SHERKIN COMMENT

Issue No. 34 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2003 Price 95c

INSIDE KKeepingeeping ourour CCoastlineoastline CCleanlean Environmental Response to the 9/11 Attack on the World Trade Center Centre Pages: Swimming in the Surf

Galley Head, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Photograph: Daphne Pochin Mould Page 2...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Contents Editorial Editorial: Reducing Water Wastage ...... 2 Matt Murphy on the government’’s water conservation programme and the appaling waste of Reducing Water Wastage our natural resource. Keeping Our Coastline Clean ...... 3 John O’Keeffe writes about the problem of waste and Daily consumption of water is 500 mega and training the response time in iden- how it is affecting our coastline. By Matt Murphy litres (130,000,000 gallons). This would tifying and repairing leaks has reduced Blue Skies, White Clouds and Red Sunsets...... 4 fill the entire pitch area of Croke Park to a significantly. Anthony Toole tells us how different sized particles THE recent announcement by the Min- level of 5 metres higher than the Cusack • Improved efficiency in operational and create different visual affects. ister for the Environment and Local Stand. Of the 7,200 km of pipeline 411km capital works planning thus maximis- Government, Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., of Recycling Anything with a Plug or Battery...... 5 is over 100 years old, 754 km is 80 years ing the value of economic investment a €278 million water conservation pro- An important message from Katherine Walshe of and 900 km is 60 years old. So one need in existing or proposed capital works. gramme highlights the appaling waste of not be a genius to see the probable waste • Improved management of infinite Cork County Council on what can be recycled. this natural resource which has been on Environmental Response to the 9/11 Attack on the World sources. water resources for their beneficial use going for many years. While preventing wastage of water by all consumers and users. Trade Center ...... 6 The aims of this programme are: through pipe replacement will make There is no doubt this water conserva- • The horrific attacks on the World Trade Center Improving efficiency in water supplies major financial savings, there are other tion programme by the Minister is a most • activated an emergency response from the US EPA Elimination of wastage in water sup- major pluses to the consumer. In the welcome development. The amount of A Recycling Success Story...... 8 plies €278 million will see major changes - all • Peter Marcalus talks about his family’s successful Deferment of capital expenditure on for the good. However water conserva- new supplies through reduced con- paper recycling business. “People must be prepared tion must have the same high profile as sumption recycling of waste. Water conservation is Greenland White-Fronted Geese - Cause for Concern....10 • Improvement in services delivery and to pay the very reasonable much easier to attain and can and will Oscar Merne highlights the state of the population water quality in Ireland today.. charges to local authorities have major benefits. However, the next The present estimated cost by the issue his Department must address is the Inefficient Fishing and Bycatch ...... 11 rather than pay the Department of the Environment in respect water being wasted from households in The inadequacies of fishing are outlined by of population centres over 5,000 inhabi- massive increases the State. At present householders con- Michael Ludwig. tants puts a conservative estimate of nected to mains water have free water € householders now have to Butterflies & Moths in the Garden ...... 12 180,000 on the value of unaccounted for supplies while those connected to group € pay in Great Britain, with Another informative leaflet from ENFO. water (UFW) each day or 66 million per water schemes (GWS) pay an annual fee, Publications of Interest ...... 13 year. If one is to look back over the past the privatisation of water which in some cases would be based on 20 years then hundreds of millions of euro Let Nature Guide Man and Create a New Civilization for supplies.” metered consumption. A conservative were wasted on UFW. Over the years if Mankind...... 14 estimate would be that there is a 30% this sum was invested in such things as wastage (cost €15 million) from leakage, Prof. Qu Geping, winner of the Blue Planet Prize waste management, we would be much 1999 gives his view on nature and mankind. Phase I scheme Donegal County Council faulty tapes, malfunctioning toilet cis- nearer to a sensible approach to the dis- had major benefits: terns, excessive use of water when The World’s Only Herring Museum ...... 15 posal of waste. The National Water Study • Improved quality and pressure of sup- carrying out such simple duties as clean- Daphne Pochin Mould talks about the herring published in 2000 estimated that up to ply to the consumers in the areas in- ing our teeth or watering our gardens. industry in Iceland. 47% of all water produced by water treat- cluded in the project. Major education programmes are needed Swimming in the Surf - photography by Paul Kay ...... 16/17 ment plants is unaccounted for and that • A reliable supply of good quality water to alleviate such wastage. A question A photo album of fish fit for the table. this level is higher in some parts of the is available. must be posed - should we be charged for country. Prior to this latest investment by The Problems Facing the Management of Deepwater Fish • Improved supply for fire fighting. the water we use to make us realise that it government a number of counties were • Developments allowed to proceed in will not always be the sustainable com- Stocks ...... 18 involved in an unaccounted for water Conor Nolan of BIM takes a look at the problems. areas which previously had been refused modity it is at present? (UFW) scheme. Reductions were signifi- due to lack of reliable water supply. Finally, it is essential that local authori- Can we protect our remaining pristine waters?...... 20 cant for example. • Improved moral among staff involved ties continue to have complete A question posed by Martin McGarrigle of the In Dublin they reduced UFW from in water maintenance due to training, responsibility for the provision of water EPA. 42.5% to 28.7% metering, telemetry and leak detection through treatment plants. GWS, which Jerome Collins - Cork’s Arctic Hero ...... 21 In Donegal 59% to 39% equipment. give significant water supplies to rural Paddy Leahy tells us about the fascinating life of In Meath 47% to 34% • Less disruptions to supplies during areas – about 11% of all household – must this expert meteorologist. In Kilkenny 45% to 29% times of high demand and less con- also be updated. People must be prepared The Minister highlighted the Greater Mediterranean Moray Eel in Irish Waters...... 22 sumer complaints. to pay the very reasonable charges to local Dublin Area (GDA) with a population of • Improved management of the network authorities and GWS rather than pay the Declan Quigley tell us of this visitor to our waters. 1.3 million. The GDA includes Dublin A Research Worker in the Antarctic...... 23 leads to reduced operating cost. massive increases householders now have City, Fingal, South Dublin, Dun • Accurate data on water consumption, to pay in Great Britain, with the privatisa- A wonderful insight into how research was carried Laoghaire Rathdown and parts of Kildare pipe sizes, consumers, pipe materials. tion of water supplies. There every out at the Antarctic by Prof. G. E. Fogg. and Wicklow. The GDA water supply • All schemes have been divided into householder has to pay for every litre of Adding Value to Green Business ...... 24 services nearly 500,000 householders and District Metering Areas. water used, at rates much higher than Jane Kenny of the US EPA outlines their use of has a total pipeline of 7,200 kilometres. • Because of infrastructure put in place those in Ireland. environmental management systems. Cornwall’s Offshore Paradise ...... 25 John Akeroyd paints a wonderful picture of the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall. SUBSCRIPTION FORM Captain Cockle and The Pond...... 26 SHERKIN COMMENT is a quarterly publication of Sherkin I enclose cheque/postal order to the sum of €...... The fourth of an exciting four part story by John Island Marine Station aiming to promote the awareness of our Joyce - Escape natural resources, their use and protection. Name ...... Search the Seashore ...... 27 SUBSCRIPTION: to receive a year’s subscription to Address ...... Try to identify 24 animal and plants on the seashore. “Sherkin Comment”, please send a cheque or money order for Sea Sense - Watch the Water Waves and Wind...... 28 €5.72 for Ireland and £5.60stg for the U.K. (sterling cheques ...... accepted from UK); send €9.40 for Europe and €10.67 for the Wise words from the RNLI ...... Seashore Puzzles...... 29 rest of the world (surface postage) - payable to Sherkin Signature ...... Date ...... Gold Moments...... 30 Comment, Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Ireland. Tel: 028-20187 Special Olympians are presented with their Gaisce Fax:028-20407 E-mail: [email protected] STAFF: Publisher, Matt Murphy; Editor, Matt Murphy; Awards. Editorial Assistant, Susan Murphy Wickens; Typesetting, Susan Grilled Whole Fish Recipe from BIM ...... 31 Please send a 1 year subscription - beginning with Issue Murphy Wickens. ISSN 0791-2447 © 2003 No...... Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental Award 2002 ...... 32 Please send a 2 year subscription - beginning with Issue Sherkin Island Marine Station website: No...... Presented to Michael Ludwig http://homepage.eircom.net/~sherkinmarine Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 3 Keeping Our Coastline Clean up wreckage from unfortunate constant shore cleanup or (2) By John casualties. Take a look at the significant reduction in the photo opposite. I know it’s not dumping of waste. You can O’Keeffe typical of every beach on the help by joining the many local coastline but neither is it con- communities who organise THE Republic of Ireland is a trived. While it is possible that shore cleanups and until we small country but possesses a some of the waste came from a change our attitude to marine lengthy and varied coastline. wreck or all the way from the waste this form of community Flotsam - modern style. The coastline is often new world it is very likely that action will be necessary on a described as being about 5000 the bulk is home produced. regular basis. You can put seashore. Do not leave nets kilometres long but if every Lets think of the more likely pressure on port and local and gear in untidy fashion on craggy inlet and island is taken sources: the fish box is proba- authorities to provide the port piers or on foreshore where into account the actual length bly the property of a local fish reception facilities required they will be unsightly and haz- is closer to double that figure. company or co-op and while it under international agree- ardous. Dispose of damaged The coastline contains spectac- may have been lost overboard ments. However the key to the netting properly. There is great ular vistas, important wildlife it may also have been care- problem is undoubtedly to community spirit in coastal habitats and is the living space lessly or deliberately dumped change our own behaviour. areas. Harness that coopera- for the majority of the coun- from a myriad of other Reducing the volume of tion to undertake cleanups and try’s population. It is one of the sources; the pot from a local waste generated in the first the provision of waste recepta- jewels of our tourism industry. shrimper was probably lost place is not impossible. Elimi- cles. It makes sense therefore to pro- during a storm; the fibreglass nating waste dumping at sea or If you are visiting the beach tect the environment we live in boat debris may indeed have on the shoreline is achievable. deposit all your cans, bottles, and to keep it as nature come from a wreck but more It largely depends on our atti- nappies, bags and wrappers intended as far as possible. likely was dumped locally; the tude. To give you examples: into the proper disposal recep- Lets try in this article to rope and netting was lost at sea The Tidy Towns campaign has tacle. If none is available bring keep away from the headline or dumped overboard or from transformed many of our vil- your waste back home with grabbing issues such as oil some pier; the plastic bottles lages and towns to the point you. Remember Ireland is a spills and dwell on our own and sheeting was dumped where rubbish dumping and windy place and the use of

contribution to fouling our Photos: © John O’Keeffe from ships fishing vessels or dereliction is unacceptable to solid reusable food containers coastal environment. No mat- Indestructible monofilament netting. leisure craft at sea or into a the majority of residents in rather than light wrappers at ter how severe once-off river many miles inland. The those towns. Another example the seaside will reduce risk of pollution incidents are, they important point to consider is is hillwalking which has in material blowing away in the rarely have long-term conse- that much of the waste is home recent years become very pop- wind. Even if you reside miles quences. It is the continuous produced and therefore within ular in Ireland. The pioneers of from the shoreline bear in discharge of pollutants that our power to remedy. The this pastime put great store on mind that bottles, cans, plas- normally overwhelms nature’s growing marine activity cou- respect for the environment tics and balewrap are recovery mechanisms. Its what pled with the increasing use of and the many enthusiasts now constantly being transported to we do with our waste and non-degradable materials on the hills have bought into the coast by rivers. where it ends up year after clearly signals much increased this ideal and are fastidious year that really counts. And marine debris is on the cards about eliminating waste Any- that is where you come in. unless we take corrective thing brought onto the hills Coastal sewage action. and not consumed is brought treatment Flotsam and Jetsam back home. As a result there is remarkably little waste to be I want to end this article on Ordinary everyday rubbish Biodegradation of seen. Surely our coastline is as a positive note by paying trib- is ubiquitous over the entire spectacular as our hills and ute to the many people who coastline and growing in vol- marine debris deserves the same respect? have prepared the plans and ume. Why is it a problem? BIM, the Irish Sea Fisheries Ask yourself what can I do? are currently implementing Marine debris is harmful to Board, has produced a poster If you are a fisherman, fish schemes to rid us of the main marine fish, mammals and illustrating the biodegradation farmer, sailor or yachtsman cause of coastal water pollu- birds. It can be hazardous to timescale for many forms of Ubiquitous polystyrene foam. you can see that much of the tion i.e. untreated sewage craft through collision risk, marine debris. It makes for waste is generated by you or arising from the concentration propeller snagging or clogging sobering reading: 3 months for € your colleagues. You can also of our cities and towns along City’s 270 million main environment. Credit should be cooling water intakes. It a milk carton, 1 year for a see that much of this waste is the coast. I am glad to say that drainage and treatment given to the unsung people in degrades the visual amenity biodegradable nappy, 50 years not easily degraded naturally. there is positive progress to scheme that will clean up the the Dept of the Environment, both for own enjoyment and for Styrofoam and tin cans, Bring ashore your waste. Place report. We are about to witness city quays and harbour for the local authorities and the Euro- for our extremely important 450 years for a disposable it in the dedicated waste recep- a massive improvement in first time in centuries. This pean Union for their vision tourism industry. It reflects nappy, 600 years for monofila- tacle that harbour authorities coastal water quality as huge scheme is due to come into and commitment in enabling poorly on us as pollution is ment netting. According to are now required to provide. If schemes for secondary treat- effect in early 2004 and simi- these works to be carried out. one of the yardsticks for a that poster most of the waste in one is not available at your ment of sewage will shortly be lar schemes in Dublin, society in balance with itself the above photo will survive pier, marina or landing place brought into operation in all Galway, Limerick and other John O’Keeffe is working in and with nature. for hundreds of years. With bring the waste home for our coastal cities. This will towns are well advanced. the marine environment for Where does the flotsam and marine debris lasting over that proper disposal. Agitate for the transform our perception of These engineering works, jetsam come from? These are timescale it is clear that if we over thirty years. removal of unsightly wrecks and enjoyment of the waters largely going unheralded, can old-fashioned words that used want our coastline clean we rotting or rusting on the near our cities. An example of only be described as revolu- to describe the floating or cast have only two options: (1) the scale of change is Cork tionary improvements to our Page 4...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Blue Skies, White Clouds and Red Sunsets

in the coarse suspension true solution, but are often gates of smaller molecules, By Anthony being more than a thousand translucent if the suspended atoms or ions. Mixtures may Toole times bigger than the ones in particles are larger. be made up of almost any the solution. The larger par- The word, ‘colloid’, combination of solid, liquid IF a spoonful of salt is ticles can be clearly seen comes from the Greek word or gas. In fact, the only mix- stirred into a cup of water, with the naked eye, while for ‘glue’, and indeed glues ture that does not exist in the salt will dissolve to give those of the and gums, colloidal form is one con- a clear solution. If the solu- solution are when sus- sisting solely of gases. tion is left to stand, then too small to “The appearance of pended in a Paints and jellies, for provided the water does not be detected, solvent, are example, are made of solid even through sunbeams is an generally col- colloidal particles sus- evaporate, the salt will example of this, in remain dissolved indefi- a powerful loidal in pended in liquid. An nitely. Even filtering microscope. which light is nature. Their emulsion, like milk, has liq- through a fine mesh or There is scattered by particles are uid particles suspended in a porous paper will not sepa- also a third particles of mist or strongly liquid. When colloidal sized kind of mix- attracted to gas bubbles are dispersed rate the components of the dust suspended in mixture. ture, known the solvent, through a liquid, a foam is A mixture of soil and as a colloidal the atmosphere.” with the result produced, such as whipped water, on the other hand, is system, in that they tend cream. opaque. On standing, the which the to be quite The solvent in which the soil slowly settles to the bot- particles cover a range of viscous when compared to a colloid is suspended is more tom of the container, with intermediate sizes, and the solution. correctly referred to as a dis- Photo: © 1995 SoftKey International Inc., and its licensors the water lying on top. Fil- behaviour is different again Sometimes, the colloidal persion medium. This can be meringues or pumice. Solid pended in a gas, while tering will separate the two from those of the two particles are large, individ- a solid or a gas, as well as a particles in a solid medium smoke is an example of an completely. extremes. These systems ual molecules, such as liquid. result in such things as aerosol, in which the colloid These contrasts are due to will allow the transmission proteins, plastics or starch. If the dispersion medium pearls and coloured glasses. is a solid. differences in the sizes of of light, and sometimes On the other hand, they may is a solid, then colloidal gas In fogs, mists and clouds, Depending on their size, the particles present, those appear transparent, like a be formed as large aggre- bubbles can give rise to liquid particles are sus- colloidal particles can some-

