fish have to cut across several order to render future available online at dropped significantly; areas of government dredged sediments www.hudsonriver.org. losses of wetlands and responsibility. And to “clean” by regulatory The NY/NJ Harbor near-shore habitats have further complicate the standards. To address Estuary comprises the slowed considerably; dis- situation, habitat restora- these questions, a large estuarine portion of the solved oxygen levels in tion and sediment data collection program Hudson River, New York the harbor have greatly remediation do not fall was undertaken and a Harbor and the tidal sec- improved; and sewage- within any single state-of-the-science tions of several other related pathogenic agency’s mandate. New mathematical model was rivers which empty into contamination has been authorisations, creative developed, perhaps the the harbor. Its watershed notably reduced. Much partnerships among most ambitious contami- contains the largest city of this improvement can agencies and organisa- nant assessment effort in the U.S. (New York be directly traced to one tions, and new funding undertaken in the U.S. City) and the fourth major piece of federal sources will be necessary The modelling efforts largest urban area in the legislation — the Clean to tackle these tricky to date are showing that world, housing nearly 20 Water Act, enacted in problems. In addition, the legacy of contami- million people. 1972 – which provided restoration efforts must nants in bottom The natural features of massive funding for be developed with credi- sediments is a primary the NY/NJ Harbor Estu- sewage treatment plants ble science and be control on the fate and ary, including its bottom and instituted a strict per- strongly supported by distributions of problem- topography, shorelines mit program to curb the public interest groups if atic pollutants like PCBs and adjacent wetlands, flow of toxic chemicals they have any chance for and dioxins. Therefore have been dramatically into the estuary. success. future restoration efforts altered to accommodate Even with these Several efforts are now will have to focus on the demands and chang- improvements, signifi- underway which provide remediating harbor sedi- ing needs of the region. cant environmental hope for this to happen. ments to restore the More than 80% of the challenges remain. Com- The NY/NJ Harbor Estu- ecological and public harbour's tidal wetlands bined sewer overflows ary Program (an effort health values of the har- have been filled, shore- still contribute raw sponsored by the federal bor. Because the model lines have been stretched sewage to waterways government) and the tracks the flow of con- seaward (Manhattan is when it rains; some Hudson River Estuary taminants and sediments over 20% larger than it species of fish are in Management Program (a throughout the system, it was in the 1600’s decline; advisories New York state effort) will be an invaluable tool because of encroach- against eating fish and are two key planning ini- for planning benthic ments into the Hudson shellfish from the estuary tiatives. In addition, the habitat restoration. It can 24 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Publications of Interest

argue over the conclusions. Nev- * How can communities be con- ISBN: 92-807-2734-6 Explanatory Guide to the dren’s own stories. They show the ertheless, a picture is slowly sidered under the federal and immorality in having children www.unep.org emerging. state fishery management sys- International Treaty on working in such appalling circum- While the non-scientist can tems? Price: Free (plus postage)/2006 Plant Genetic Resources stance. What is wrong with readily understand the book, some * What do we need to know in “What was regarded as feature- for Food and Agriculture mankind to allow this to happen? parts would be better appreciated order to assess community im- less, unchanging and inex- Why can we not begin with the by a reader with some knowledge pacts? haustible is now known to be Gerald Moore most basic of all rights and give A Guide to the of geology and biology. A report * Are there better ways for com- complex, dynamic and finite.” & Witold Tymowski them clean water? So many of the of work in progress rather than a munities to participate in the This 58-page book expands this IUCN The World disease problems worldwide Identification of the would be eliminated. This book is definitive account, it is a fascinat- development of fishery man- promise to provide a succinct Conservation Union Whales & Dolphins of ing exploration of how scientists agement programmes and analysis of the huge potential of a gift for a family and especially Ireland weigh the evidence and gradually plans? the oceans for human activity, pro- www.iucn.org/bookstore children to remind them of what zero in on the culprit. * How can community members vided that it is sustainable. Recent ISBN: 2-8317-0819-2 we in the western world would Jim Wilson with Simon Berrow take advantage of the provi- studies have revealed an astonish- take for granted - the gift of water. Anthony Toole Price:£13.50stg/2005 Irish Whale and Dolphin sions of existing programmes? ing range of ecosystems and biodi- This guide produced by Group Papers included: The Impor- versity at great depth - not a IUCN’s Environmental Law Cen- Achieving Environmental The Selendang Ayu Oil tance of community to fisheries lifeless dark abyss but a power- www.iwdg.ie tre and the International Plant Ge- Objectives Spill: Lessons Learned management, Local area manage- house of life and evolutionary netic Resources Institute (IPGRI), ISBN: 10: 0-9540552-2-5 ment plans, fishery social impact processes. The book is full of in- The role and value of analyses and explains a signifi- Reid Brewer, Editor assessment, sustaining fisheries - teresting information on a realm ISBN: 13: 978-0-9540552-2-6 cant treaty on the conservation Communication, Alaska Sea Grant College sustaining communities. The dis- that covers over 70% of Earth’s Price €12.99/2006 and sustainable use of plant Education, Participation Program cussion and recommendations can surface and yet where, for exam- germplasm in world agriculture. This is a no nonsense guide for so easily apply to Ireland’s coastal ple, just some 200 of an estimated and Awareness (CEPA) in www.alaskaseagrant.org The Treaty aims to ensure that those interested in whales and dol- communities but will we ever see 100,000 seamounts have been AK-SG-06-02 plant breeders and farmers enjoy Conventions and phin watching around Ireland’s such important issues being dis- fully explored. Submarine vol- ready access to these vital re- Agreements in Europe coastline. It is beautifully laid out ISBN: 1-56612-106-x cussed here? Possibly not until it canic vents, discovered only since sources and that the benefits of and is very much for the beginner. is too late. This needs wide circu- 1977, are centres of endemism and Editors: $15.00/2006 such man-made biodiversity, It begins with information on lation in Ireland. The four Fish give clues to the very origin of life G. Martin-Mehers, S. Calvo, It is not often one can say a which has evolved over millenia, when and where to look for Producers Organisations should processes. Exploration and deple- E. Auchincloss & W. Goldstein book on environmental issues are shared fairly. The book covers whales and dolphins, mentioning purchase copies of this book for tion of these precious resources, some 44 locations around Ireland. “hits the nail on the head”. Well, each of the 35 Articles of the IUCN The World their members. both by surface fishing and deep- It stresses the importance of being this is such a book. Every county Treaty, explaining the text and ex- Conservation Union sea trawling, has already made in- prepared with the right clothes for council around Ireland’s coast amining scientific, technical and roads into this hidden world that www.iucn.org/bookstore all weathers before setting off. should have it as a bible on the les- The Journey to Pices legal aspects of the legislation. buffers our climate, recycles car- Many people so often venture out sons to be learned from this oil Scientific Cooperation in The Treaty, which entered into ISBN: 2-8317-0843-5 bon and feeds us. And that is even to sea or along the coast without spill. Indeed one can go further force in June 2004, is an impor- Price £16.00 stg/2004 the North Pacific before we have catalogued the di- proper protection. The identifica- and say for any major environ- tant complement to the 1992 Con- versity. The book includes both a This publication makes inter- tion section, with over 20 species mental disaster. When an oil spill Sara Tjossem vention on Biological Diversity. section on existing legislation, esting reading. The case histories of whales and dolphins, is well- occurs the immediate worry is the John Akeroyd Alaska Sea Grant with suggestions for future from various countries in Europe presented and beautifully illus- potential damage to nature from is a reminder how environmental College Program progress, and a list of “Fingertip trated with drawings and photos. the oil but what the book also issues should be handled. The Facts”. Both should be essential The Irish distribution of each points out is that there are other AK-SG-05-04 chapter “From conflict to coopera- problems when a ship goes reading for all governments. Tales of Water mammal is given, as well as their www.alaskaseagrant.org tion: Thanet Coast (UK) and John Akeroyd behaviour in the sea. The final sec- aground. One of these problems is A Child’s View Natura 2000” is most interesting. tion is a glossary, which is ex- an invasion of rats from the vessel. ISBN: 156612-099-3 Umbrage Editions The Local Authority and the Port tremely helpful for the beginner. Rats have invaded 80% of the $20.00/2005 The Status and Authority were in conflict with world’s islands, primarily by way Book/IUCN The World The book is wire bound and excel- This book is the story of the English Nature, the government of ships, and are responsible for Distribution of Freshwater Conservation Union lent for bringing out into the field. formation of the North Pacific environment “watchdog”, over de- 40-60% of all bird and reptile ex- The author is to be commended Marine Science Organisation Fish Endemic to the www.umbragebooks.com velopment. English Nature even- tinctions. The final chapter for his wonderful contribution to (PICES) an intergovernmental Mediterranean Basin www.iucn.org/bookstore tually decided to appoint an “Lessons learned and final this increasingly popular pastime. body which would lead to a bet- officer, despite having won a court thoughts” is a masterpiece of sim- ISBN: 1-884167-58-6 ter understanding between coun- Edited by Kevin G. Smith and case, to help solve the issues and ple and essential recommenda- tries on marine science - William R.T. Darwall. Price: £24.50 stg/2006 to promote discussions with the Extinction - How life on tions. This book is a must for local oceanography and fish produc- IUCN The World Water is the essence for every various bodies. This brought about authorities, consultants and envi- Earth nearly ended 250 tion distribution and production. Conservation Union a positive working relationship ronmentalists. form of life. Yet millions of peo- million years ago From the time the idea was first and problems were solved with a www.iucn.org/bookstore ple around the globe still do not born it was nearly 20 years be- have ready access to this pre- give and take from everyone. The By Douglas H. Erwin Managing Fisheries fore agreement was reached to ISBN: 2-8317-0908-3 (book) cious resource. In many coun- conclusions in this excellent book, if adopted in Ireland, could save Princeton University Press hold the first PICES convention 2-8317-0916-1 (CD) tries, young boys and girls walk Empowering Communities many local authorities, developers http://press.princeton.edu in March 1992. Chapter 1 pres- for hours every day to fetch Workshop Proceedings April ents a chronological account of Price: £10.00stg/2006 water, unwittingly sacrificing and conservationists much time ISBN 0 691 00524 9 21023, 2005, Anchorage, early strategies and discussion. The Mediterranean region is their own education and future. and money, as well as being good Price: £15.95/2006 Alaska Chapter 2: The challenges of one of Earth’s great centres of bio- Millions of children die annually for the environment. There is a very interesting short section on The most catastrophic event in bridging fisheries and marine sci- diversity. Its botanical richness has of diseases caused by polluted Alaska Sea Grant College humility and open-mindedness - the history of life on Earth, in ence. Chapter 3: the accomplish- been greatly emphasised, but less water. In certain regions, they are Program rare gifts. which 95% of species became ex- ments and challenges of the first attention has been paid to the ani- increasingly suffering from de- AK-SG-05-05 tinct, ended the Permian era, 251.6 10 years and Chapter 4: assess- mal life, much of it endemic or sertification while elsewhere million years ago. What caused www.alaskaseagrant.org ment of those years and the fu- threatened. Wetlands especially they are hit by floods and other this, and why did the recovery take ture. This book is an excellent are in danger, from dams, natural disasters. Achieving Sustainable ISBN: 156612-100-0 study of the problems that arose tens of millions of years? Douglas drainage, pollution, drought and To address the world’s water Fisheries - Implementing Erwin, Senior Scientist at the $10.00/2005 between countries on the use and alien species. The book, with ac- crisis, the international water Smithsonian National Museum This book is the outcome of a development of the North Pacific companying CD of data and maps community needs to come up the New International addresses these questions, draw- conference