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Wyeth brings products to the people who need them around the world. Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 5 times be detected under a collected as a solid surface microscope, by means of crust. their ability to scatter light Light scattering is an sideways. If smoke is important property of col- observed through a micro- loidal systems. Light will scope, while being pass unhindered through a Recycling Anything with illuminated by a bright light, solution, and is blocked tiny pinpoints can be seen to completely by a coarse sus- be jumping about continu- pension. If the particles in ously and randomly. This suspension are colloidal, a Plug or Battery ceaseless motion is known then the path of a light beam as Brownian movement, and can be easily seen when is caused by the particles viewed from the side. The Cork County Council Prepares for the Waste Electrical & Electronic being bombarded by the appearance of sunbeams is tiny, invisible but rapidly an example of this, in which Equipment Directive moving molecules of air. light is scattered by particles Particles in a coarse suspen- of mist or dust suspended in Irish law by the 13 August 2004. Arrange- sion are too heavy to be the atmosphere. By Katherine Walshe ments for the actual operation of the affected by this bombard- This phenomenon is Directives must be put in place in stages ment, while those of a true known as the Tyndall effect. “ELECTRICAL waste is one of the from 13 August 2005. For example, the solution are too small to It was originally observed fastest growing waste streams in Ireland. requirement for producers to provide free scatter light. Brownian by Michael Faraday in It is a source of valuable materials which take-back facilities for waste electrical movement is thus a charac- 1857, but was more fully can readily be recycled and which we equipment will come into operation from teristic phenomenon of investigated and explained a must divert from landfill”, according to that date. colloidal systems. decade later by John Tyn- Minister Martin Cullen, Minister for the The Directives are intended to min- It is this continual bom- dall, who was born in Environment and Local Government, on imise the environmental impact of bardment by tiny molecules Leighlin Bridge, County 19 February 2003 when he launched the electrical and electronic waste. They fol- that maintains the much Carlow. It leads to some inaugural meeting of the Taskforce on the low the producer responsibility model Implementation of the EU Directives on whereby producers of electronic/electri- larger colloid particles in interesting effects. Photo: © 1995 SoftKey International Inc., and its licensors Waste Electrical and Electronic Equip- cal products must take responsibility for suspension. If they coagu- White light consists of ment (WEEE) and on the Restriction on those products at the end of their life. It is late together, then the result radiation of different wave- moy. The project started by setting up Hazardous Substances (RoHS). The proposed to implement the WEEE/RoHS is eventual precipitation. lengths. The shorter collection points for all types of house- taskforce has been asked to develop rec- Directives by way of an industry-led pro- hold WEEE at three civic amenity sites: Clouds, for example, are wavelengths give rise to ommendations on how the Directives ducer responsibility initiative Derryconnell (Schull), Raffeen and made up of colloidal water blue light and the longer to should be implemented in Ireland. Youghal, each catering for a different droplets and ice crystals. If red light. Intermediate Commenting on the growth of electri- population density area. As the Raffeen the temperature falls, water wavelengths are responsible cal and electronic waste Minister Cullen Civic Amenity Site has recently been vapour from the surround- for the other colours in the said: “New versions of consumer prod- “The type of equipment closed for development, the trial for Raf- ing air condenses onto rainbow spectrum. ucts are constantly being launched. these sites accept is feen has been relocated at two new sites, these, increasing their Small colloidal particles Built-in obsolescence and constant pres- essentially “anything with a namely Macroom and Rossmore (Car- sure to keep up with new developments masses until they can no scatter blue light more plug or battery” and rigtwohill). longer remain suspended, effectively than red. Smoke mean that more and more electronic A two month long promotional cam- and fall as rain. from a burning object goods are being purchased. Economic includes items such as: paign followed which aimed at informing Sometimes, colloid parti- appears blue because of this. growth and greater personal wealth allow washing machines, the public about the availability of WEEE cles gather electric charges When the particles approach more of us to enjoy the benefits of new refrigerators, cookers, recycling facilities and of their locations. onto their surfaces. Repul- the larger regions of the col- technology from DVDs to PCs, from spe- Special emphasis was placed on increas- cialised equipment in the kitchen to computers, TVs, HiFi sion between these charges loidal range, as in the water ing public awareness regarding the sophisticated life saving equipment in keeps the particles sepa- droplets in a cloud, all stereos, toys and fluorescent potential hazard for the environment rep- our hospitals. However, the downside of light tubes.” resented by inappropriate management rated. If the charges can be wavelengths of light are this technological revolution is the signif- neutralised, the particles scattered, so that the cloud and disposal of the WEEE. Public icant growth in electronic waste, now response was immediate and there were coagulate and drop out of appears white. estimated at around 1.6 billion tonnes in many people travelling quite long dis- suspension. The gases in the earth’s the EU every year”. underpinned by legislation. Implementa- tances in order to dispose of their WEEE Smoke and dust are often atmosphere, nitrogen, oxy- The goal of the task force, which con- tion will therefore require close properly. charged in this way. Walls gen etc., are present as small sists of a wide range of people from the co-operation between all stakeholders - The type of equipment these sites above hot water pipes also molecules, too tiny to have manufacturing and retailer sectors, cen- producers, retailers and central and local accept is essentially “anything with a plug gather static electricity from any effect on the passage of tral and local government, and the EPA, government. or battery” and includes items such as: hot air passing over their light. Suspended in the air, is to develop an efficient system for the In anticipation of the new Directives washing machines, refrigerators, cookers, surfaces. If the wall carries a in addition to these gases, management of electrical waste in Ireland coming down the track, Cork County computers, TVs, HiFi stereos, toys and charge opposite to that of are particles of dust, ice and to ensure the use of hazardous mate- Council at the beginning of 2000, fluorescent light tubes. As many items of the dust particles, then it crystals and water droplets, rials in electronic components is decided to take part in the WEEE Collec- electronic and electrical equipment con- will attract the dust, which in the lower range of col- restricted in accordance with the new EU tion Trials Project administered by the tain hazardous substances, it is essential deposits onto the wall. loidal size. These allow the Directives. Environmental Protection Agency, co- that when people throw away their old Colloidal clay in river passage of light of longer In particular, the taskforce is being ordinated by the Clean Technology equipment, these substances are managed asked to develop proposals for a Producer water is precipitated by the wavelengths, but scatter Centre of the Cork Institute of Technol- in an appropriate way. Only approved Responsibility Initiative for e-waste, ogy and financially assisted by the charged ions in salt, as the blue light very effectively. methods and facilities can be used in recy- whereby the producers of electrical and Department of the Environment and river enters the sea, so that As sunlight passes cling the collected waste. electronic goods will be obliged to put in Local Government under the Environ- estuaries are usually sur- through the atmosphere, this During the first six months of the proj- place systems to ensure that such waste is mental RTDI Programme 2000-2006. ect, a total of 118.6 tonnes of electric and rounded by extensive mud blue light is scattered collected and recycled to the greatest The purpose of the project is to examine electronic waste were collected and flats. The same principle is towards the ground, causing extent possible. In accordance with the the best ways in which this type of waste treated from the participating civic employed when a salt like the sky to appear blue. As WEEE Directive, by August 2005 owners can be collected and recycled in County amenity sites in County Cork. This is a aluminium sulphate is added the sun sinks, at dusk, the of e-waste will be entitled to leave that Cork. The project data on waste arisings, clear indication of the strong interest this to the domestic water supply sideways scattering of the waste back free of charge, either to the public response and attitude towards project has generated. The results of the to precipitate colloidal blue light leaves the red to place of purchase or to other authorised WEEE recycling as well as financial WEEE Trials Project to collect waste materials and so clarify the continue, giving us the fiery collection points. implications are being collected and from electrical and electronic equipment water. Similarly, adding salt spectacle of a glorious sun- EU Directives on Waste Electrical and analysed. The involvement in the project will be made available towards the end of to a wound helps blood to set. Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the is in line with the Waste Management this year. clot. During soap manufac- Restriction of the Use of certain Haz- Plan for County Cork. ture, ‘salting out’ is used to M.A. Toole, 65, Cheswick ardous Substances in electronic and For the project, Cork County Council Katherine Walshe, Director of electrical equipment (RoHS) came into precipitate soap from solu- Drive, Gosforth, Newcastle is availing of the services of AVR-Safe- Environment, Cork County Council, force on 13 February 2003. The Direc- way, a company operating from an EPA tion, so that it can be upon Tyne, NE3 5DW, U.K. County Hall, Cork. tives are required to be transposed into licensed hazardous waste facility in Fer- Page 6...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Environmental Response to the 9/11 Attack on the World Trade Center

evidence and human remains, as well as the safety of those who reside in areas adjacent to the landfill. On the debris pile at the WTC site, which became known as Ground Zero, how- ever, there were VOCs found at high levels while the fires burned. For this reason EPA and other health and safety agencies warned workers and responders active at Ground Zero to wear Personal Protec- Photos: © US EPA tive Equipment, especially View from EPA Office in Lower Manhattan on 9/11/01 proper respirators, at all times. EPA sampled drinking of a massive federal effort to ples for asbestos, since it was water from the water distribu- By Kathleen support New York City. known from the 1993 bombing tion system downtown and USEPA immediately dis- of the WTC that some parts of analysed samples from water Callahan patched monitoring teams the building steel structure towers on top of buildings. throughout the areas of lower were coated with asbestos as a We did not find any levels ON the morning of Septem- Manhattan, Brooklyn, and flame/heat retardant. Tests above drinking water regula- ber 11, 2001, after the first Northern New Jersey, directly were also taken on and around tory criteria. After early rain plane hit the North Tower of across the river from the World the debris pile of the destroyed events EPA sampled run-off the World Trade Center, the Trade Center (WTC) site. Ini- buildings which were burning points along the Hudson River United States Environmental tial tests were taken of the bulk at extremely high temperatures, near the WTC site; elevated Protection Agency (USEPA) dust material that blanketed the initially in the range of levels of some contaminants activated its emergency area immediately surrounding 1800–2000oF (982–1093oC), were found; however, by the response staff. Over the ensu- the collapsed buildings. This for gases and volatile organic second rain event after the dis- ing weeks and months USEPA material was finely pulverised compounds (VOCs), such as, aster the run- off levels staff continued to address concrete and structural materi- benzene. This was done prima- returned to normal. EPA also environmental issues on als as well as building supplies rily to identify potential sampled water from the Hud- An air sampler right off Ground Zero numerous fronts. USEPA and furnishings. hazards to the first responders son and East Rivers and undertook these actions as part EPA began to take air sam- (fire fighters, searchers for sur- wastewater from a sewage vivors, operators of equipments treatment plant in Brooklyn for debris removal). Within a that accepted wastewater from few days EPA brought in an on- lower Manhattan. EPA did not site mobile laboratory to find levels that posed either conduct rapid turnaround human health or ecological analysis of over 150 VOCs and concerns. provided daily results, within Over the course of ten hours, to New York City months EPA took 24, 500 sam- (NYC) emergency manage- ples of air dust, drinking water ment personnel. The air and river water. Because many sampling network was quickly were analysed for more than and progressively expanded in one pollutant, these samples terms of the number of sam- yielded more than 212,500 plers and the contaminants results. EPA cleaned and/or analysed. In addition to tested 4,120 residences and the asbestos, we added sampling common spaces (hallways, for metals and semi-volatile Air testing of residential apartments Sampling in Brooklyn on 9/11/01 stairwells, basements) in 144 compounds that were combus- apartment buildings. EPA also tion related (such as dioxins). mination tent in the world, a vide professional abatement cleaned the heating, ventila- Several rounds of sampling for 31,000 square-foot heated cleaning services to residents tion and air conditioning VOCs were done at further dis- structure at which workers of lower Manhattan, cleaning systems of 28 buildings where tances from WTC site. EPA could vacuum, wash off, their apartments, common world trade center dust was tracked particulate matter lev- shower and get a hot meal spaces in apartment buildings, still observable. els in air for fine particles (2.5 from the Salvation Army. and heating and ventilation EPA vacuumed dust from microns per cubic meter) and Lower Manhattan residents systems that still contained the streets, parks and other coarser particles (10 microns were concerned about the dust from the WTC collapse. public spaces using Supervac per cubic meter), as well. safety of their apartments After cleaning, apartments and trucks with high efficiency As debris from the building regarding dust that was other areas were tested to see particulate air filters. EPA ran piles was moved, it was deposited when the WTC tow- if asbestos remained in the air. worker and truck washing sta- trucked to nearby river sites, ers collapsed. EPA responded This cleanup program is being tions in both lower Manhattan loaded on to barges, and trans- by forming a task force with completed now. Studies were and on Staten Island to prevent ported to a landfill in Staten other federal, state and city also done on effectiveness of dust from migrating from the Island. EPA sampled air and agencies to evaluate this situa- cleaning techniques and back- recovery work sites. In dust at the landfill to assure the tion. This effort led to EPA ground levels of contaminants November, 2001, EPA erected safety of workers sifting and New York City developing in upper Manhattan areas that what is thought to be the Contractor doing Residential Cleanup through debris and dust for a voluntary program to pro- were not affected by the WTC largest worker wash/deconta- Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 7

results of these studies in the near future. Based upon the data col- lected, EPA has drafted a risk evaluation. Its findings are 1) persons exposed to the extremely high levels of ambi- ent particulate matter and its components during the col- lapse of the WTC towers and for several hours afterward were likely to be at risk from immediate acute (and possibly chronic) respiratory and car- diovascular symptoms, 2) the concentrations of contaminants within and near to Ground Zero were likely to be highest in the few days following Sep- A wash station to wet down and decontaminate trucks taking tember 11, and 3) except for debris to barge sites the exposures on September 11 and possibly during the next few days, persons in the sur- rounding community were unlikely to suffer short-term or long term adverse health effects caused by ambient air concentration of contaminants. By January, 2002, the ambi- ent air in lower Manhattan had returned to pre-9/11 status. Federal funding has been pro- vided to federal and New York City health agencies to register exposed populations and track their health impacts over time.