called to understand seas. A similar organisation to for individual species, collates in- with more than just statistics and Legal Regime ing on research carried out largely and consider impacts to coastal oversee Ireland’s 16% of EU wa- formation on freshwater fish on a warnings. Hard facts and figures during the past decade. communities of Fishery manage- ters would be most welcome. The regional basis. It identifies centres are important, but they only tell Charlotte de Fontaubert and Possible causes include plate ment. 150 Alaska coastal resi- EU does not seem to be able or of fish diversity - notably the part of the water story on this Indrani Lutchman with David tectonics, global warming, ocean dents, fishermen and managers, willing to undertake proper man- southern Iberian peninsula, N. planet. Children’s presence and Downes and Carolyn Deere chemistry, volcanic eruptions and regulators and economists at- agement of our massive resource. Italy and the Adriatic, W. Turkey voices are lacking and this pre- www.iucn.org/bookstore asteroid impact, as well as combi- tended. Among the questions and the Levant - and past, present vents us from appreciating their ISBN: 2-8317-0697-1 nations of these. Erwin looks at being addressed: Ecosystems and and future threats. Just over half stories and views on water. Chil- each hypothesis in turn, examin- * Are there ways to develop effec- the 249 endemic species are dren have a very honest and di- Price: £16.00stg/2003 ing the evidence from places as tive policies and programmes Biodiversity in Deep threatened, and it is to be hoped rect way of telling how they All indicators point to a wors- far flung as Utah, the Guadalupe that do not foreclose opportuni- Waters and High Seas that governments and policy mak- relate to water at present, and ening state of global fisheries. mountains of Texas, China and ties to coastal communities? ers take heed of these fascinating how they would like to do so in According to the latest figures of Kristina M. Gjerde South Africa’s Great Karoo. Some * What aspects of “coastal com- detailed regional data on freshwa- the future. the UN Food and Agriculture Or- aspects of the data are conflicting munities” are we trying to pro- UNEP/IUCN The World ter fish. This book of photographs, ganisation (FAO), fishing pres- and incomplete and geologists tect? Conservation Union John Akeroyd. which are superb, tell the chil- sure is increasing, as is the SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______25 THE noted photographer Mike Brown, has just pub- lished a companion to his already acclaimed “Ire- land’s Wildlife - A Photographic Essay” (pho- tographs from the book were features in Sherkin Comment No. 41). In this new book “Images of Irish Nature” Mike Brown has produced another stunning collection of beautiful and unusual photographs on some of Ireland’s flora and fauna. His introduction to the book gives us an insight over the lows of perhaps into why he undertook such spending eight hours in a hide IMAGES OF IRISH NATURE a publication: and still not getting a picture. Photographing wildlife in After I had published my One of my aims was to of land mammals in Ireland so have given us their thoughts, “Images of Irish Nature” Ireland, or anywhere in the first book, "Ireland's Wildlife - include a lot of new subjects it was inevitable that some hopes, dreams and advice in ISBN: 0954286316 Price: €39.95 world for that matter can be a A Photographic Essay" in in this book. Whales and bats would appear again. Where essays, which are spread Mike Brown Photography, difficult business. It is without 2002, I took a break from my for instance were not included this has happened I have tried throughout this book. To me Clarke St, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, doubt a succession of highs wildlife photography. The in "Ireland's Wildlife" and to photograph them in very these essays conjure up fur- Ireland. and lows and it can be both project had been demanding there is a vast number of different ways than before. ther images of Irish nature Phone: +353-23-35782 immensely rewarding and and although I was thrilled birds, plants and insects in The emphasis this time, as I and I hope you enjoy them as Fax: +353-23-35782 incredibly frustrating. Firstly, with the reception it received Ireland which also hadn't fea- hope you will see, is more on much as I did when I first read www.mikebrownphotography.com tured. So there was no the total image than on simply them. there just never seems to be from the public, I needed time [email protected] shortage of subject matter. showing the perfect portrait. I While there may be a few enough time. Seasons come to evaluate where I was going However, I also had other also wanted to show some lows in my work, there is noth- and go in the blink of an eye. to go next with my wildlife ambitions for this book. I more abstract and simple ing so wonderful as spending The uncertainty of our photography. For about two wanted to experiment with views of nature such as dried precious time in the Irish weather doesn't help and the years I stayed away from the movement and in particular, seaweed on a shingle beach, countryside. It is a great fact that animals don't always wildlife work to concentrate flight. Birds and bats fly as snow in the Kerry mountains pleasure to enjoy its sights, perform as you wish. These on my commercial work and easily as we walk and when or the stunning granite pave- sounds and smells. Or to things can all make it even to pursue some other interests. they take to the air they take ments of the Burren at sunset. spend time watching a wild During this time I decided to more infuriating. It seems that on a whole new look. I wanted All these represent our nature creature as it goes about its go ahead and work on a fol- I often find myself chasing my to show this great talent in the perfectly in my mind. Finally, business, unaware of your own tail rather than that of my low up to the first book. I set most beautiful way I could.” I wanted to ask some other presence. I hope these new quarry. However, the joy of myself a target of two years to Some creatures do feature people who are involved in images bring those pleasures the highs - when an image shoot a whole new set of again in this book. We don't Ireland's natural history, to alive for you. turns out well, or even better images and this book is the have a particularly large list become involved. Six writers than expected - always wins result.” Photos: © Mike Brown number of overexploited and de- ISBN: 955-8177-43-1 International Ocean Gover- pleted stocks. The FAO also pre- nance has three purposes. First, it Price: £10.00stg/2005 dicts that sustained high catches may be used as a guide and a re- The case studies of the coun- will only be possible if remedial source for identifying which inter- tries in this book are from Asia and action is taken to reduce or revert national conventions and overfishing conditions. Overfish- Africa but that does not mean we in Ireland can ignore the recom- organisations play a role in ad- ing has long been explained by dressing various sources of marine the legal uncertainty that prevails mendations and importance of pollution, unsustainable fishing over the rights and obligations of ecosystems when making water practices, invasive species, or fishing states. decisions. Water ecosystems have other threats to marine biodiver- This publication aims to exam- long been perceived by decision- ine the mosaic of new interna- makers as having little value. sity. It provides general guidance tional fisheries instruments and There are seen to be few economic on how to use and develop interna- measures, and to interpret them in benefits associated with the con- tional legal instruments. Second, it a set of clear rights and obliga- servation of habitats such as wet- identifies strengths and weak- tions, which, if properly imple- lands. In particular, housing nesses in international manage- mented will help address this developments and industrial activ- ment arrangements for each conservation problem. It reviews ities have had a serious impact on problem. The report’s suggestions all the new instruments that have these environments. If discussions for further international legal de- been negotiated, highlights their had taken place in the planning velopments and improvements in relevance and scope of applica- stages, there could be many posi- the resources and functioning of tion, and suggests means to facili- tive gains for the environment. international arrangements are in- Unfortunately the reality is that tate their implementation. In that tended to stimulate debate, new re- there is an ignorance as to the im- respect, it is a resource for those search and fresh ideas. A third goal working on international law and portance of the ecosystem. It is is to promote discussion of how to policy, including managers in gov- pointed out that economic valua- advance ocean governance at the ernment. The publication also pro- tion can provide a powerful tool regional level based on the impor- vides a useful tool by including the for placing water ecosystems on text of the international instru- the agenda of conservation and de- tance of maintaining ecosystem ments that can be used to enhance velopment decisionmakers. It is goods and services for the people sustainable fisheries. hoped we in Ireland can learn from who depend on them. issues raised in this book. International Ocean Gover- nance should be useful for govern- Values and Rewards: ment officials and for international Counting and Capturing International Ocean and non-governmental organisa- Ecosystems Water Services Governance tions working in the international for Sustainable Using International Law and arena, but it will also be a valuable resource to help managers and Development organisations to Manage Marine Resources Sustainably civil society address the Edited by Lucy Emerton coastal/oceans problems they face Lee A. Kimball at home. It is hoped it will make a IUCN Water, Nature and IUCN The World Conservation significant contribution to the Economics Technical Paper Union No. 1 growing number of national and www.iucn.org/bookstore international deliberations on IUCN The World Conservation ocean governance and regional ap- Union ISBN: 2-8317-0617-3 proaches. A must for government www.iucn.org/bookstore Price: £20.00/2003 officials and managers. 26 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Junior Pages Junior Pages Junior Pages SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______27 Learn about birds with WREN By Niall Hatch & Declan Murphy BirdWatch Ireland (Dreoilín)