Kathleen Callahan, Assistant Regional Administrator for New York City Response and Recovery Operations, USEPA, Region 2 Office. An aerial view of the EPA Wash Tent, with Towers of Light Page 8...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 A Recycling Success Story

for exceptional value and per- brought to Marcal’s Elmwood Peter Marcalus talks about “Closing the formance. Park, New Jersey plant to be Recycling Loop with Marcal”, a business that Marcal’s recycling story processed into paper products. has been in his family for four generations. began over 50 years ago, long Marcal purchases over 25 dif- before recycling to produce ferent grades of recovered MARCAL Paper Mills, bathroom tissue, facial tissue, tissue products became popu- fibre. Included in the “Marcal Inc., a fourth generation fam- paper towels and granule lar in the United States. Mix” of recyclable paper ily business, started in 1932 absorbents for consumer and Today, all Marcal paper prod- grades are the following mate- Today, all Marcal paper products are made primarily or entirely manufactures high quality tis- commercial use. The com- ucts are made primarily or rials: from 100% recycled fibre content. sue and absorbent products in pany’s products are widely entirely from 100% recycled • Advertising Mail the US. Marcal produces a distributed throughout the fibre content. Much of the • Books without Covers By Peter A. Marcalus complete family of paper United States, primarily in the recyclable paper comes from • Colour Inserts from products, including napkins, northeast, and are recognised municipal and office collec- Newspapers

At Marcal Paper Mills in Elmwood, Park, New Jersey, more than 190,000 tons of recyclable paper is processed each year. Magazines, school papers, flyers and thrown-away mail make up a large portion of recyclable paper.

tion programs that Marcal has • Composition Paper set up, creating a continuous • Computer Paper and sustainable supply of raw • Construction Paper materials used to produce its • Fax & Photocopy Paper products. • Glossy Catalogues Marcal helps to make these • Magazines municipal recycling programs • Non-Metallic Gift Wrap successful by lowering waste & Cards disposal costs and by generat- • Stationery & Envelopes ing increased revenue for • Undeliverable Mail public and private recyclers. Since Marcal carefully The U. S. Environmental Pro- selects its recovered paper tection Agency has recognised stock to produce high quality the importance of recycling tissue products, the company’s programs in creating jobs, sav- recycling and papermaking ing natural resources and processes are not designed to reducing the amount of mate- use newsprint, cardboard, chip rial sent to landfills. An board, food containers, paper independent 2001 study by W. bags, carbon paper or blue- R. Beck revealed that recy- prints. cling for ten U.S. Northeastern Marcal has a capacity to states significantly contributes produce over 150,000 tons per to the economy by adding $44 year of finished tissue prod- billion in annual revenues and ucts. Marcal’s paper recycling creating 206,000 new jobs in and manufacturing process the recycling and re-use indus- begins with blending recov- tries. ered paper grades in mixing Annually, Marcal recycles tanks to form a wet pulp. Sev- more than 190,000 tons of eral cleaning stages involving paper. Each day thousands of environmentally safe deter- pounds of recyclable paper gents, high temperature water, collected from hundreds of and steam follow to remove towns and businesses from inks, adhesives, clay coatings throughout the Northeast are and other non-paper materials Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 9

The first part of the recycling from the cellulose fibres in the During Marcal’s paper recy- process is to "de-ink" the paper. This sanitises the fibres cling process, the very small recyclable paper and turn it getting them ready for tissue cellulose fibres that are unac- into a pulpy mush. Marcal is one of only a few companies production. All cleaned fibres ceptable for tissue paper that can recycle papers with then go through a final pro- production are screened out. all kinds of coloured inks into cessing stage. Marcal uses Also extracted are the natural household tissue products. To pulp brightening agents that do minerals that are used in many get the ink out, the paper is thrown into a large vat of hot not contain elemental chlorine. printing paper grades. Several water and detergents. This This process creates pulp that years ago, Marcal recognised liquid is heated to about 110 is bright and white using that there was an opportunity degrees Fahrenheit. The hot chemicals that are kinder to to combine these two materials liquid soaks the coatings off the environment than elemen- to create a valuable absorbent the paper and dissolves it into a grey mush, or pulp. When it tal chlorine. granular material that Marcal is full, this vat can hold about Some Marcal products calls “Kaofin®“ product. 18 tons of pulp! require additional softness or Marcal now produces and mar-

Photos: © Marcal Paper Mills absorption features to meet kets over 40,000 tons per year to “Close the Recycling Loop” visit our website at consumer needs. A small per- of this new recycled product. with quality paper and w.w.w.marcalpaper.com. After soaking in a mixture of centage of primary fibres Through 12 patented absorbent products which are water and detergent, the gray derived form plantation grown processes, Kaofin® material is pulp is sprayed through a sustainably manufactured in a Peter Marcalus is Sr. V.P. trees may be added to the recy- made into new products such series of different-sized way that preserves natural Recovered Materials, Marcal screens. This removes more cled pulp. All finished tissue as cat litter, industrial spill resources, reduces the burden Paper Mills, Inc., 1 Market elements, such as ink products are labelled with their absorbents, livestock bedding on landfills and creates new particles, glues, and other Street, Elmwood Park, NJ appropriate recycled fibre con- and soil amendments. These jobs. coatings. As the pulp is 07407. Tel: 201-703-6404 - screened, it tent. Kaofin® products have For more information on gets cleaner The finished pulp is then remarkable absorbent and Marcal’s process and products, FAX: 201-703-6234 E-mail: and brighter. mixed with clean water and dust-free attributes and gener- [email protected] From here, the sprayed on to the fast moving, ally outperform the pulp is fine mesh screens on large non-sustainable products they pumped into another vat. paper machines. During the are designed to replace. There, all of papermaking stage, techni- Kaofin® products have also the remaining cians are able to control the been tested by a number of U.S. non-usable flow of pulp to create specific universities and independent elements are performance features of the labs and have been determined removed. finished product. The pulp to be highly useful and environ- passes through a series of mentally safe. A unique benefit rollers that remove water and of Kaofin® products, as com- pared to most mined clay absorbent products, is that Kaofin® products are low in Most paper recycling processes create some waste, but not at dust and free from hazardous Marcal! All the printed coatings that are removed when the pulp airborne crystalline silica. is cleaned are collected in a large vat. These coatings are made When consumers buy Mar- mostly of clay. Marcal recycles this clay and makes a whole new cal products, they are helping line of absorbent products out of it!

Klinge Pharma produces bulk pharmaceuticals

Once the liquid is pressed out, the paper passes over huge, hot metal cylinders. Heated to more and fine chemicals for the treatment of than 600 degrees Fahrenheit, this is the final drying step. A long blade lifts the fast-moving sheet of paper off the dryer. More than a mile of new paper is made this way every minute. diseases. We are strongly committed to environmental protection in all our operations. control the paper’s thickness. Near the end of the papermaking process, huge, nearly finished It then passes over a final dry- paper rolls are taken to an area for final processing. Here, the ing cylinder called a Yankee We wish Sherkin Island Marine Station paper unwinds as it is fed into a special machine. Rollers guide Dryer where the temperature the paper across cylinders that print a patter on the fast-moving sheet. reaches 800° and virtually all continued success with their valuable A second set of giant rollers presses a texture into the paper as of the remaining water is contribution to environmental awareness and it moves through. As the paper is printed and pressed, a nearby removed. Finally, the paper is machine makes cardboard tubes. Here, a long strip of cardboard wound into jumbo rolls weigh- protection. is fed into a spinning device ing several tons each. that rolls it tightly, glues it, and cuts it to a uniform length. Throughout the entire process, These tubes await the nearly the paper is carefully inspected for quality to ensure that spe- cific product standards are met. KLINGE PHARMA The rolls are moved through Killorglin, Co. Kerry Marcal’s converting area where automated equipment Tel: 066 9792600 Fax: 066 9792606 unwinds, embosses, folds or email: [email protected] rolls the finished paper, and www.klinge.ie packages the product into tow- els, napkins, bath tissue or facial tissue. Page 10...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Greenland White-Fronted Geese AA CauseCause forfor ConcernConcern conservation success story which planting and disturbance. from hunting. Expeditions to the may now be at risk of failure. To arrest this decline much effort breeding grounds began to highlight a The Greenland White-fronted was put into protecting this goose and couple of adverse factors which could Goose is a distinctive, large, dark its habitats and sites in both Ireland explain reduced gosling production. sub-species of the circumpolar and Scotland, and an annual monitor- Firstly, the traditional breeding Greater White-fronted Goose – so ing and censusing programme was grounds of the White-fronts were distinctive, in fact, that it is proposed put in place, involving both the state being colonised by large numbers of to elevate it from sub-specific to full authorities and non-governmental the more aggressive Canada Geese, species status. The goose has a very Photo: © Oscar Merne limited range and has always had a The Owenmore slide shows a typical western blanket bog, natural habitat of very small total population. As the dwindling numbers of Greenland White-fronts. name implies, the geese breed in flock of Greenland White-fronted Greenland, on an ice-free tundra strip By Oscar Merne Geese, for which the Wexford Slobs on the west side of this vast island. In are internationally important, and the autumn the flocks migrate, proba- MY first article in Sherkin Com- which were the main reason for bly mainly over the great ice-cap, to ment, back in 1989/90 (Issue No. 4) establishing the Wexford Wildfowl stage for a while in western and was about the famous Wexford Slobs, Reserve on the North Slob in 1968. southern Iceland, before arriving on where thousands of wild geese, This current article focuses on the their wintering grounds in Ireland and ducks, swans, waders and other Greenland White-fronted Goose, not Scotland in October. In the 1960s and waterbirds congregate for the winter just on the Wexford flock but on the 1970s the Wexford Slobs supported months. I highlighted in particular the population as a whole, and outlines a about 6,000 of these geese – at that time over one-third of the world pop- ulation. The other very important White-fronted Geese in a potato field in the Wexford Slobs wintering area was the Isle of Islay, a large, inhabited island off the coast of organisations. Regular counts at the which were out-competing the south-west Scotland, which equalled two most important sites – Wexford White-fronts for good nesting sites the Wexford Slobs in terms of goose Slobs and Islay – began in the late and food resources. Secondly, it turns numbers. Elsewhere the White-fronts 1960s and showed a more or less out that while there has been a gen- were found in much smaller flocks, steady increase until the early 1990s. eral trend towards global warming, scattered among the bogs, turloughs, Complete censuses of the entire win- the northern part of the White-fronts’ callows and other wet grasslands in tering population in Ireland and breeding range has been experiencing Ireland, and at a number of sites on Scotland were organised from the significantly later spring thaws, caus- the west coast of Scotland from the early 1980s and the results reflected ing some females to abandon Orkneys to the Solway Firth. The the upward trend shown at Wexford breeding attempts. population at that time was estimated and Islay. The increase was given Added to the problems on the to be about 14,300 birds, following a impetus by the conservation designa- breeding grounds a third factor may decline from 17,500-23,000 in the tion of many of the most important be contributing to the recent decline 1950s. This decline was attributed wintering sites for White-fronts, and in White-front numbers. It seems mainly to loss of traditional wintering by introducing a moratorium on hunt- hunting White-fronted Geese while The Little Brosna slide shows one of the best callows habitat of Greenland White-fronts, which are used by c.500 geese -- one of the largest flocks in habitat through drainage, conifer ing the geese from the mid-1980s. By staging in Iceland in the autumn has Ireland outside the Wexford Slobs. the mid-1990s the world population greatly increased in popularity. Hunt- peaked at 33,000, more than twice the ing bag statistics from Iceland show numbers estimated in 1979 and well that up to 3,700 White-fronts are now above the numbers estimated in the shot each autumn, and this is well 1950s. above the average number of goslings This was a very welcome increase and the future of the Greenland White-fronts seemed secure. How- ever, the annual censuses began to Towards Setting Guideline Values for the Protection of Groundwater in show a worrying decline in numbers, at many of the sites and particularly This document presents proposals for the setting of at the Wexford Slobs. In addition to environmental quality objectives and standards for counting the flocks observers also groundwaters through the use of "guideline" values. measured the annual production of goslings by expressing the numbers The Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on the It provides useful information to all the Agencies and of first winter geese (easily recog- North Slob other bodies involved in the assessment of groundwater nised by their lack of black belly bars quality in Ireland by providing a consistent approach to and white foreheads) as a percentage produced each summer. Clearly this conducting groundwater quality assessments. of the whole flock. This showed the level of hunting is unsustainable and long-term average productivity dur- it is time to introduce internationally The quality of groundwater is assessed through ing the period of increase to be about agreed measures to arrest the current monitoring programmes for drinking water supplies, 15% per annum, but since the mid- decline. Already the population is licensed activities and the EPA national groundwater 1990s this has dropped to below 10% half way back to where it was before monitoring programme. on average. It seems that annual pro- the increase started. Maybe the best duction of goslings has fallen below way forward is to activate the draft The document is priced at €7 and is available from the threshold at which the geese can international conservation plan for EPA Publications, McCumiskey House, Richview, maintain a stable or increasing popu- Greenland White-fronted Geese Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14. lation. which was produced at a workshop Ph: 01-2680100. Fax: 01-2680199 Initially it was difficult to under- held in Wexford in 1992…. or on the EPA website www.epa.ie. stand what had gone wrong. On the wintering grounds everything seemed Oscar Merne heads the Bird to favour the geese. Winters were get- Research Section of National Parks ting milder, most of the sites used by & Wildlife, Department of the the geese were protected and some Environment, Heritage and Local were being managed to benefit the geese, and the birds were protected Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 11 Inefficient Fishing and Bycatch

fished. The result is that there becomes problematic. Looking bers of progeny. Because of rocks or species with spines or the marketplace in response to By Michael are few natural sanctuaries left back at our forefathers fishing the harvesting process, once other sharp appendages in the the realities of fishing, many where fish can avoid nets, practices, we see that they val- the large fish are harvested, net, the whole catch may be are investigating the conse- Ludwig hooks, traps, spears or other ued their effort somewhat their replacements are not able dead when it hits the deck. By quences of landing everything harvesting methods. differently than we do today. In to grow to old age prior to cap- the time the catch is sorted, that can be used from each FISHING is inefficient. The We are seeing the collision hindsight, it was wrong but, ture. almost everything is damaged fishing effort. Utilising degree of inefficiency varies of demand and supply played when a fisherman caught a The American lobster indus- or dead. The regulations say bycatch appears to be an with the gear but all harvesting out “at sea” and in seafood small (one or two pound) Cod try is the textbook example of everything not meeting option. The option has prob- practices suffer from being stores. The outcome is not in or Haddock, they kept it. It this situation. Left alone an requirements must not be lems with management and unable to select the catch question, only the date of the hadn’t spawned but the ecolog- American lobster can live for brought ashore. So, everything enforcement as well as uncer- before it is in hand. Trying to acceptance. Have you noticed ical consequences of keeping decades. Today, the prepon- not legal is incidental to the tainty about stock impacts. catch things you cannot see that wild caught Cod costs the fish seemed less important derance of lobsters is less than catch or “bycatch.” And, And, if bycatch is used, it may with devices that require they more than farm reared Atlantic than the effort needed to land it ten years old. Why? In most because it cannot be landed it put off the day when the public be greedy, lazy or unfortunate, salmon? The public appears and that it could be sold. Enter places they do not grow must be discarded at sea. accepts that human needs are are additional reasons for the reluctant to accept that the the word “Scrod.” Scrod is a beyond the legal size. (Maine Shrimp fishing is routinely exceeding the limits of the inefficiency. Two environmen- oceans have limitations and Cod or Haddock or other white is different; it has an upper and cited as the worst generator of Ocean’s bounty. Clearly, if the tal problems with fishing that farm rearing has ecologi- meat, flake muscled, fish too lower size limit.) To avoid bycatch, but I’ve sorted bottom stocks of consumable fish are inefficiencies are 1) expanding cal benefits. Until acceptance small to filet and cure, but just landing lobsters that are illegal fish catches where we had less to be sustained, either the use amounts of damage to habitats occurs, traditional fishing right for a few single servings. simply requires checking its than one hundred pounds of of trawl nets or the bycatch and 2) captured species and practices will continue and we Keeping those fish increased shell length, retaining the target species and several tons problem they create must be sizes that cannot be used. As must find ways to sustain or catch efficiency because the “keepers” and discarding the of bycatch. addressed. With the very sur- the demand for seafood recover harvestable levels of fisherman could keep more of illegal ones. Most American Although there are some vival of traditional fishing at increases, harvesting effort seafood species. the catch. With the introduc- lobster harvesting uses traps or allowances for landing non- stake, there is little time and increases. To maintain fish Two management options in tion of powered boats and pots. Illegals can be released target species, they are for fewer options available to fish- stocks that sustain fishing use are “days at sea” and size trawled nets, the practice con- in good condition. minor amounts. As fishing ery managers. All of the effort, managers often make limits. Not only do they effect tinued, but the ratio of large to Which brings us to the prob- restrictions increase, fishermen choices require hardships. harvesting less efficient. How- harvesting, they work against small fish changed as harvest- lem of bycatch in the trawler are asking why they must dis- However, there is certainty that ever, every time a fishing each other. By reducing the ing removed the target sizes. fisheries. Dragging a net across card so much of their catch doing nothing is unacceptable. inefficiency is invoked, fisher- time allowed to fish (days at As landings increased and all the seafloor for a half-hour or even though it is dead and does men try to neutralise its effect. sea), catches must be faster. By sizes of fish were caught, more, packing the captured little to help sustain stocks. Michael Ludwig, NOAA, Those two, opposite, efforts limiting size, catching enough fewer were able to grow to old species into the cod end of the Modern technology has include where as well as how NMFS, 212 Rogers Ave., of the right sizes become vital age and both the pool of repro- net, then rapidly hauling the enabled processing of ever- Milford CT USA 06460- harvesting occurs. Areas con- to success. If the target species ductive fish and the number of catch out of the cold and pres- smaller fish and those products 6499 sidered unfishable just a few congregate without regard for their progeny has declined. surised depths, leaves the fish are routinely seen in the mar- years ago are now routinely age or size, the conflict Larger fish have larger num- in poor health. If there are ketplace. Just as Scrod entered Page 12...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Butterflies & Moths in the Garden