Troglodytes troglodytes AT just 10 cm long, the sec- Feeding Wild Birds Leaflet ond-smallest bird in Ireland Download this leaflet from the Learn about Birds section on BirdWatch Ireland’s website at www.birdwatchireland.ie (the smallest is the minute Goldcrest, coming in a cen- Learn how to identify the birds in your garden with our timetre shorter), and, based Free Garden Bird Charts. Send a SAE to: BirdWatch on the results of BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. Ireland’s Countryside Bird

Survey, our most widely dis- BirdWatch Ireland has over 10,000 members and has branches tributed, found in the widest throughout the country which organise events and outings in your range of habitats and present area. Why not get your school to join? Write to us or visit our web- site for details: www.birdwatchireland.ie in 95% of all locations sur- veyed. A very common visitor BirdWatch Ireland has two to gardens, it can be very educational web sites, catering for learning about birds in schools. inconspicuous as it creeps around in and under bushes, 0 Visit the Migration web trees and other vegetation site to learn about the fascination of bird looking for food, so its pres- migration ence often goes unnoticed. 0 Almost never tempted to bird Visit the Working with Photo: © Clive Timmons Birds web site to learn Above: Wren tables, its main food consists about watching and of small insects and other feeding birds invertebrates. Due to their ONE of Ireland’s most Simply go to tiny size, Wrens are often www.birdwatchireland.ie and go to the ‘learn about birds’ section common and widespread DUNNOCK badly hit during cold winters, birds, the Dunnock BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. with mortality sometimes Tel: 01-2819878 Fax: 01-2819763 remains unknown to as high as 80% in particu- Email: [email protected] (Donnóg) many, despite the fact larly bad years; population that most well-planted Prunella modularis levels soon return to normal Website: www.birdwatchireland.ie gardens will have one or after just a couple of more in residence. This is because, unlike more colourful and showy years, however. garden birds such as the Robin and the Blue Tit, the Dunnock is a shy, The head, back, wings and skulking bird that prefers not to venture out into the open. It is much tail are a finely barred chest- more at home creeping around mouse-like beneath bushes than on bird nut brown colour, while the FEED THE BIRDS tables, but if seed and left-over food scraps are left around the edges breast and belly are paler and of the lawn it may reveal its presence. Not only will you have the pleasure of observing more buff in colour. The com- birds and their entertaining behaviour at close The English name of this species has Gaelic origins, and like the sim- bination of tiny size, dumpy quarters, you will also have the satisfaction of ilar Irish name means “little brown thing”, a very apt description. It shape, mouse-like behaviour knowing you've helped at least some to survive the used to be more commonly known as the Hedge Sparrow, but this name and its habit of always holding cold, lean months. has fallen out of favour as the Dunnock is not related to the sparrows its tail in a cocked position at all but instead is the only Irish member of a family of birds called generally makes the Wren the accentors. It is, however, around the same size as a sparrow, at unmistakable, though the best 14cm in length. clue to its presence is often Predominantly streaky brown on the back, wings and top of the head, its distinctive song: an incred- good views reveal that the breast and face are bluish-grey in colour. ibly loud and powerful cascade It has a slender, pointed bill, and pinkish legs which it uses to scuttle of rapid notes, frequently around on the ground and to clamber around bushes. In addition to coming from the centre of a gardens, Dunnocks are also commonly found in parks, hedgerows, scrub dense bush. and gorse habitats and woodlands. One of the best ways to discover their presence in an area is to listen for their distinctive song: a rapid, scratchy warble that many people liken to the sound of an un-oiled shopping trolley wheel! The Dunnock is amongst the most sedentary of Ireland’s birds, with most individuals mov- ing no more that 1 km or so from the area where they were fledged. Surveys show that there may be as many as 1 million Dunnocks in Ireland, though they are a difficult species to census accurately. Right: Dunnock Photo: © Jerry Cassidy 28 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 cides) do much more harm than good. A better solution is the natural one. Insecticides Common Insects There is a wide range of insecticides and pesticides available commercially. They all vary somewhat in what they claim to do and THERE is no such thing as the typical insect. and in doing so unknowingly allows some what chemicals they contain, but also have They come in all shapes and sizes, albeit pollen to rub off on its body. When the insect some key similarities. The chemicals in these mostly quite small. Many are so small that they then feeds off another flower, it transfers the preparations are very strong poisons and very cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. pollen across, pollinating the flower. damaging to wildlife. That’s how they work. Insects can be found everywhere – from the It is because of insects that flowering plants Few if any are targeted at one pest specifically. highest mountain to salt marshes, from the have been able to diversify, giving us the amaz- In fact, most boast of being capable of killing a snow-capped poles to the driest deserts. There ing range of flowers we could choose to grow wide range of garden pests. What the packets are more different insects than all other plant in our gardens. In fact, insects are so important fail to mention is that they harm a lot more than and animal species put together. to so many flowering plants that they would be just the intended pest. Insects provide us with honey, beeswax, unable to exist without them, at least not to the When the targeted pest ingests the poison dyes and silk. They are crucial in the making of vast extent that they do. and dies, the poison still remains in its victim. healthy farm soil and in the pollination of most Flowers tend to be quite picky about which A dead slug or woodlouse is easy prey and will fruits, flowers and vegetables. Yet despite all insects they’ll allow feed on their nectar. This is soon become part of the food chain, and with it their beneficial uses to man and other living why there is such a variety of flower shapes. A hypothetical typical insect the poison that killed it. This dose of poison organisms, we are carelessly destroying thou- Each flower is designed to be visited by a par- alone won’t be lethal to an unsuspecting robin sands of non-pest species through the use of ticular type of insect. Flowers with tubular larger insects, spiders and birds. As foodstuff, – but robins don’t just eat one meal a day. As a pesticides and insecticides and through the necks where the pollen is deep inside are insects are a very nutritious and valuable result of your killing spree many more easy destruction of their natural habitat, forests. designed for insects with long tongues that can source of protein, especially to young birds. (poisoned) meals will await unsuspecting birds. Insects are incredible creatures and the vari- reach into the nectar, such as butterflies and Both web spinning and hunting spiders feed on So don’t complain about the scarcity of ety of them is endless. For example, a moths. insects, commonly earwigs, beetles, woodlice thrushes or blue tits in your garden if every grasshopper’s ear is on the base of its abdomen, The reason the flowers have different scents and flies, but anything they can catch will do other meal they find there is poisoned. whereas the cricket’s ears are just below the is not for our enjoyment but so as to attract cer- for dinner. In turn, spiders are also eaten by knees, and these are two quite closely related tain insects to feed on them. Not all flowers are birds. insect species. Some insects are quite like us in sweetly scented though, just as not all insects Many of the larger insects will eat smaller Natural / Biological Controls that they live in very complex social communi- like sweet smells. There are some flies that feed insects. Mantids, earwigs, some grasshoppers Before trying to eliminate a pest from your ties, such as bees, wasps and ants. Would you on rotting meat and are not remotely interested and crickets, bugs, beetles, and many other garden, start first by thinking why it might be believe, bees actually perform a dance for the in plants. However, some ingenious plants have insects are carnivores, some more predacious there. Just like humans, plants suffering from other bees in their community to let them know evolved to exploit these flies and produce the than others. Ladybirds are well known preda- stress are more susceptible to illness. There are where a good source of nectar is to be found. smell of rotting meat. tors of greenflies and other aphids. Earwigs many factors that can cause a plant to suffer The carefully performed ‘dance’ is like a Sure enough, the flies fall for it and help pol- also eat aphids as well as scale insects and from stress. If the soil is not well enough map and lets the others know how far away and linate the trickster plant. Some orchids have small flies. drained, too dry, or not containing enough in what precise direction (relative to the sun) evolved to look like a female bee. The male is organic matter the plants will suffer. Equally, if they should look. fooled, and in his attempt to mate with the the plant is getting too much or too little sun- But, before going any further, what exactly mimic flower, and subsequent similar flowers, Some insects are pests light it can become stressed and more is an insect? Well, creepy-crawlies such as bee- pollinates them A few insects are somewhat of a nuisance in vulnerable to attack by pests. tles, flies, butterflies, bees, crickets and ants are the garden due to their large numbers and end- In nature most plants and animals have pred- all insects. Spiders, centipedes, slugs, snails less appetite for our beloved plants. The insects ators. Just as the greenfly is a predator to the and worms however are not. All insects have What do insects eat? really aren’t to blame though. As far as they are silverbirch tree, the ladybird, adult and larvae several common characteristics. To start with, Most insects will feed on a variety of food- concerned, we have very generously provided are predators of the greenfly. When greenflies their bodies are divided into three sections; the stuffs during their lifecycle, but many will feed them with an all-you-can-eat gourmet buffet. become pests it is because there are not enough head, thorax and abdomen. directly on plant material at some stage. In turn, It’s no wonder they munch away happily and ladybirds around, possibly because there are The head, like ours, has (at least) two eyes insects are preyed upon by other insects and at raise large families. Why shouldn’t they? On not enough sheltered sited for the adults to and a mouth, but also a pair of antennae, or some point in their development, both predator warm summer days we attract wasps into our over-winter in. It is possible though to buy ‘feelers’. The thorax is the powerhouse of the and prey become bird food. gardens with the false promise of sweet ladybirds to introduce into your garden. Many insect. It has three pairs of walking legs and The majority of insects need one or more smelling foods and drinks. organic garden centres can order them in for often two pairs of wings. Did you know that food plants as larvae, and nectar from plants as It’s their fault for being there. Slug numbers you. Companion planting also works. This insects have taste buds on the soles of their adults. The wider the range of plants available, (not actually insects, but common garden visi- means planting certain plants to either attract feet? They can figure out what is good to eat the wider the range will be of insects that tors al the same) are regulated in the wild the pest’s predator or deter the pest directly. before they put it in their mouth! The last body inhabit your garden. A wider range of insects in naturally by food availability. There is only Here are some other natural pest control solu- section is the abdomen, similar to ours. It con- your garden will attract a greater range of visit- enough food to support a moderate size slug tions: tains the digestive and reproductive systems of ing birds to feed on them. Flowers are present population. However, in our gardens, with so Ants: plant mint beside the kitchen door to the insect. The insect has no lungs as such. at most times of year in gardens, providing much slug food available, slug numbers deter them Instead it has tiny tubes called trachea, which food over longer periods than natural habitats, increase well past their natural levels in the Blackfly: attract their predator, the hoverfly, run throughout its body. The openings, to the making them a haven for insects. Gardens, with woodland. Unbeknown to them these unfortu- by planting aromatic herbs near the problem trachea are small holes called spiracles along a higher proportion of native plants, such as nate creatures are deemed as pests and every either side of the abdomen and the air just cir- wild flowers, are likely to attract more insects, effort is often made to destroy them. area. Also ladybirds. culates freely in and out. as they are more easily recognisable and acces- As it happens, many of these pests do Cabbage White butterfly: aromatic herbs It is estimated at the moment that there are as sible than exotic species unfamiliar to our deserve their name, as they seem to do nothing attract ichneumon flies, a predator. many as 950,000 different types (species) of native insects. but harm plants. However, not all of our invited Carrot fly: sprinkle garlic powder while and insects in the world. But as new species are Some insects eat dead or decaying plant mat- guests (it is us who lure them in with appetis- after sowing. being discovered all the time (several hundred ter, detritus. For this reason it is advisable not ing meals) are truly pests. Earwigs, for Greenfly/aphids: ladybirds and companion identified and named each year) it would be to clear away all dead garden material and seed example, have no interest whatsoever in our planting of chives, parsley and garlic. impossible to know the exact number. The heads as many insects depend on it for food or ears. They prefer to annoy us by munching on Scale insects: ladybirds and Anthocorus insects we currently know of are divided into a place to hibernate during the winter months. our Dahlia and Chrysanthemum petals. But, nemorum are predators. Rub off with soapy 28 groups (orders). The largest group is the one A good idea is to leave piles of dead leafs in a when not attacking their preferred flowers they water and a cloth. containing all the beetles (Coleoptera). How- heap under a bush instead of throwing them also enjoy eating scale insects, small flies and Thrips: strong blast of water on trees. Fork ever, the most diverse and advanced group is out. This will provide perfect shelter and food aphids. So if scale insects or aphids (the gen- over a pea bed to allow birds to eat off larvae. the one made up of the bees, wasps and ants for wide variety of different insects. uine pests) are your problem, is it that much to (Hymenoptera). Other large groups are the but- Likewise a couple of logs piled up together sacrifice a few petals to enlist the help of the From the ENFO leaflet “Common Insects” terflies and moths (Leipidoptera) and the two will attract wood boring insects into your gar- earwig? written by Justine Cavanagh. ENFO – The winged flies (Diptera). den. A wildflower garden is the ideal way to Those insects that do occur in pest propor- Environmental Information Service,17 St encourage insects, and with them birds, hedge- tions in our gardens can seriously damage or Andrew Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: (01) hogs and perhaps frogs or toads into your weaken a plant. It is usually necessary to con- 8883911 (01) 8883933Fax: (01) 888 3946 A hypothetical typical insect garden. trol their numbers in some way to limit the Insects are well known for helping flowering damage that they can do. Many chemicals are e-mail: [email protected] web site: plants to disperse their pollen, allowing them to available to do the job. Unfortunately, these http://www.enfo.ie. ENFO is a service of the reproduce. This arrangement is mutually bene- What eats insects? widely used chemicals (insecticides and pesti- Department of the Environment, Heritage ficial; the inset gathers nectar from the flower The main predators of insects are other and Local Government. SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______29 PPuuzzzzllee PPaaggee INSECTS