BUTTERFLIES and moths belong to the moths outside your garden. Don’t buy peat- caterpillars of Large Yellow Underwing, same insect order, the Lepidoptera (meaning based composts, water-worn limestone or Dark Arches, Drinker, Six-spot Burnet, scaly wings). Ireland has over 1,000 species other materials that form vital natural habitats Slender Brindle, Yellowshell, The Clay, of moth, compared to just 37 resident butter- for endangered moths and butterflies. Dusky Brocade, Ribandwave, Shuttle- flies. They share many features of behaviour XIf you have to control Cabbage White shaped Dart and Silver-Y moths. Cut the and appearance. Gardens are an ideal place butterfly caterpillars in your vegetable patch, “meadow” at the end of the summer when to watch butterflies. Hours of enjoyment can never resort to chemicals. It’s cheaper and the grasses and flowers have set seed. be had observing these beautiful creatures more environmentally friendly to remove Remove the “hay” afterwards. dancing from flower to flower in June and them by hand. Cabbage White butterfly XTrees such as Hawthorn, Gooseberry, July. Contrary to popular belief, many gar- caterpillars also eat Nasturtium so grow this Currants and Blackthorn are food plants for den moths are also colourful, with beautiful plant as a diversion with your vegetables. Magpie Moth, Buff Arches, Yellow Tail, wing markings to rival those of any butterfly. XGreat nectar plants such as Marjoram, Brimstone, Chinese Character, Nut-tree The majority are night fliers – to avoid pred- Thyme, Marigolds, Wallflowers, Nasturtiums Tussock, Dark Dagger and August Thorn. ators – but a small number fly during the day and Ice Plant do well in containers and XPlant Ivy – the food plant for Holly Blue alongside butterflies. As natural butterfly window boxes, so even the smallest garden butterfly caterpillars. and moth habitats disappear at an alarming can provide valuable food for butterflies and rate, a garden can be an important element their caterpillars. When to Watch Butterflies & Moths in the survival of these insects. XLeave a corner of your garden to go wild to The butterfly season runs from April to Sep- encourage butterflies, moths and other wildlife. tember each year. The best months are probably ELEMENT IN THE SURVIVAL OF THESE INSECTS 1. In the mild heat of spring the Small Tor- June and July. Look out for moths in the garden toiseshell (Ruán Beag) is the first butterfly to in summer months as dusk falls. When it is dark Gardening for Butterflies & Moths emerge from hibernation and is one of the com- a torchlight safari around your Buddleia bushes will reveal moths such as the Silver-Y, Willow Gardening for butterflies and moths is easy monest butterflies. Beauty, Mother of Pearl and Brimstone. and inexpensive and the results are well worth 2. The male Orange Tip (Barr Buí) is easy to the effort involved. Here are some guidelines. identify on the wing. The tips of its upper wings How to Attract Moths XButterflies and moths visit gardens to drink are boldly marked with bright orange. 3. By late spring the Large White (Bánóg Moths are attracted to lights. This may be due nectar from flowers, so plant as many to the fact that moths navigate by maintaining different nectar plants as possible in sunny, Mhór) emerges and is a very conspicuous but- terfly. It has white upper wings with black spots themselves at a fixed angle to moonlight, but on sheltered areas. Offer adult Peacock, Small cloudy or moonless nights they home in on any Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral butterflies near the tips. 4. The Peacock (Péacóg) butterfly uses the bright light. nectar from Buddleia, Lilac, Ice Plant, A simple and cheap method of attracting moths Marjoram, Scabious, Knapweed, large eyes on its wings to frighten away would- be attackers. The Peacock lays its eggs on to the garden is to spread a white sheet underneath Michaelmas Daisies, and Honeysuckle. a light and wait for moths to settle. Alternatively Planting a wide variety of nectar flowers Nettles and produces an autumn generation of young butterflies which then overwinter in the leave the bathroom light on and the window encourages many day – and night flying open! Be Careful to release them unharmed. moths. Buddleia, Valerian, Scabious, hollows of trees, log piles or undisturbed build- Lavender, Candy Tuft and Hebe may be ings. It is seen in April and early May. Count Butterflies & Moths in Your Garden visited by moths such as the Migrant Silver- 5. The Common Blue (Gormán Coiteann) favours wild flowers in uncultivated pastures – Less than 20 butterflies occur in gardens but Y, the Large Yellow Underwing, Scarce literally hundreds of moths visit mainly at night. Footman, Dusky Brocade, the Clay, Dark it has two broods each year and is on the wing in early summer. Recording butterflies and moths in the garden is Arches and Shuttle-shaped Dart. easy and the information is of great value to XIn warm weather as plants experience 6. In June the Holly Blue (Gormán Cuilinn) flits about the Holly and Ivy. It only flies for a ensure the conservation of these species. The drought, the nectar they produce becomes survey form provided includes the butterflies thick. Butterflies and moths are unable to suck few weeks each year. 7. The Meadow Brown (Donnóg Fhéir) has commonly recorded in gardens and four day- thickened nectar. Watering the flowers keeps flying moths you might also see in your garden. nectar thin. Collect a supply of rain water in dark brown wings showing large eyes against a background of orange. It flutters over long All you have to do is record number of butter- butts placed under drain pipes from a roof top. flies and moths you see in the garden over the XPlant at least one Buddleia or butterfly bush grasses in the garden. 8. The Brimstone (Buíóg Ruibheach) is the course of the year,and the exact date on which and keep it pruned to encourage flowering. you see them.By making your garden butterfly Buddleia is especially favoured by the largest yellow butterfly in Ireland and is attracted to Buckthorn. and moth friendly you will increase the number Garden Tiger Moth and 18 species of and variety of butterflies recorded. butterfly. Plant in a sunny position and prune 9. In August the Red Admiral (Aimiréal vigorously in March. Remove dead Dearg) and 10. Painted Lady (Áilleán)butter- Garden Butterflies Count flies migrate from southern Europe and Africa. flowering spikes to ensure flowering from The five most widespread garden butterflies They are too delicate to survive the winter here July to September. Buddleia does well grown are the Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, so the first ones you see will have flown thou- in containers if you haven’t much space. Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Orange sands of kilometres to Ireland. At this time the XPosition plants for butterflies and moths with Tip,Green-veined White and Peacock. This is 11.Wall Brown (Donnóg an Bhalla)and brightly hedges and tree felling, road widening, drainage as little bare earth as possible between them. the kind of information and a lot more besides coloured 12. Small Copper (Copróg Bheag)are and agricultural intensification. The use of insec- XPlant night-scented flowers to attract moths that has come from the Garden Butterflies seen flying in the garden. ticides is also a threat and kills not only such as Bladder Campion, Evening Primrose, Count co-ordinated by Butterfly Conservation, butterflies and moths but many predatory insects Sweet Rocket, Tobacco Plant, White Jasmine Food for Butterfly & Moth Caterpillars since 1990. The survey which, at present, is as well, such as Ladybirds, Ground Beetles and and Stocks. If there are lots of insects flying UK- based helps conservationists to monitor the spiders - the natural enemies of your garden’s XMake butterfly caterpillars welcome. Nettles at night, bats may come to eat them. commoner butterflies and to discover more pests. XGrow caterpillar food plants such as Nettles, are essential food for Peacock, Small about their behaviour. Further information from Ivy, long grasses and Nasturtiums. Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral Butterfly BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION, Manor Yard, Further information is available on the XAvoid extensive paths or mown lawns. caterpillars and for Scarlet Tiger and East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP, “Butterflies & Moths in the Garden” fact sheet XIf possible, provide shelter from cold north Spectacle Moth caterpillars. Cut part of the England. Web site:www.butterfly-conserva- which, along with other fact sheets, is available and east winds. Nettles back (check there are no caterpillars tion.org. Irish butterfly records can be sent to from ENFO - The Environmental Information XPlant ivy. The flowers produced in autumn on them first) regularly to encourage fresh the DUBLIN NATURALISTS ’FIELD CLUB Service, 17 St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2. Tel are a source of nectar for Red Admiral young growth. Limit their spread in the (DNFC), 35 Nutley Park, Dublin 4 as part of the butterflies and many moths. Peacock and garden by growing them in a large container Millennium Butterfly Survey to record the dis- 1890200191 (price of local call) Fax 01- Tortoiseshell butterflies may hibernate in Ivy sunk into the ground in a sunny spot. tribution of butterflies in any location. A 8882946 Email: [email protected] over winter. Encourage ivy to produce Patches of long grasses and meadow plants recording form is available on the Enfo sheet or Fact sheets are also available at their Website: flowering stems by pulling the top shoots including Fescues, Bents and herbs such as the above orgranisations. www.enfo.ie Text Prepared by Dr. Catherine away from their support so that they hang Clover,Ragwort, Bedstraw, Thyme and O’Connell, Head of Education, Irish Peatland free. Ivy is also the food plant of Holly Blue Bird’s Foot Trefoil are essential for Speckled Threats to Butterflies & Moths Conservation Council, 119 Capel Street, Dublin butterfly caterpillars. Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Habitat loss is the main threat to Lepidoptera 1. March 2003. Butterfly Artwork Copyright XHelp preserve habitats for rare butterflies and Ringlet butterfly caterpillars and for the mainly from land reclamation, removal of Hugh W.L. Wier & Tomás Porcell, Bell’acards, Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 13 The Wildlife Trusts Earthscan Publications Ltd., Handbook of Garden ISBN: 1 85383 937 X Wildlife 2002/Price: £20.00 stg “Suddenly it is so clear: the By Nicholas Hammond Publications of Interest world is running out of freshwater. New Holland Publishers, Humanity is polluting, diverting their store of accumulated knowl- ducing the animal, its ecology and Syliva Reynolds hunted down Garfield House, 86-88 Edgware ISBN: 0-7171-3401-6 and depleting the wellspring of edge by the end of the read. all the many threatening pressures. specimens in the three major Road, London W2 2EA, UK 2002/Price: €24.99 life.” So begins the introduction to In short, the book gives a concise Then it takes a closer look at the herbaria in Ireland and has con- this book. On reading the book www.newhollandpublishers.com A beautifully illustrated guide unbiased history of Windscale/Sell- distribution and the specific threats sulted over 850 published works, there is no doubt that wars will be covers every bird ever seen in Ire- afield, from its conception to its in all the countries and territories which are all listed in the refer- ISBN: 185974960-7 fought in the 21st century over land. The book provides in depth present day usage, exposing the that its found in. It looks at current ences and bibliography - a mam- 2002/£14.99 stg water. Much is written about water information on over 300 species problems/mistakes previously en- legislation, research and manage- moth task in itself. The chapter on shortages in the Third World but it This informative and well and also brief descriptions on over countered and those yet to be ade- ment and suggests further conser- their history gives an excellent in- is the USA which may have some drawn guide is clearly written and 100 possible vagrant birds. De- quately addressed. vation initiatives through research sight. It is difficult to understand of the most difficult problems. easy to use. With nearly 400 scriptions are provided for voice, and management for each area in why these plants have been neg- 21% of irrigation is achieved by species inside it any animal that diet, habitat and behaviour. De- its range. lected when over 920 alien plant pumping groundwater at rates that you might see in your garden is tailed pictures show identification Choosing and Using taxa have been recorded in Ireland exceed the water’s ability to likely to be found inside. The in- features of males, females and ju- Statistics - past and present. The majority of recharge. Already farmers are hit troduction tells you how to use the veniles and maps show the distri- The Great Reshuffling which are flowering plants. 2nd Edition by severe drought and dried up book, about the classification bution of the birds. Human Dimensions of Highly recommended for the wells. The cost of closing Ameri- (naming) of animals, making your The book also informs you By Calvin Dytham bookshelf of every botanist and garden attractive to wildlife and about the history of Irish bird- Invasive Alien Species can farmland because of the deple- Blackwell Publishing, plant lover in Ireland. much more. watching, Irish races, migration, By Jeffrey A. McNeely tion of aquifers is over $400 billion With species of similar appear- seabird colonies and habitats. This 108 Cowley Road, every year. Mexico has even Available from IUCN ance on each page and large well new edition includes changes in Oxford OX4 1JF, UK. State of the World 2003 - worse problems - 70% of its water Publications Services Unit drawn pictures, this book makes bird populations and distribution; www.blackwellpublishing.com Progress Towards a comes from aquifers which are be identification quick and easy for extinction, declines, increases and ISBN: 2-8317-0602-5 using 50% to 80% faster than re- ISBN: 1405102438 the beginner. Lots of fascinating re-introductions. Sustainable Society plenishing. 2001/Price: €14.00 stg background information on every 2003/£22.95 stg 20th Edition Shockingly, worldwide interna- Throughout the world there is animal is provided. It tells you how A must for any biologist, this tional companies are zoning in on Native Trees & Forests of the continuing introduction of By Worldwatch Institute to tell animals apart from similar book is a straight forward step-by- water supplies and are privatising alien species to habitats to which looking species, their habitats, be- Ireland step guide to help you choose the Earthscan Publications Ltd., them. The poor, as always, are suf- they would not naturally occur. haviour, their value to a gardener right statistical test for your data. 120 Pentonville Road, London, fering. Man’s greed for profit, at any By David Hickie These are generally beneficial and what they eat. The author gratefully understands N1 9JN, U.K. price, will create more poverty. Vital (economically to humans) but on Gill & Macmillan Publishers that most biologists are not neces- reading. occasion can create disease, pest, www.earthscan.co.uk sarily interested in how a statistical Irish Trees Myths, ISBN: 0-7171-3411-3 ecological or conservation prob- test works or how to do the calcu- ISBN: 1 85383 968 X paperback 2002/Price: €30.00 lems. Expanding populations, Herring - Expectations for Legends & Folklore lations. Instead the book guides 2003/Price: £12.95 stg This book is a message, a call for travel and trade is going to escalate a New Millennium you to the correct test and runs you This is the 20th edition of this By Niall Mac Coitir conservation of our native woods the harm caused to health, eco- through carrying out the test on a book and it makes sober reading: By F. Funk et al. and forests. Written as a celebration nomics or the environment. The Collins Press, computer using the packages • 15 million hectares of tropical West Link Park, Doughcloyne, of the Peoples Millennium Forest This book is a collection of pa- Uni. of Alaska Sea Grant SPSS, Minitab or Excel. forest are lost to agriculture Project, (a project attempting to re- pers looking at the human influ- College Program, Wilton, Co. Cork. The 2nd edition is brought up to and logging store the damage to our native ence which causes this problem P.O. Box 755040, 205 O’Neill www.collinspress.com date with new versions of software • The United States’ carbon woodlands). The volume contains and attempts to control or reduce Bldg., Fairbanks, Alaska and improved by feedback from emission are up 17% since 1990 ISBN: 1-903464-33-1 many stunning photographic tree the impact of alien species on 99775-5040, USA. the 1st edition - giving greater cov- • Fisheries are in decline specimens as well as some useful ecosystems. Although it does not 2003/Price: €20.00 erage of certain tests. • Water storage capacity is de- www.uaf.edu/seagrant taxonomic characters for identifica- cover all aspects of invasive alien An alternative tree guide that tion. The history of trees up to the species, it does look deeply and clining due to deforestation AK-SG-01-04/ISBN: 1-56612-070-5 concentrates not on the taxonomic • 38 million animals are smug- present day is documented together Dugong Status Report and thought-provokingly into a number 2001/Price: $40.00 characteristics of trees as most flo- of dimensions. The sections of the gled from Brazil annually with some interesting stories about Action Plans for Countries Herring have contributed to ras, but on the folklore surrounding book look at human perceptions, • 80% of USA computers and each species application. major fisheries and have been im- trees. This book inspires a love of and Territories economic issues, resource manage- electronics sent to Asia for re- portant to coastal communities for trees in the reader by highlighting ment, horticulture and future re- cycling, being a threat to work- By Helene Marsh, Helen centuries. The proceedings of the the myths, legends and folklore Fear Sellafield sponses. A great resource for ers’ health and the environment Primrose, Carole Eros & Symposium has eight chapters surrounding our native flora. The research. • 27% of the world coral reefs By Colum Kenny Joanna Hugues which comprehensively cover historical significance, the customs are severely damaged. many aspects of research, includ- surrounding and the traditional ap- Gill & Macmillan Publishers Available from IUCN Birds are disappearing which are ing: Feeding, Competition and Pre- plications of individual tree Publications Services Unit, A Catalogue of Alien most important, for example in ISBN: 0 7171 3583 7 dation; Growth; Hydrography; species are all brought to light. En- 219c Huntingdon Road, Plants in Ireland feeding on fruits, scattering seeds in Environmental Impacts, Stock As- joyable and well illustrated. 2003/Price: €12.99 Cambridge CB3 0DL, U.K. their droppings and eating insects. By Sylvia C.P. Reynolds sessment and Management. From an Irish perspective, this The eight chapters of this book www.iucn.org The paper “The Role of Herring book unambiguously tackles all National Botanic Gardens, make this a book a must for anyone The Complete Guide to Investigations in Shaping Fisheries the issues (fact and fiction) in- ISBN: 92-807-2130-5 Glasnevin, Dublin 9. interested in the environment. Ireland’s Birds (Second volved with the nuclear industry, Science” makes compelling reading. UNEP/DEWA/RS.02-1 ISSN: 0792-0422 A decadal chronology of major edition) more specifically, Sellafield. Price: £14.00 stg 2002/Price: €40.00 (hb) BLUE GOLD themes in published herring re- The author presents this infor- Part of the Early Warning and By Eric Dempsey mation in a non-scientific very per- €25.00(sb) The Battle Against search from the 1860s through the Assessment Report Series for the 20th century, to the present. We & Michael O’Clery sonalised format, gently This is a very careful work on United Nations Environment Pro- Corporate Theft of the read how herring studies have con- Gill & Macmillan Publishers, introducing the science behind the alien plants by one of Ireland’s gramme. Its a comprehensive re- World’s Water tributed to several major develop- Hume Avenue, Park West, technical concepts and workings of finest botanists. It is a benchmark port on the endangered Dugong ments in Fisheries Sciences. This Dublin 12. the nuclear plant. As a result the for any future study of these plants (Dugong dugon) and its distribu- By Maude Barlow is but one paper of 49 papers pre- reader is lulled along effortlessly in Ireland, which have been more www.gillmacmillan.ie tion and abundance throughout the & Tony Clarke sented. A must for fisheries scien- from page to page surprised by world. The book starts of by intro- or less ignored by botanists to date.