A tiny insect that lives in a huge colony. _ _ _ a The pictures of insects on the left are nameless. 1. butterfly 5. beetle Can you select a name 2. grasshopper 6. ladybird from the list on the 3. bumblebee 7. earwig This insect is usually bright red in colour, with black right? Each has a 4. ant 8. damselfly b spots. description alongside to ______help you. Answers below.

Often found hovering over water, this insect has large wings and a very long slender body. CanOdd you pick the oddOne creepy crawlie out?Out! Three of them are insects and c ______one is not? The colour the circle of those that are insects green and the one that is not red? Answer below.

This insect has powerful back legs, which it uses for hopping. d ______

The delicate wings of Ladybird Snail Beetle Butterfly this insect are often beautifully coloured. e ______Connections Often black in colour, this insect has horny wing Below are the names of six insects, however they have been split up and you have to try and put them back together covers that lie over the again. Can you work out which words go together to make an insect? Answers below. f rear wings when at rest. ______1. damsel bird 2. bumble fly This insect has a large black and yellow striped 3. grass wig body and, like the honey bee, collects pollen to make 4. lady fly honey. 5. ear g ______bee 6. butter hopper

This insect does not go into people’s ears, as its name h suggest. It has a pincer on Make Us Fit! the end of its body. ______Can you fit all of the following insects into the grid on the right? Answers below. ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ant

Sketches: © Sherkin Island Marine Station beetle 1. damselfly; 2. ladybird; 3. butterfly; 4. beetle; 5. bumble bee; 6. earwig; 7. ant; 8. grasshopper. 8. ant; 7. earwig; 6. bee; bumble 5. beetle; 4. butterfly; 3. ladybird; 2. damselfly; 1.

Make Us Fit!: Us Make butterfly 1. damselfly; 2. bumble bee; 3. grasshopper; 4. ladybird; 5. earwig; 6. butterfly. 6. earwig; 5. ladybird; 4. grasshopper; 3. bee; bumble 2. damselfly; 1. bumblebee

Connections: damselfly

The snail is the out one out. It is not an insect. an not is It out. one out the is snail The

Odd One Out!: One Odd earwig

a. ant; b. ladybird; c. damselfly; d. grasshopper; e. butterfly; f. beetle; g. bumble bee; h. earwig. h. bee; bumble g. beetle; f. butterfly; e. grasshopper; d. damselfly; c. ladybird; b. ant; a. grasshopper Insect Pictures: Insect ladybird 30 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 One Man’s Belief in the Young People of Ireland

ership. John quickly moved up the ranks to By John T. Murphy become Chief Executive of Macra and a regular contributor to The Farmers Jour- JOHN (Sean) Murphy who has been the nal and other publications on community, Chief Executive of Gaisce – The President’s youth and farming matters. Award since its foundation in International It was in 1985, when the Government Youth Year 1985, has just retired from his recruited John as first Chief Executive of position. A recent retirement dinner in Gaisce – The President’s Award and Secre- Dublin Castle provided the opportunity for Award Photos: © Gaisce - The Presidents friends to pay tribute to him for his many tary to the Founding Committee which John with Award participants at the 4-day Army Survival Training with The Defence Forces. years of dedicated service. comprised of Tony O’Reilly, the late John John is originally from Ballydehob in Meagher, Alex Spain, Ray McLoughlin, Development Programmes. To this day he said “are the backbone of what the Award Skibbereen, West Cork and he has always Niall Green and Dr Fergus O’Ferrall. The remains a judge on the Bank of Ireland is about”. Such PALS give dedicated and been an outdoor man. In his youth he was Award was initially supported by Mr. Leadership Awards. Retiring so young voluntary commitment to the young people an excellent boxer, he was an active mem- George Bermingham the then Minister for John will continue to use his energies in the of Ireland and deserve the thanks and ber of the FCA and always involved in Youth Affairs. community with young people in particular. respect of all of us. community activities. Before long he found Whilst developing the Award Pro- Throughout the progress of Gaisce John Throughout the past twenty one years his niche by achieving an Agricultural Sci- gramme, initially on a pilot scheme in five was innovative in attracting positive public- over 140,000 young people have partici- ence Degree and joining Macra na Feirme pilot areas: Monaghan, Kilkenny, Galway, ity for the Award Programme. He invited pated in the Award Programme and have as Training Officer. In this position he Cork City and Dublin North, John con- the World’s Strongest Man at the time, raised over €30 million for national and could put his many skills into mobilising tributed greatly to the National Youth John Paul Sigmorson from Iceland to be local charities. Many millions of voluntary young farmers, organising parochial meet- Council of Ireland, he was also a Director the front man in a sporting and strength hours of community involvement have been ings and conferences and training the of the Youth Employment Agency and very promotion of the Award. He had Gaisce given by them - from helping in charity members in communication skills and lead- involved in Enterprise and Community participants on expeditions with Robert shops to visiting the elderly to learning Swan to the North and South Poles. He Sign Language to assisting the less fortu- encouraged young adults to push out the nate. These achievements bear testimony Cork County Council boundaries and excel in ways which they to the man who John Murphy is and his ENVIRONMENTAL never thought possible. This could be from great belief in the young people of Ireland AWARENESS & cycling from Malin Head to Mizen Head – a not alone in what they are but what they RESEARCH UNIT total of 446 miles in six days; to climbing can become. Kilimanjaro or Mount Blanc to winter expe- John has already “immersed himself” in 021 4532700 dition on Snowdon or the Mourne sailing and is looking forward to many, many Mountains. There will be many former par- years of enjoyment of the sport. He is still ticipants (many now not so young!) who will trying to convince his wife, Mary and his recall vividly these great challenges, how- three adult sons, Niall, Kevin and Brendan Tap Tips for your family ever tough, and the enormous amount they to crew with him. Keep an eye out for him learned about themselves, others and the on the shores around the coast. 1. Want cool water to drink? Don’t let the tap world through their participation in Gaisce. run, fill a jug of water and keep in the Household Water Use Over all those years John invested heav- John T. Murphy, Director of Development Examples of usage in litres fridge. ily in the recruitment, training and support with Gaisce, The President’s Award – Gaisce, 2. Use a sink basin to rinse/clean your fruit and vegetables. Use the leftover water to of President’s Award Leaders nationwide Dublin Castle, Dublin 2. Bath 80L give your pot plants a drink, especially in with an ambitious and thorough training Tel: 01–4758746 [email protected] or summer when water supplies are under programme. “These PALS” John has always 5 Minute Shower 35L pressure. Website: www.p-award.net 3. When cleaning your windows or washing Power Shower 125L your car, use a bucket and sponge instead of leaving that hose on. Brushing Teeth Tap running 6L 4. Fix leaking taps NOW. WC Flush standard 9L 5. Use your Washing Machine only when it is full. WC Flush modern 6L 6. Don’t leave that tap running while brushing Washing machine 45-60L your teeth. 7. Gentlemen don’t leave the tap running Dishwasher 20L while shaving.

Washing car with Bucket 10L 8. Is a power shower necessary? 9. Tea for 2.... Fill the kettle with enough for Hosepipe (per minute) 9L your needs (also save energy).

John with his wife Mary and two of his sons, Brendan and Kevin, at his retirement party in Dublin Castle Insert your family’s tap tip here... on Saturday 21st October 2006.