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enjoyed the same reputation as Confucius, as coexistence should become important concepts Professor Qu Geping one of the founders of Chinese civilization. His of the new civilization in the new century. “Oth- simple dialectic thinking has been accepted by ers are not hell.” Instead, they are our teachers LADIES and gentlemen, during the current the world. For example, the design of the and helpful friends. Confucius said “Even when Mansfield Pacific Retreat successfully hosted national flag of the Republic of Korea embodies walking in a party of no more than three, I can by the Maureen & Mike Mansfield Center in his idea “Yin plus yang means Tao (the Way). always be certain of learning from those I am co-operation with the Chinese People’s Associ- To follow the law of nature does not mean with.” This is quite true. ation for Friendship with Foreign Countries, we that we should become slaves of nature like our The third relationship that the new civiliza- have had profound and enlightening discussions early ancestors, who felt awed and prostrated tion must readjust is man’s attitude toward Photo: © Asahi Glass Foundation Photo: © on the environmental issues from many per- themselves before the strange phenomena of himself. The attitude should be to restrain Prof. Qu Geping, Chairman of the Environmental spectives, ranging from technology, law and nature as they knew very little. if not nothing, desires and demands.” The ancient Greek policy to management. Now I would like to Protection and Resources Conservation about its secrets. philosopher Socrates’ admonition “to under- Committee of the National People’s Congress of share with you some of my views on the future Nor does it mean that we should follow in the stand yourself’’ is still applicable today. China. Winner of the Blue Planet Prize 1999, of human civilization in the new century from a footsteps of the founders of industrial civiliza- What does man need and how much does he awarded by the Asahi Glass Foundation to recognise individuals and organisations that cultural perspective. tion, who used science and technology to need’? I remember a Russian fable, which goes Standing at the threshold of the new century, have made major contributions to solving global exploit nature for benefits and set their mind on like this: One day, a landlord said to his farm environmental problems. what can we say about the future? I cannot pre- conquering nature and becoming its masters. hands: “Is it true that you all want land? All dict it for I am neither a futurist scholar, nor a nine-billion in the next century. We must find a Rather than becoming slaves or masters of right, you start to run from the east to the west new point of balance between man’s desires and prophet. However, as a veteran fighter for envi- nature, we should be its friends. To follow the when the sun rises tomorrow morning, and ronmental protection, I believe that we will be the earth’s bearing capacity. law of nature means to acquire the wisdom of return to where you start by sunset. All the land At the age of 70 and as a veteran fighter for able to create a better future if mankind works living harmoniously with nature, the most you have covered by then will be yours.” The together and reaches a common understanding. environmental protection, I feel that although important wisdom to all mankind. next morning, the farmers started running at I’m getting old, my will remains strong. The twentieth century is characterized by Environmental problems often result from our sunrise. The fastest runner returned to the orig- industrial civilization. We are living in the civ- Together with all friends, I am willing to work ignorance or insufficient knowledge of nature. inal place at sunset and should have expected as an architect for the new civilization, and to ilization and enjoying all the benefits and Their ultimate solution does not lie exclusively the largest piece of land. However, he died of convenience it has brought us. Information dis- contribute all my wisdom and energy to in science and technology. In fact, we can often exhaustion. The landlord, after burying him in a mankind’s new homeland. semination has become so much better than find their solution in natural ecosystems. hole, asked the remaining men: “How much before that inter-personal communication and The ancient Chinese thought has an important land do you think a man really needs? You have understanding of each other are a lot easier. We concept, which calls for “integration man and all seen what he needs is only a small piece of Reproduced from “A Better Future for the Planet are surrounded by civilization both physically and nature (Tian Ren He Yi).” It pursues perfect har- no more than two meters long and one meter Earth” Vol. II Lectures by the Winners of the mentally. Our thinking as well as our languages mony between man and nature. In the eyes of the wide.” This is thought-provoking. Blue Planet Prize. Produced by The Asahi Glass all bear its mark. But we have also realized with ancestors of the Chinese people, forests are our If we do not control our desires and demands, Foundation, Science Plaza, 5-3 Yonbancho, pain that the industrial civilization has estranged hair, rivers our blood, mountains our heads and I do not think our planet would he able to sup- Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0081, Japan. us from nature, from other people and from our- the earth our chests. Every natural being should port the six-billion people today and the www.af-info.or.jp selves. We have even forgotten who we are. be respected for its form of life. The same con- It is high time for us to wake up. Mankind cept was found in many peoples’ early history. cannot but be alert to where the industrial civ- such as that of the American Indians and the ilization is leading us. Are we going to build on Mayan people. We should not think it outdated the planet a lifeless and apathetic world of’ today. It is, on the contrary, what should be val- machines? Will our homes inevitably slip into ued and carried on. When we come in touch with the bog of pollution? I reckon our children and nature, we should feel grateful to it for our lives our children’s children, future masters of our and all the happiness that comes with them. planet, would not allow us to do so, and would The twenty-first century would be a century hate to see such a prospect. In the new century, to see man forming all alliance with nature. He we and our future generations should rely on would find the value and truth of life in nature; our wisdom to create a new civilization and a and to follow the law of nature and integrate new homeland on the planet. with nature would become the highest principle What would the new civilization look like? of mankind in the next century. What shall we call it? We may call it “green civ- The second relationship that the new civiliza- ilization,” “eco-civilization” or something else. tion should readjust is the relationship between Its main features, however, should remain the men. The attitude of men towards each other same: a new alliance between man and nature should be “to befriend others.” The great and between men themselves, and man’s recov- ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said “It ery of his lost self. is harmony that is prided (He Wei Gui),” which I am not able to give you a full picture of the means that peace and friendship are most new civilization here. But I understand that the important and that hatred and hostility should crux of the value of the civilization would lie in be discarded. We should not shift our own trou- a perfect integration of’ the ancient and modern bles onto others, nor seclude ourselves from civilizations. and of the Eastern and Western others and refuse to communicate. Instead, we civilizations. This would be a brand new and should respect, try to understand, learn from attractive form of civilization. and help each other. The new civilization should readjust three Since ancient times, our planet has witnessed relationships: the relationship between man and countless wars. Whatever the cause, their nature, between men, and that of man to him- results have been the same: devastating disas- self. It is precisely on this point that the new ters to both mankind and the environment. civilization would bring to us an entirely new Many civilizations even declined as a result of concept of value, distinguishable from the old eco-system collapse caused by wars. The industrial civilization. Mayan civilization is a typical case in point. Now I will try to describe the crux of the In the next century, should another war break value of the new civilization. out, there would he no winners but losers. it Under the new civilization, what would the three would be an unprecedented disaster to mankind. relationships of most interest to mankind be like? Man must learn to handle differences and con- Under the new civilization, man’s attitude flicts between peoples and between states in a towards nature should be: “Let nature guide rational way. Burying the hatchet and turning man (Shi Ea Ziran),” as Lao-Tzu, an ancient swords into plowshares,” seeking common Chinese philosopher, taught us in his Tao Te ground while reserving differences through dia- Ching. You must know the name Lao-Tzu, who logue and consultation, and going for peaceful Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 15 TheThe WWorld’orld’ss OnlyOnly HerringHerring MuseumMuseum fish today will be quick-frozen and adding machine, ledgers, and beautifully packaged. invoices. Upstairs, how the Gone are the days of the barrel women (who came in their in the corner, the “buntata agus thousands to the summer scadan” as Highland Scots work) lived, the bunk beds, the called the meal, a pot of boil- cooking stoves and pots, the ing potatoes with a salt fish or valve radios played softly. And two on top. in summer time, they still go So Siglufjordur, doyen of out to the line of salting Icelandic herring ports, has, as troughs and re-enact the old well as its modern houses, days again. colourful gardens, fish pro- In summer 2002, I found cessing plants and harbour, the Siglufjordur in the middle of a only herring museum in the week long music festival, world, sited in Roaldsbrakki, ranging from classical quartets built in 1907 for Norwegians, to Australians teaching the Ice- Olav and Elias Roaldsbrakki. landic children aborigine On the lowest floor, you can dances about kangaroos, see the stencils that the differ- whilst a Finnish group were all ent firms used on the barrels, wearing T-shirts inscribed Photos: © Daphne Pochin Mould and other gear. A black and “Traditional Music Centre, By Daphne powered buses should be on the The World’s only Herring Museum, Roaldsbrakki, built in 1907 for white film shows Iceland of Doolin” where they had just streets of Reykjavik. And if you a Norwegian firm. Traditional fishing boat, and troughs for salting the 40’s and 50’s in the last been. And in the harbour, I ask what kick-started this fish on wharf - a demo salting is done in summer for visitors. century, the women (most were found a yacht, seeking repairs Pochin Mould small, technologically minded, Iceland in the 19th century 1969. No herrings. (A ban on women and very fast, piece to its motor that had over-win- go ahead nation into this sort of ICELAND plans to have was poor, remote from the rest fishing in the Norwegian work) at the salting. There are tered in Crosshaven, Co. Cork! done, by 2050, with fossil world leadership, the answer of the world, but still with her fjords, where the young her- albums of old photos to look And overall, a faint fishing fuels. To use her abundant elec- would be fish and in particular pride, her language, her litera- ring develop, has resulted in a at, a display of tinned herring, smell, from the tall chimney of tricity (from water power and the herring. “Without herring it ture, and seas full of fish. The recovery). But your Icelandic the office of the old typewriter one of the processing plants. geothermal steam) to break the is questionable whether the Norwegians arrived to fish water molecule (H2O) and modern society that now exists herrings (and whales - which develop a hydrogen technology in Iceland could ever have been they did briefly in Ireland too). in place of oil. Already, this developed” (Icelandic Histori- 1903 saw great fleets of their year, 2003, three hydrogen cal Atlas). shops and a small town and port to service them in the long, narrow Siglufjordur, on Iceland’s northern coast, the Arctic Circle just some 40km beyond. The Icelanders quickly got involved and took over the industry. 200,000 bar- rels of salted herring went out in 1916. Herring not wanted for humans was made into fishmeal for animal feed, and oil for a variety of uses. The first processing plant for this was built in Siglufjordur in 1991. Quickly, of course, other coastal ports and fishermen, developed the industry, the The thousands of women who Figure of a girl in the clothing boats unloading enormous came for the salting, were worn for gutting and salting catches and the women gutting accommodated in bunk beds, herring. and salting them into barrels, and with basic cooking facilities. working long hours through the bright summer “nights” to cope with the rush. For salting and drying were then the only way fish could be preserved, and exported. And once salted herrings ran at 25% of Ice- land’s whole earnings, even going up to 35% at times. They sold to Russia, Germany, America, and the Scandina- vian countries, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. With Icelanders, Norwe- gians, Russians, out after Stencils for the barrels of salted fish, of the various companies herrings in these northern seas, involved. In the heyday of the herring boom, fortunes were made using more and more sophisti- and lost in the trade. cated gear, the end came in Page 16...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 17

Red Gunard ~ A Cnúdán dearg spitrig Pollock ~ Pollac Mangach John Dory ~ Zeu Deoraí la cuc hius p s faber ulus ~ ollach ~ ius ~ Average 20-333cam. Maximum size 40cm. Gunards make a grunting sound in water and Usually about 50cm, exceptional size 130cm. Pollock feed on herring, sprat and Usually 25-446cm. Exceptional size 57cm. The black spots on either side also when they are taken out into the air. They live on worms, crustaceans, molluscs and other pelagic fish. The flesh is of good flavour but is inclined to be dry. Pollock of the John Dory are said to represent the finger marks of St. Peter small fish. Usually caught by trawl and long line. They must be handled carefully due are caught in gill nets and long line. when he took the tax money from its mouth and in several countries the to having sharp spines. John Dory is known as “St. Peter’s fish”. John Dorys move slowly, but by suddenly shooting out their telescopic mouths will devour their prey. The name John Dory is thought to be from the Italian word for fish, “Janitore” mean “the Janitor”.

Thornback Ray ~ Ra Roc Garbh (below) ja clav ata ~ Length 50-888cm, rarely larger than this. The upper side is spiny. The spines along the back of the tail are reduced in number in the case of the male adult thornback ray. They feed on fish and crustaceans. The flesh is usually well- flavoured. Bass ~ Dicen Doingean trarch us lab rax ~ Length usually 60cm when adult - maximum 1m. Bass are voracious predatory fish which feed among shoals of pilchards and other fish. They have white flesh and are sometimes called the white salmon or the poor man’s salmon. A popular fish with sporting fishermen.

SwimmingSwimming inin thethe SurSurff

Common, Black or Dover Sole ~ S Sól Dubh (above) olea s olea ~ Photos: © Sherkin Island Marine Station Length average 30-440cm. Maximum 60cm. Sole feed on crustaceans, worms and other small animals. They are usually found in shallow waters during summer but move out into greater depths in winter. The flesh, which is firm, is of very high quality. Sole are usually caught in trawl and seine nets. Photography by Paul Kay

www.marinewildlife.co.uk

Plaice ~ P Leathóg leuron ectes p Cod ~ G Trosc platess adus m a ~ morhu Between 36 to 51cm when adult, exceptional size 91cm. Plaice feed on a ~ molluscs, worms and crustaceans. The female plaice usually grow larger Adult fish may occasionally reach 1m in size. (Average size of Irish cod is than males although the male matures faster. Some plaice can live as 80cm.) The colour varies considerably according to the environment. Cod feed long as 40 years. Plaice are a very important consumer fish in Ireland. mostly on crustaceans and worms. Since Viking times dried cod has been an They are mostly marketed fresh, packed in ice but some of the catch is important basic food for Scandinavian countries. The Scandinavian word for filleted or smoked. cod is “torsk” meaning dry fish.

Text courtesy of Bord Iascaigh Mhara - The Irish Fisheries Board Page 18...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 TheThe ProblemsProblems FacingFacing thethe ManagementManagement ofof DeepwaterDeepwater FishFish SStockstocks

and management of commercial deepwater By Conor Nolan fisheries data, essential to the understanding of the fishery, was not prioritised. THE effective management, of fish stocks, In 1979 significant populations of orange requires a knowledge of the species and the roughy, a marketable deepwater fish, were environment in which it lives in order to max- located off the coasts of New Zealand and imise output and profitability, whilst southern Australia. In common with other maintaining sustainability. Given the time and species, fishing proved to be particularly effort taken to get to this stage, it would be con- appealing during the spawning season, when sidered irresponsible to discount the large concentrations of fish were attracted to consequences of the indiscriminate removal of relatively small areas. High price and consumer fish, and justify exploitation purely on the basis demand fuelled the rapid expansion of the fish- of financial return. This, however, is the situa- ery with few regulations, and high returns, A fisheries biologist collecting information on the length and age of orange roughy by tion for a number of deepwater fisheries where maximising commercial investment. Techno- sudden access to a commercially valuable and extracting the otoliths or ‘ear stones’ from logical problems were rapidly overcome, and within the head of the fish. unregulated stock has created a race to cash in techniques to determine the abundance of the on the resource. resource were developed, albeit with practical The exploitation of offshore, deepwater, fish and financial difficulties. stocks in the north east Atlantic began in the Although the orange roughy fishery off New 1960s and 1970s. Basic biological information Zealand is now strictly managed, distinct popu- on these species was collected intermittently lations have followed a cycle of discovery, from landings, and was added to by observa- exploitation and dramatic reduction and have tions made at sea to record the variety of new been fished down to an estimated 20 percent of species coming from the depths. Little empha- their original size. In extreme cases, stocks have sis, however, was placed on the systematic been reduced to dangerously low levels after Blue Ling collection of biological data, as these fisheries periods as short as 7 years. In these instances, expanded. Instead, resources were directed such populations have been protected from fur- stocks are those of age, size, reproductive rate towards managing the more traditional inshore ther exploitation, through the intervention of and distribution. Although slow growth and a species with the result that the routine collection fisheries managers with the support of the fish- late age at maturity are generally assumed for Codend of orange roughy coming aboard an ing industry. deepwater species there is an active debate on Irish boat fishing in the deepwaters of the north The most important biological parameters the age and growth of orange roughy, in partic- east Atlantic. required for the successful management of fish ular. Estimated maximum ages range from 20 to Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 19

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• Contemporary new Bistro with unique design features Photos: © BIM • Roughy and Sebastes 91 stylish Bedrooms including 3 luxurious suites 150 years old with the general opinion that the to the depth at which the fish live. • 6 superb Conference/Meeting Rooms species is long lived. The importance of a reso- The International Council for the Exploration • Tasty carvery lunch & bar menu in Collins Traditional Irish Bar lution on this matter is related to the of the Sea (ICES) agrees that new stocks of consequences that the growth and maturation deepwater species and, in particular orange • State-of-the-art Leisure Facilities including 20m pool rate has for management. For example, a roughy are often overexploited before enough species, which is very long lived and reaches information is available to provide timely maturity at a late age has a low level of produc- advice on management. The advice provided Recommended by Georgina Campbell's Jameson Guide 2003 tivity. To maintain the sustainability of such a regarding the north east Atlantic, advocates as one of Ireland's best places to eat, drink and stay. population, any removal of animals must also strict limits on exploitation and close monitor- be very low (e.g. 1% - 2% of the population) ing of stocks and populations. and be equal to, or less than, the annual recruit- Although the Irish quota allocation of 2372 The Carrigaline Court Hotel & Leisure Centre ment of young fish. If this harvesting level is tonnes of deepwater species in all ICES areas Carrigaline, Co. Cork misguided, or ignored, then the stock can rapidly be exceeded that originally proposed by the Euro- Tel (021) 485 2100 Fax (021) 437 1103 taken down to a level, from which it will never recover. pean Commission for 2003 and 2004 (Table 1), In many fisheries for orange roughy this has the majority of these quota species are those Email [email protected] www.carrigcourt.com thought to have been the cause of their failure which are considered by ICES to be under following a short period of abundance. threat and about which little is known. Other In the orange roughy fisheries of New sensitive species such as the deepwater sharks Zealand, Australia, Namibia, Chile, the Indian remain non-quota and yet other species, with Ocean and the more general deepwater fisheries limited market demand, are also non-quota and of the north east Atlantic there is a general lack are currently discarded. Fish Farming of knowledge on the whereabouts of young fish The guardianship of deepwater fisheries is which complicates the management of these fundamentally a social responsibility, which fisheries. There is also limited information rests with all those involved with the fishery. An available on many of the environmental and interactive and proactive approach, similar to is a Growing ecological factors, which may affect the overall that currently operating between Irish boats tar- population size, success and growth. geting deepwater fish and specialists within The lack of knowledge on the triggers or BIM and the Marine Institute, remains a Business environmental queues which guide and influ- requirement for progress to be made. Continued ence localised spawning behaviour, coupled logistical support and input from the fishing with the expense of dedicated research ship industry regarding the direction of research, Worth: time to conduct spawning biomass and egg or complimented by the active participation and • €110 million to coastal areas larval fish surveys makes these assessment circulation of results by those gathering knowl- • Over one-third of all Irish fish production techniques very difficult to execute confidently. edge from the fishery is the responsible way • Over 2,000 jobs in rural Ireland Surveying the feeding and spawning aggre- forward and is crucial to the success and sus- • 12-month a year employment gations of deepwater species using acoustics tainability of these fisheries. has also been frustrated because of the depth of Long life may be a characteristic of the fish, • Export-oriented occurrence of many of the aggregations and the but it remains our moral obligation to ensure • Labour intensive added value sensitivity of these species to the low-frequency that it is a characteristic of the fishery. sound usually used to detect fish in deepwater. Irish fish farmers produce top quality seafood for the restaurants and In consequence, many fisheries for deepwa- Conor Nolan, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), supermarkets of Europe ter species report that it is difficult to assess the P.O. Box 12, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, • to the highest quality standards status of the stock, both due to the lack of infor- Co. Dublin. mation on the behaviour of the species, and due • under an intensively monitored licensing regime • without quotas • in pristine waters NATION • meeting the requirements of the most demanding customers and SPECIES BEL DNK FRA DEU IRL HOL PRT ESP SWE GBR consumers Black Scabbard 0.0 0.0 36.6 0.7 1.3 0.0 56.0 2.6 0.0 2.7 Argentine 0.0 17.8 0.3 6.3 5.8 64.5 0.0 0.0 0.7 4.8 • providing much needed jobs in coastal areas Tusk 0.0 0.0 47.8 5.8 3.9 0.0 0.0 3.4 1.9 34.8 • giving custom to and providing jobs in local service industries - feed, Roundnose grenadier 0.0 25.4 63.0 0.3 5.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 1.3 3.7 nets, engineering, garages, boats, packaging, vets, etc. Orange roughy 0.0 0.0 74.9 0.0 21.6 0.0 0.0 1.4 0.0 1.4 Blue ling 0.0 0.5 74.2 1.4 0.5 0.0 0.0 3.2 0.3 19.4 For more information contact: Ling 0.6 2.9 23.5 2.6 5.5 0.1 0.1 20.8 0.3 43.7 Red seabream 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 0.0 50.3 46.8 0.0 1.6 IFA Fish Farming Section, Total % of TACs 0.2 7.4 31.7 2.3 4.7 9.9 10.6 11.5 0.4 21.0 Irish Farmers’ Association, Bluebell, Dublin 12 ph: 01-4500266 fax: 01-4551043 Table 1. Percentage total allowable catch (TAC) allocations for deepwater species, by species and e-mail [email protected] nation, contained in Council regulation No.2340/2002 fixing for 2003 and 2004 the fishing opportunities for deep-sea fish stocks. Page 20...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Can we protect our remaining pristine waters?

tantly, if a river or lake is but it is much more difficult Ireland are included in the By Martin already of high or pristine to raise funds and get agree- programme. This survey McGarrigle status the Directive requires ment to maintain a high has used the same basic us to protect this high eco- quality river or lake in its technique since the early THE new Water Frame- logical status. current high quality state. 1970s and it provides a work Directive requires us An examination of Irish Often, restoration pro- unique perspective on the to look after our waterbod- river quality over the past grammes merely bring a ecological status of Irish ies in a new way. First, it 20 to 25 years shows that water body back to a rivers. Obviously there is takes an ecological we are steadily losing our mediocre state even after also an extensive physico- approach to monitoring and highest quality rivers. In the significant investment. But chemical monitoring managing our rivers, lakes, last complete national sur- surely it is more important programme on Irish rivers. marine and transitional vey (1998-2000) there were to hold on to our highest While, on the one hand, waters, rather than the tradi- just 100 sites from the total quality ecosystems with serious pollution has largely tional chemistry-based 3200 of sites surveyed that their irreplaceable genetic been brought under control, approach which European were of a quality approach- resources? The new the extent of eutrophication water directives have taken ing pristine. In the 1980s approach of the Water has been increasing over the Photo: © 1995 SoftKey International Inc., and its licensors up to this – although in Ire- there were over 600 such Framework Directive past few decades. There has daytime, whereas at night and pollution sensitive land we have had a sites. While most of these explicitly requires us to pro- also been a decline in the photosynthesis switches off mayfly nymphs such as biological survey of water are still satisfactory in terms tect our highest quality number of highest quality while respiration continues Ecdyonurus or Heptagenia. quality since the early of water quality, their eco- rivers, lakes and estuaries. stretches over the years; apace depleting oxygen in Drainage for forestry or 1970s. The Directive also logical status is degraded Some 3200 river sites on effectively sliding in quality the overlying water. Thus, peat harvesting can be a sets a 2015 date for restor- relative to what they were over 13200 km of main to something less than pris- fish kills, caused by exces- major cause of problems ing all surface waters to once like. river channel are now sur- tine and eventually, sive plant biomass sucking even before phosphorus is ‘good’ ecological status at a It is relatively easy to get veyed by EPA biologists. perhaps, into a more spread on the bare peat. minimum. Most impor- people to agree to clean up All rivers on the Ordnance eutrophic state. Breaking up of the iron pan obviously polluted rivers, Survey catchment map of We have seen dramatic and release of peat silt land-use changes over the causes the coagulation of past 20 years. In the West of “An examination ‘organic mats’ on the once- Ireland, the switch from of Irish river clean stony river beds. A A Sherkin Island Marine Station hay-making to silage-cutting quality over the musty-smelling coat builds in the mid- to late 1980s was up on the stones, often to a a fundamental change in past 20 to 25 years shows that thick, rubbery consistency land management. The and usually coated with a resulting increase in slurry- we are steadily metallic-coloured Publication spreading and in the use of losing our highest cyanobacteria, Oscillatoria. artificial fertiliser – particu- quality rivers.” In other cases the rivers run Now a larly on wetter soils – has red with ‘rust’ – iron oxide A Beginner’s Guide to resulted in increased loss of bleeding out from the drains phosphorus to water. Irish coating over and clogging Bestseller! agriculture still uses signifi- dissolved oxygen from the plants, mosses and spawn- cantly more phosphorus water at night, are most ing gravels alike. The Ireland’s each year than is required to likely to occur at night-time impact of one-off houses is produce the grass growth in summer during times of also growing apace. Some needed to feed the nation’s low river flow and high estimates from local author- Seashore cattle and sheep. The surplus temperatures. ity surveys suggest that at phosphorus accumulates in In the remote upland least 50% of existing septic “A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s the soil or is lost to water; areas ecological quality is tanks are ineffective and Seashore” is a pocket-sized guide, fuelling our eutrophication also deteriorating. Even in leach nutrients and a range suitable for beginners of all ages. problem. the most remote mountain of domestic chemicals to With the help of this book you will be Phosphorus is often the regions a number of activi- water. able to explore the wonders of most important driver of ties conspire to damage The new European Water marine life on the shores around eutrophication in Irish rivers and lakes. Sheep Framework Directive pro- Ireland. Available for €6.34 at all rivers and lakes. Because it overgrazing, forestry drain- vides a new catchment good bookshops. is usually in short supply in age and fertilisation, management approach freshwaters, adding more drainage to create new pas- which, hopefully, will phosphorus to a river will tures as well as peat enable us to reverse the Order Form for “A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Seashore” stimulate additional growth harvesting in the flatter trend and to protect and Available at all good of algae or aquatic plants. bookshops or order from: I enclose a cheque for ...... for ...... copy(s) blanket bog regions all restore our highest quality € With excessive algae and Matt Murphy, @ 6.34 plus 63c p&p per copy. cause damage of varying rivers. plants in a river, oxygen Sherkin Island Marine Station, Name ...... degree. We see this in the Sherkin Island, Co. Cork, Ireland. concentrations swing from loss of the more sensitive Martin McGarrigle, Senior Tel. 028-20187 Fax: 028-20407 Address ...... high values in the daytime Email: [email protected] ...... Telephone ...... invertebrates – insects such Scientific Officer, EPA, to low values at night. This as Perla and Dinocras, Signed ...... Date ...... Castlebar, Co. Mayo. is because plants produce a which are large stoneflies, ISBN: 1-87-049296-X net surplus of oxygen in the Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 21 Jerome Collins - Cork’s Arctic Hero