Gaisce – The President’s Award is the highest personal challenge award for young adults in Ireland and having President McAleese as its Patron it is the most prestigious. Gaisce is a full member of the International Award Association, the body for similar awards world wide. For more information please check out: www.p-award.net SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 ______31 Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental Competition for Primary School Children in Munster 2006

A BIG THANK YOU to all who entered Sherkin Island Marine Station’s Environmental Competition for Primary School Children in Munster 2006. We had a marvellous response to the competition and a wonderful day at the prize-giving ceremony at the Carrigaline Court Hotel, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, where Cllr. John O’Shea, Mayor of Cork County, presented the prizes. We would like to take this opportunity to Photos: © Sherkin Island Marine Station again thank our sponsors for this year. They Above: Poulacapple NS, Poulacapple, were: BIM (Irish Sea Fisheries Board), Central Mullinahone, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Fisheries Board, City Print Cork, Cork City Cllr. John O’Shea, Mayor of Cork County Council, Cork County Council, Denis presenting the prizes at the Carrigaline Court McSweeny Photoshop, Cork, Dept. of the Hotel, Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Also present were: Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Vincent Smith, Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd; Evening Echo Newspaper Cork, Janssen Mary Kelly, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals; Bob Pharmaceutical Ltd. and Pfizer Ireland Cooke, Bord Iascaigh Mhara; Dr. Mary Stack, Pharmaceuticals. Cork County Council; Paul Bourke, Central Here is a very small selection of some of Fisheries Board, Matt Murphy, Sherkin Island the 405 prize-winners. Marine Station.

Above: Ballygiblin NS, Ballygiblin, Above: Bealad NS, Bealad, Rossmore, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. Clonakilty, Co Cork.

Above: Presentation Primary School, Tralee, Above: St. Joseph’s NS (Girls), Macroom, Co. Kerry. Co. Cork.

Above: The Model School, Dunmanway, Above: Maultrahane NS, Leap, Co. Cork. Co. Cork. 32 ______SHERKIN COMMENT 2006 Issue No 42 Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental Award 2005 about drink and obesity in young people. There cal Trust. The school is one of the few schools, By Matt Murphy is away out for many if they embrace nature if not the only one, who has done this survey and the outdoors. The Celtic Tiger has brought for so long in Ireland and England. And the AS tonight’s recipient of our Environmental much prosperity to our country but it has also trips to the reserve are not just about the birds. Award has sown the seed of nature in the minds brought downsides. The community spirit is The children also study the trees, plants, insects of hundreds of children over many years, I disappearing, huge housing estates are appear- and other wildlife of the areas. It is an ongoing want to talk for a couple of minutes of how, 66 ing, with little or no thought to realistic green learning process for everyone, giving the chil- years ago, the seed of nature was planted in my spaces for children. Wetlands, which are full of dren an overall experience of Cuskinny. mind by my mother, when just five years old. wildlife, are being gobbled up. Many of you Under William’s guidance, the children also She would talk of her childhood and the canoe here this evening can influence the creation of carry out a Winter Garden Bird survey each win- her father built her and in which she canoed in the green spaces vital for this generation of ter in their home gardens. In all 35 species have Tralee Bay. From then on any photographs or children and the many to come. Equally you been seen in the gardens of Cobh in the winter of articles about canoes fascinated me. My secret was to own a canoe. It took 14 years to achieve can see that wetlands are protected. So that is 2005 and 2006, with the blackbird at number one. my dream. At the age of 19, I brought my first the seed I want to sow tonight. Another project is daily weather recording. Photo: © Robbie Murphy canoe in Cobh, the hometown of tonight’s I am thrilled that our Environmental Award The school began recording rainfall in 1991, Matt Murphy presenting the Sherkin Island Marine recipient. A year later I built my first canoe, as recipient is a person who for many years has followed by the recording of temperatures and Station Award 2005 to William McSweeney. my other fell apart - a story in itself. My first been sowing the seeds of nature in the minds of wind speed. The pupils record it everyday from real canoeing trip was on the River Blackwater. hundreds of children he teaches at Scoil Iosef September to the end of June and the results In a time where volunteers are becoming I was hooked. I fell in love with camping and Naofa in Cobh. Since 1990 he, with last year’s form part of the everyday lessons of the class. more and more scarce, it is wonderful to see the the nature of the river. Within a couple of years Award winner, Jim Wilson, brought children to At the end of the month the pupils write a commitment that William has to teaching chil- I was building a number of canoes and I started Cuskinny Nature Reserve outside Cobh to give report of the month’s weather. They can now dren about their natural surrounds. I am canoe-camping adventure holidays, mostly for the pupils at the school a better chance to expe- compare months with past years. In fact some convinced that the children William has taught children. The seed blossomed and Eileen, my rience nature first hand. can now check the graph for the month they will have been instilled with a wonderful late wife, and I catered for thousands of chil- These visits take place outside school time, were born and see the type of day it was! appreciation of nature and that they will carry dren on the river and then moved to Sherkin, in the evenings and on Saturday mornings. The The result of all the surveys are published in this with them through their lives. Who know where we ran an adventure centre. Another children have constructed and maintained nest- the local town newsletter “The Great Island where it might lead? seed was sown which lead to our Marine Sta- ing boxes at the reserve since 1991. On their Community News” and finally the class are He is as, I said, the sower of the seed and an tion. Eileen and I used always say from the visits they record when nesting begins, eggs are involved in the “Dawn Chorus” organised by example to us all. Now I ask him to accept this beginning on the Blackwater that if we just laid, young are born and how many survive. “Mooney Goes Wild”. award for the wonderful work he is doing for sowed the seed of nature in the children com- And of course the type of bird using the boxes. This wonderful initiative for the children is the children and for nature itself. ing on our adventure holidays we would have The children report all their information to the the brainchild of William McSweeney, who achieved the true purpose of our holidays. school, where the results are filed under gives so much of his time both inside and out- Matt Murphy, Director, Sherkin Island The sowing of the seed of nature is so impor- “Cuskinny File” and are annually forwarded to side school time to guiding the children of his Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. tant in today’s world. Today much is talked BirdWatch Ireland and the British Ornithologi- class to nature’s ways.