York Herald. A wealthy eccentric, ship was unable to make further lost contact with each other but even- By Paddy Leahy Bennett that same year had sent his progress. The Jeannette was stuck tually reached the Siberian coast in reporter James M. Stanley to South fast. From that day on, until June of late September. The boat with De IN the graveyard of Curraghkip- Africa to find Dr. Livingstone, an 1881, the Jeannette was held firmly Long and Collins landed on the delta pane, overlooking the Lee valley near expedition that was to make both in the grip of the ice. But the ice of the River Lena, and the other boat Cork, one monument is unusual. A Stanley and Bennett household itself was slowly drifting north-west- landed about 150 miles to the north- large stone Celtic Cross faces North, names throughout the world. Collins ward, taking the ship unwillingly west. The crew of the latter were unlike all the other headstones which met Bennett and they became good with it. It was to be 21 months of lucky to find a native village, and face either east or west. The story of friends. Soon Collins was part of utter tedium for the unfortunate were well looked after. De Long, the man from Cork City who was Bennet’s social circle and was a well- explorers. By hunting bears, seals Collins and the remaining eleven in Jerome Collins and birds on the ice they kept them- their boat were not so lucky. After It was November 1883 before the selves provided with food, but the landing they trudged slowly south bodies of the men left Russia on the tedium of the enforced confinement along the frozen Lena River, slowly long overland journey to Hamburg, had a considerable affect on the crew, weakening as they ran out of food. from where they were taken to New who could not On October 6, York. even guess how one of the men After ceremonies in St. Patrick’s long they were died, as De Long Cathedral, the body of Jerome going to be “The only course of wrote in his diary Collins and also that of his mother trapped. But there action was to head south, “What is to Ellen who had died early in 1884, was worse to become of us!” hauling the three boats, were brought aboard the City of come. On June 12, At this stage De Chicago for the journey across the 1881, the ice laden with their Long decided to Atlantic to Cobh. On arrival the two crushed and sank equipment and send the two caskets were brought to St. Colman’s the Jeannette, fittest men ahead provisions, over the ice.” Cathedral, and following a Requiem leaving the crew to find help. Mass on Sunday, March 9, 1884, the on the ice with all These two men remains of Jerome and his mother they could salvage eventually were brought by boat to Cork and The Mariners Museum from the ship. They had three reached a village, but could not con- thence to the graveyard at Cur- lifeboats, tents, sleds, provisions and vey to the natives the plight of the The Jeanette - anchored off Vallejo and Mare Island Navy Yard, California. raghkippane. The Mayor and other equipment, but they were 750 seven men still struggling to survive. Corporation of Cork and all the dig- miles south of the North Pole, their By October 30 four more had died nitaries of Cork were joined by a buried there on a cold wet day in known socialite in New York. A tall, goal, and 500 miles from the Siberian and De Long recorded a poignant last huge throng which followed the 1884, is a long story. It encompasses handsome man of strong build, Jerry coastline. The only course of action entry in his diary, “Boyd and Gortz funeral out through Shanakiel to Cur- a career as a civil engineer, as a mete- Collins (as he was now known) had a was to head south, hauling the three died during night. Mr. Collins raghkippane. There mother and son orologist and journalist, a voyage on convivial manner and made friends boats, laden with their equipment and dying.” were interred next to the old ruined the steamer Jeannette to find a route easily. As an excellent pianist and provisions, over the ice. As they Collins, de Long and the surgeon Church. to the North Pole, and finally a lonely singer he often entertained the guests move slowly south and the ice started died soon after. Jerome Collins, Engineer, Meteo- and tragic death in Northern Siberia. at Bennett’s lavish parties. Bennett to break up a little, they were able to Because of the winter conditions rologist, Journalist and Arctic Jerome James Collins was the eld- then set up a weather department for make faster progress by sailing the and the remoteness of the location it Explorer, had come home. est of five sons born in South Main the Herald and put Collins in charge boats with makeshift sails. was some time before the bodies Street, Cork City, in October 1841 to of it. His predictions were sent by In a violent storm one boat was lost were found and even longer before Mark Collins and his wife Ellen (nee cable to the Herald’s offices in Lon- with all ten of its crew. The other two they were brought back to New York. Paddy Leahy, Skibbereen, Co. Cork. Ryan). He excelled in the Presenta- don and Paris to be syndicated to tion Brothers School at Lancaster other newspapers. He travelled Quay, and later became apprenticed extensively for the Herald and to Sir John Benson, the designer of attended meetings throughout the many of Cork’s buildings and U.S. and Europe as an expert meteor- bridges. When the North Gate Bridge ologist. was replaced by a Benson’s cast iron George Washington De Long, the bridge, Jerome Collins was the resi- man who was to die alongside dent engineer on site. The bridge was Collins, was a Lieutenant Comman- - A Global Company in a local community built in eleven months and was offi- der in the U.S. Navy. Following a cially opened by Cork’s Mayor on St. short spell in Arctic waters in 1873, Patrick’s Day in 1864. Shortly after- De Long was smitten with “Arctic wards, Jerome, whose father died fever”, much as Shackleton and Scott some time earlier, emigrated to became fascinated by Antarctica. De Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd is a pharmaceutical manufacturing America with his mother and his two Long approached Bennett with a pro- facility, employing 460 people in South Tipperary. brothers, Daniel and Bernard. posal to lead an expedition to find a Another brother stayed behind to route to the North Pole to which Ben- manage the business. Descendants of nett readily agreed. In July of 1879 The company is a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc. one of the world's Daniel are still in the U.S., and the De Long led the steamer Jean- leading pharmaceutical companies which employs over 69,000 people Bernard moved to England where he nette from San Francisco to head in the discovery, development, production and distribution of human has descendants in Essex. northward through the Bering Strait healthcare products. In America Jerome worked as a with a crew of 33. The crew con- surveyor for the Northern Pacific sisted of seasoned naval men under Railroad, and then as a surveyor in De Long, along with Jerome Collins Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd New Jersey. But his interest in as a reporter and meteorologist, and a Ballydine, Kilsheelan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary weather and its patterns brought him surgeon, a naturalist and taxidermist, into a new career in meteorology. He and two Indian dog handlers to man- Tel: 051 601000 Fax: 051 601241 developed forecasting methods and age the pack of huskies and sleds. E-mail [email protected] made a name for himself as an expert But by the end of August, as she Visit our web site: www.msd-ireland.com meteorologist, using observations sailed into the Arctic Ocean, the made in America to predict the Jeannette met floating ice floes, weather on the other side of the small at first, then getting bigger and Atlantic. In 1870 he came into con- bigger. In the start of September the tact with James Gordon Bennett, the ice had almost totally closed in on the Bringing out the best in Medicine wealthy young owner of the New Jeannette and by September 6 the Page 22...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Mediterranean Moray Eel Muraena helena L. in Irish Waters

On 6th February 1997 a M. helena in NW European unknown beyond the English By Declan T. specimen of Mediterranean waters is as follows: Ireland, Channel.” In 1969, Dr Alwyne

Moray measuring 112.5cm 1; England, 4; Belgium, 1; and C. Wheeler, former curator of Photo: © Declan Quigley Quigley T.L. was captured by the MFV France, 8. fish in the British Museum of Mediterranean Moray Eel (Muraena helena) ‘Newgrange’ (Skipper: Mr The significance of the Natural History, noted that M. THE Mediterranean Moray Brendan O’Flaherty, Ballycot- recent Irish record of M. helena “is exceedingly rare in European specimens were which are rather large (5.0- (Muraena helena) belongs to a ton, Co Cork) while beam helena can best be appreciated northern (European) waters, captured by a wide range of 5.5mm in diameter), float at diverse group of eels which trawling out of Kilmore Quay, by considering the comments but single specimens have methods, including: trawl 4, the surface. After hatching, the includes about 15 genera and Co Wexford at a depth of of some of the world’s best been captured at long inter- trammel net 1, line 1, stranded leptocephalus larvae measure 200 species found worldwide c100m about 32km off Mine known expert ichthyologists. vals, mostly in the English 1, crab pot 1, and 7 unknown. c10mm and in the early stages in tropical and temperate seas. Head (X2882: 510 59’N, 070 In 1978, Dr Christopher Mori- Channel... It is rare on the Bis- Moray eels have large mouths have small pectoral fins, However, only 4 genera, rep- 35’W), Co Waterford (Table arty, Ireland’s acclaimed cay coast of France, but is with numerous fang-like which are absent in the adults. resenting 7 species have been 2). This specimen represented authority on eels remarked: extremely rare north of the canine teeth. Small specimens There is no evidence; as yet, to recorded in the NE Atlantic the first record of M. helena “Morays are essentially Gironde... any captures should can inflict very severe, often suggest that M. helena breeds (Table 1) and only 2 of these from Irish waters, the 14th warm-water fish. M. helena, be reported and the specimens septic bites, while larger spec- in NW European waters. So appear to be indigenous: the from NW Europe and the most which measures up to 130cm, saved.” In 1978, the same imens can be even more far, only adult specimens have Mediterranean Moray and the northerly European record to is the only species known on author remarked “The moray dangerous (traumatogenic), been encountered and these Brown Moray (Gymnothorax date. Details on all known NW the coasts of Europe. Plentiful is an extremely rare fish north especially if provoked. were probably vagrants which unicolor), while the other 5 European records are sum- in the Mediterranean and of central Biscay, and has Although moray eels are edi- may have developed from mis- species appear to be extremely marised in Table 2. The around Spain and Portugal, it occurred fewer than 6 times in ble, they are sometimes very placed leptocephalus larvae. rare vagrants. geographical distribution of is very rare further north and the last century”. More poisonous to eat; the poison is All of the specimens M. of the ciguatera type and leads helena recorded in NW Euro- Common Name Scientific Name Distribution to stomach cramps and nerv- pean waters were relatively Ireland UK Belgium France Portugal Mediterranean Azores Madeira Morocco W Atlantic ous disorders. In a particularly large, measuring between 99.0 Mediterranean Moray Muraena helena XX X X X X X X X noteworthy incident in Saipan, and 130cm T.L. In general, Brown Moray Gymnothorax unicolor XXXXX Peixe-Lobo (Portuguese) Anarchias euryurus X (Nice, France) X 57 people became ill from eat- morays appear to be caught Fangtooth Moray Enchelycore anatina X (Israel) X X ing one large moray; 14 rather more frequently during Sharktooth Moray G. maderensis XXbecame comatose and two the winter when they approach Purplemouth Moray G. vicinus XXdied. The moray was consid- the coasts to breed. In NW Polygon Moray (USA) G. polygonius XXered to be both a delicacy and European waters the majority an object of amusement or (8) of specimens were cap- Table 1. NE Atlantic Moray Eels even affection in Roman tured during the spring (spring recently, Wheeler (1985) times. Indeed, it is reputed 1, February 1, March 3, April described the distribution of while Augustus Caesar was 3), while 2 specimens were M. helena as follows: “This dining with his favourite fol- taken during the summer (June moray is found in the Mediter- lower Vedius Pollio, a slave 1, July 1) and 2 in the autumn ranean and the E Atlantic from who chanced to break a valu- (October 2). the Cape Verde Islands (W able crystal wine vase, flung The occurrence of the Africa: c160N, 240W) and the himself at the emperor’s feet Mediterranean Moray Eel in Azores (c380N, 280W), N to and supplicated that he might Irish waters may be further Biscay, although exceptionally not be thrown to the Murae- evidence of the effects of specimens have been found in nas. On enquiry, it was found global warming, but perhaps S British waters.” that the slave’s master treated Caesar’s Waterford Crystal In 1986, the French ichthy- his offending slaves who will eventually tell all. ologist, Dr M.L. Bauchot broke decanters in this man- described the habitat of M. ner. Caesar, was not impressed Declan T. Quigley, helena as “benthic on shelf, on and having first set the poor Carrigadrohid Smolts Ltd., rocky coasts, in crevices or slave free, ordered that the eel Carrigadrohid Hatchery, ponds should be filled in and places protected by overhangs Macroom, Co Cork. Mobile: or algae.” Small specimens lastly that all the crystals 087-9080521; FAX: 0404- live intertidally under boul- should be broken in the pres- ders. Morays are nocturnal ence of the master’s guests! 62406; Email: territorial predators, feeding M. helena breeds from July [email protected] mainly on cephalopods, crus- to September in the warmer taceans and fishes. The NW parts of its range. The eggs,

Date Location Method T.L. (cm) 08.10.1834 Polperro, Cornwall, UK line 130.0 spring 1865 Fowey, Cornwall, UK trammel net 1875 Biarritz, SW France March 1879 Eddystone Reef, Cornwall, UK trawl 111.5 27.03.1935 Gulf of Gascony, nr Biarritz, France trawl 1937 Ostend, Belgium 01.04.1938 Guethary, Biarritz, France stranded 08.04.1968 Central Biscay, France trawl 108.0 08.07.1968 Urquidi, Biarritz, France April 1977 NW France 99.0 01.03.1979 NW France 107.0 June 1983 NW France 03.10.1996 N Herm Island, English Channel crab pot c100.0 05.02.1997 off Mine Head, Co Waterford beam trawl 112.5

Table 2. NW European records of Mediterranean Moray Eel Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 23 A Research Worker in the Antarctic inary step, of course, was to identify suitable sites for the experiments. Microscopic examination of soils and scrap- ings from rocks showed that organisms one might expect to be nitrogen fixers were indeed present. The apparatus and equipment, including a small gas cylinder, needed for the field experiments weighted about 21kg and so could be carried by one person to almost anywhere on the island. Doing this alone was permitted but before setting out one had to inform the cook, who was pre- cluded from wandering off himself, where one was going and for how long. Setting things up at temperatures below zero was trying but fine Fogg Photos: © Prof. G.E. silk gloves, as worn with Biological laboratory, Signy Island, January 1979. evening dress, kept one’s hands just warm enough to were positive. Nitrogen fixa- noticed that in places the snow the experts who looked at it on handle things effectively. tion does occur in the Antarctic was no longer white but had my return didn’t know what it Reagents remained liquid if the at temperatures round about pale pink patches of snow was either - another field for bottles were tucked inside freezing point and is nearly algae - a well known happen- research. one’s shirt. Skuas often carried always associated with ing in alpine regions. Some In some ways an Antarctic out aerial attacks or flew off cyanobacteria (bluegreen patches turned blood red station is ideal for research. with any small item left algae), such as Nostic, growing overnight. This gave an On a BAS base everyone is unguarded. In some areas near near basic rocks. They make impression of rapid growth - expected to take a share of the sea it was always possible appreciable contributions to but could algae really grow so chores such as washing up and There goes one’s precious apparatus! Signy Island 1966 that a 2-ton bull elephant seal the growth of communities of fast at zero temperature? It humping stores about and Sat- might flop down for a nice organisms which manage to was simple to take samples at urday nights are usually spent of environmental conditions, it snooze on the whole set up. survive in the terrestrial habi- different depths from a fairly in drinking as much as the bar- By Prof. G.E. would be foolish to attempt an Nevertheless, seven experi- tats of the Antarctic. uniform patch and count the man sees fit to dispense while overall review. It is perhaps ments seemed to have been When working in the field, number of cells at intervals watching a film. Otherwise Fogg best to give a sketch of my own carried out without hitches and eyes should be kept open and over a period of eight days. time for me was my own and I experiences in 1966 at the opportunities grasped. Visiting This showed that although cell could manage 14 hours a day RESEARCH in the Antarc- when the analyses became Signy Island station of the my experimental sites I concentrations at the snow sur- working quite comfortably. If tic can be fiendishly available back home the results British Antarctic Survey you appeared to be unoccupied uncomfortable and dangerous. (BAS). Like most stations it you might well get seized by Such was “the worst journey had the essential general the doctor to take part in a in the world”, undertaken by equipment but before starting “quite harmless” experiment three of Captain Scott’s men out I had to make certain that on this physiological effects of who endured five weeks in all the apparatus needed, even Antarctic weather. Communi- darkness, travelling over quite ordinary items, was cation with the outside world treacherously crevassed ice at going to be available - in tripli- in 1966 was by short telex temperatures down to -60oC in cate turning out to be vital in messages so that one was not winds up to 50 knots, to col- one case - and packed with the bothered by what was happen- lect eggs of the emperor utmost care. My object was to ing in one’s usual place of penguin. It is miraculous that find out if micro-organisms in work. With such limited con- they survived. In the end Antarctica fix nitrogen - that is tact a young research student anatomical examination of the to say, convert the nitrogen in might be lost without his eggs did not show the features air, which is unavailable to supervisor but, on the other that they had hoped for. Suf- most plant life, into a com- hand, being forced to think for fering and heroic bined form which can oneself is not a bad thing and determination count for noth- contribute to general fertility. Algae from melted snow, Signy Island, February 1966. Red snow, Coronation Island, BAS has produced many first ing in accessing scientific Simpler and less expensive The red cells are Chlamydomonas nivalis, a green alga which January 1966 (photo: C.H. class scientists from scratch. results. Research in the accumulates red carotenoid pigments under adverse conditions. Gimingham) methods for doing this are now Things have changed now and Antarctic still sometimes calls The other green algae are Scotiella antarctica and Raphidonema available but at the time the face increased 20-fold the total via the internet a research stu- for great determination and nivale. The small yellowish unicells are probably a species of best technique was to label Ochromonas. The green mineral fragment is biotite (photo from a increase in the snow column dent can be advised and endurance of physical hard- atmospheric nitrogen (14N) water-colour painting; G.E. Fogg). was only 5-fold. The snow had controlled by authorities thou- ship but, on the other hand, with heavy nitrogen (15N - not abated (disappeared by melt- sands of miles away. The much can now be done in a radioactive isotope) and see ing or sublimation), lowering present tendency for research comfortable laboratories with whether this became fixed in its surface level by 29 cm in to be done by teams has the occasional well-organised the organic matter produced by the eight days and the increase advantages of better facilities trips by skidoo or helicopter to the organisms being investi- at the top was more due to and more discussion but collect material. Investigations gated. The sample to be tested concentration of the cells left schedules have to be kept and can even be carried out many was put in a flask in which the behind than active growth. opportunities for following thousands of miles from the air could be replaced by a gas Multiplication of the cells is one’s own ideas may be lim- cold, using data transmitted by mixture approximating to air only possible when liquid ited. All the same, research satellite from automatic sen- but containing 15N. After 24 water is available and some workers continue to find the sors, as in some excellent hours under natural conditions measurements of rates of pho- Antarctic inspirational. studies on the ecology of of light and temperature the tosynthesis indicated that the micro-organisms in the dry samples could be preserved to average doubling time under valleys of the Antarctic by E.I. G.E. (Tony) Fogg, Professor be taken back to England for the prevailing conditions was Friedmann and his colleagues Emeritus in Marine Biology, measurements of their fixed around 23 days. The predomi- at Florida State University. University of Wales, Bangor, 15N content by means of a Apparatus for field determination of nitrogen fixation using 15N nant alga in my samples was a Given the variety of sci- UK. mass-spectorometer. A prelim- as a tracer. Signy Island, January 1966 species I couldn’t place and ences involved and the range Page 24...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Adding Value to Green Business

A new voluntary program from the US EPA gives public recognition and greater flexibility to top environmental performers with strong environmental management systems. A voluntary program, Performance recognition for their efforts.”

Photos: © US EPA Track has more than 300 members Networking. A significant benefit Die cutting at Ideal Jacobs nationwide. All U.S. facilities, large to Performance Track membership is Corporation. and small, public and private, may participation in meetings with senior apply. The program has enlisted such EPA officials, special invitation con- leaders as Johnson & Johnson, IBM, ferences, and networking events to 3M, International Paper, Lockheed share best practices. Members have Martin and Rockwell Collins. The come away from these events with program has also engaged 19 trade, new ideas and an even greater moti- professional, and environmental vation to improve their organisations. environmental performance. I am impressed with the tremendous Performance Track members are enthusiasm of Performance Track excited about the program. facilities. In their first year of partici- “Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Distribution of Performance Track Members Across Sectors Laboratory at Bristol-Myers Squibb pation, for example, members went was eager to join Performance Track beyond legal requirements to reduce as a Charter Member because we energy use by 1.1 million mmBtus; strongly support voluntary partner- ber of the program,” Hempstead’s applications and offer suggestions on water use by 475 million gallons; haz- ships as a means of advancing Environmental Engineer Scott environmental performance commit- ardous materials use by 908 tons; environmental protection,” says Dave Wheeler says, “we are excited about ments. emissions of volatile organic com- Matthews, Manager, Environmental the environmental improvements it Complete program information, pounds (VOCs) by 329 tons; Affairs at the company. “The pro- will bring. We look forward to work- news, application information and emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) gram provides national recognition ing with and learning from the other membership directory is at by 152 tons; solid waste by 150,000 for exemplary environmental per- members and would encourage any . By participating in this and toxic discharges to water by 5,543 reporting while requiring public com- ronmental excellence to consider program, facilities can join more than tons. Members have also increased mitments, in our case to reduce water applying to the program.” 300 businesses earning recognition as their use of reused and recycled mate- use, air emissions, and solid waste. Program Criteria. EPA accepts leaders in environmental responsibil- rials by 10,823 tons and preserved or [Performance Track] has also applications for Performance Track ity and experiencing an open and restored 2,698 acres of habitat. enhanced our ability to work with top twice per year, requiring applicants to improved relationship with federal Performance Track honours these government officials in a cooperative meet four entry criteria: (1) Opera- and state regulators. EPA Administrator Whitman with Nucor high performers in a number of ways. manner to achieve common goals.” tional EMS; (2) Demonstrable Steel General Manager Rex Query. Regulatory Flexibility. A core Hempstead Resource Recovery environmental achievements and com- Jane M. Kenny is the Regional principle of Performance Track is that Facility in New York (part of Ameri- mitment to continued improvement; (3) Administrator of EPA Region 2 companies with a history of beyond- can Ref-Fuel, the largest Commitment to public performance serving New Jersey, New York, reporting and public outreach; and (4) compliance behaviour and dedication waste-to-energy company in the Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands to continuous improvement should be northeastern U.S.) began recruiting Track record of sustained compliance with environmental requirements. and seven federally recognised Indian treated differently from other facili- neighbouring companies, using the Nations. She oversees an annual ties. EPA has created flexible logo on plant apparel and engaging Through the Agency’s new Mentor budget of approximately $760 approaches to environmental man- the local business association in the Program, EPAwill match current mem- agement for the top performers and program immediately after joining bers with interested companies to million and a staff of nearly 1,000 considers them low-priority for rou- Performance Track. “As a new mem- provide one-on-one assistance with people. tine EPA inspections, while reserving Advertisement in New York Newsday. traditional enforcement tools for poor performers. EPA is putting new rules in place for Performance Track mem- By Jane M. Kenny bers, such as reduced reporting under Independent report on the Wild Salmon the Clean Water Act, greater flexibil- AS US state and federal environ- ity under the Clean Air Act, and Resource in Ireland published by the mental agencies move beyond their extended onsite accumulation times traditional regulatory and enforce- Central Fisheries Board for hazardous waste generators. ment roles, they are increasingly Recognition. The program also making use of Environmental Man- offers a variety of incentives, includ- The report provides an economic and socio- agement Systems (EMSs). In recent ing public recognition and years, the United States Environmen- economic evaluation of the wild salmon resource promotion. Participants can, for tal Protection Agency (EPA) has example, display the Performance in Ireland and analyses both the commercial and employed EMSs to encourage prac- Track log on their communications tourism angling sectors and makes tices that ensure sustained compliance materials. Andrew Jacobs, owner of and address environmental issues not recommendations on how Ireland's wild salmon Ideal Jacobs Corporation, a screen fully covered by laws and regulations, printing company in New Jersey, resource can best be managed in the future. e.g., natural resource depletion. states, “the kind of visibility and A key means by which EPA is recognition my small business is get- working to boost awareness and The principal finding in the report is that the balance of advantage on ting allows me not only think bigger expand the adoption of EMSs is the but act bigger as well.” economic/socio-economic grounds can best be achieved through a National Environmental Performance Seven members were recently hon- Track program. Launched in 2000, rebalancing of wild salmon exploitation from the commercial fisheries oured by EPA Administrator Christie Performance Track promotes the use Whitman for their outstanding efforts towards tourist angling. Indecon's recommendations are based on the of EMSs and rewards top environ- to promote the program to other busi- requirement that wild salmon exploitation must occur mental performers - those facilities nesses and associations and for their that consistently exceed federal and within the context of meeting stock conservation creative use of the NEPT logo. New state regulatory requirements, work York member, Nucor Steel was one requirements. closely with their communities, and of three regional award winners. excel in protecting the environment Steve Green the company’s environ- and public health. Performance Track Copies are now available for 20 from the Central mental manager says, “I think there provides them with recognition, regu- are a lot of businesses out there that Fisheries Board, Mobhi Boreen, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 latory and administrative flexibility, really want to do better and Perfor- Tel: 01-8842 600 Fax: 01-8360060 Email: [email protected] peer networking, and a more collabo- mance Track provides incentives and rative relationship with regulators. Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 25 CORNWALL’S Offshore Paradise

family have created a unique golden-yellow and white Rhododendron. Nowhere else plant collection, protected multi-headed Narcissus grow- in Britain can you see so many from wind and spray by thick ing in little fields and warm-temperate southern shelter-belts. naturalised by waysides and hemisphere plants. People have lived on Scilly strands. Otherwise the islands Wild plants on the Isles of since prehistory and in the Mid- depend on tourism, not least Scilly too are remarkable: the dle Ages there was a small 40-45,000 annual visitors to rare Shore Dock (Rumex Benedictine Priory. Unfortu- the Abbey Gardens. rupestris) grows here, as do

Photos: © John Akeroyd Photos: © John nately, as the monks found to On Smith’s death, his rare clovers such as Clustered The white granite sand on a Scilly strand. their cost, the islands attracted nephew Algy Smith-Dorrien- (Trifolium glomeratum), Sun- ately reminded me of these mosaic of sheltered lanes, cot- pirates, and in the 17th century Smith (he later dropped a set (T. occidentale) and By Dr. John places: all have white strands, tage gardens, bulbfields bright piracy was so rife that Holland Smith!) inherited the Abbey. Suffocated Clover (T. suffoca- Atlantic heaths and special in winter and spring, long declared war on Scilly! King He and his descendents have tum). Two tiny plants, Yellow Akeroyd plants and birds, all are havens white sandy beaches, low and Parliament contested pos- nurtured and expanded the Bird’s-foot (Ornithopus pin- of peace – and all retain rich sand-dunes, lichened coastal session of the islands during the Gardens and left a lasting natus) and Dune Pansy (Viola ISLANDS fascinate me, as fragments of biodiversity. rocks and blue sea. – a glimpse English Civil War, and at the legacy of tall dense green kitaibeliana), occur at their they do others. One of the joys Scilly is 28 miles off Land’s of Paradise. A mild climate of end of the 1640s Scilly was a wind-break ‘fences’ (Cornish only British station, as does of an island, such as Sherkin, End. An archipelago of rocky Mediterranean winters, high last outpost of Royalist resist- ‘hedges’ are stout walls of the White-toothed Shrew is that it is an independent islands, mostly small and sunshine levels and moderate ance in the west. From then on it granite and earth) of ever- (Crocidura suaveolens)! Scilly community of plants, animals uninhabited, it has matchless summer temperatures not only faded into obscurity and greens such as Escallonia is indeed a remarkable place, and people. Long before I dis- vistas of granite rock outcrop, supports a richness of plants poverty. Then in 1834 came rubra var. macrantha from outstanding for scenery and covered Sherkin in 1986, I heather and bracken, heath and and animals, especially marine Augustus Smith, a Hertfordshire Chile and Karo (Pittosporum natural history, and one of knew the islands of Con- moor. The larger islands – St invertebrates, but also the squire who leased the islands crassifolium) from New Britain’s best-kept secrets. nemara; and since 1967 I have Mary’s (with the capital, Hugh warm-temperate gardens of from the Duchy of Cornwall. Zealand. Plants in the Abbey visited the Isles of Scilly off Town), Tresco, St Martin’s, Tresco Abbey. Here five gen- His first task was to plant shel- Gardens collection include Dr John Akeroyd has been Cornwall. Sherkin immedi- Bryer and St Agnes – form a erations of the Dorrien-Smith ter-belts of native gorse, and Acacia, Agave, Aloë, Banksia, working on botanical surveys hardy trees such as Monterey Erica, Eucalyptus, Fuchsia, at Sherkin Island Marine Cypress (Cupressus macro- assorted palms, Protea and Station since 1990. carpa) and Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) from California. Smith became a benign but ruthless ‘Lord Proprietor’, supporting shipbuilding, com- pulsory education and new infrastructure, and building Tresco Abbey, the house he surrounded with a 7-acre gar- den of warm-temperate, shrubs and succulents. It is said that he found daffodils flowering at Christmas around the Priory ruins. A local farmer grew bulbs and in 1865 sold flowers at Covent Garden for 7/6d. The early cut-flower industry of Scilly was born, and still yields an income from November to March. My Fascieularia pitcairnifolia, a bromeliad, escapes from gardens on favourite Scilly flowers are the to lanesides and sand-dunes.

Evergreen hedges shelter tiny fields of Narcissus, which flower in winter. Page 26...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 J

Captain Cockle and The Pond u

Abridged in four parts - Episode Four - ESCAPE n water into the sky. Through the porthole, William saw the face of a giant peering in at him and heard a voice booming against the hull.

“Well now, whoever left this toy floating in my i pond?” “Grandad! What’s happening?” o “The man who caught the fish with ROVER in it has rescued you from the swans,” said Captain Cockle. “He

seems to be taking you to some sort of shed for safe r keeping. I think he thinks the Cormorant is a toy. Just keep still, and I’ll come and get you!” William felt the submarine rock as the giant walked up the path from the pond, opened the door of a tool shed

and set the Cormorant down on a bench near an open P window. By the edge of the bench was an electric socket! Electricity! Perhaps they could run a wire to it and get enough power to get them back to full size after all. But where were Dr Cockle and Jenny? a “I never really did like cats,” admitted Dr Cockle. “Nasty, shifty, sly creatures. Give me a good honest dog

any day!” All of a sudden the cat broke the stare with Dr g Cockle as its head snapped sideways towards the kitchen door. There was a heavy pounding of feet as the cat ran

away and the head of a huge brown and white dog e filled the entrance of the gap. A loud bark thundered down the narrow corridor, blasting them back to the rear

wall. s “What was that you were saying about dogs, Granny!” shouted Jenny above the din, as the monster

terrier barked and scraped at the opening with its tough, strong paws. “Granny! Granny!” called William’s voice over their radio headsets, muffled and crackly because of the distance and the stonework of the cottage. J “William. Where are you? Where’s your Grandfa- ther?” “I’m in the shed. Grandad’s coming and we have elec- tricity here. Can you join us.?” u The dog took in a breath for another bark. Dr Cockle saw the name printed on its collar. She shouted,

“Tim! Sit!” n The dog stopped in mid bark and sat, wagging its tail. “Good boy!” shouted Dr Cockle. “Now, stay there a moment. I think you might be able to help us get over to

this shed we need to reach.” i Captain Cockle was exhausted. His wet clothes clung o to his body, his feet felt as if somebody had hammered them flat with a mallet and sweat was running down his forehead and into his eyes. But he had managed to walk all

the way from the pond to the shed and climb up the moun- r tain of shelves to where William and the Cormorant sat. “Right William, let’s unwind the emergency coil from the battery room in the Cormorant, run it out of the div- Sketch: © John Joyce ing hatch and plug ourselves in.”

All at once, they heard the roar of a giant dog, push- P By John Joyce “Get back!” ing its way through the door of the shed and reaching its The cat’s paw stretched down the narrow space again, head up to the workbench where he was standing. Cap- but they were too far down the narrow corridor for the tain Cockle was just looking round for anything he could THE STORY SO FAR: Captain Cockle, along with cat to reach. Again it tried, and again the sharp, curv- use as a weapon when he heard Jenny shout, “Grandad! a his wife Dr Catherine Cockle and their grandchildren ing claws flexed, but each time the cat’s reach fell It’s OK. It’s us.” Jenny and William, have been accidentally shrunk to short. After another few long stretches it stopped and Looking down, he saw his wife and granddaughter sit- the size of sausages when their amazing flying subma- squatted at the entrance to the gap, hunched and ready ting behind the collar of the biggest dog he’d ever seen. g rine, the Cormorant, was struck by lightning. While to pounce, waiting for them! “It’s all right, Horatio,” said Dr Cockle as she hopped William and the Captain are being attacked by giant Out on the pond, William watched as the two huge down onto the bench beside him. “He’s perfectly house swans, Jenny and Dr Cockle have gone off in search of swans surged out across the pond towards him. He trained. Now, let’s get that submarine of yours plugged e Captain Cockle’s ROVER remote camera, which has ducked below, slammed the yellow hatch shut over his in and the whole lot of us back to full size. Being very been taken to a giant farmhouse in the stomach of a head and raced down to strap himself into the control very small may be a good way to observe animals and pike, and been attacked by a giant cat . . . room seat. Through the portholes he saw the vast white plants, but I think I’ve had enough of it for one day!” s “Run Jenny!” Dr Cockle just had enough time to bellies of the swans as they circled, their wide webbed The End drag Jenny between a cupboard and the sink, when the feet churning the water and the flash of their huge heads cat’s paw, armed with five razor-sharp claws, shot into as they darted at the submarine. The hull bumped and Abridged by the author from “Captain Cockle and the the gap behind her, ripped her jacket and threw her on rocked. top of Jenny in the middle of a pile of bits of greasy “Grandad! Granny! Can anyone hear me?” Pond” published in Ireland by Poolbeg Press and bread, shrivelled peas and a fat-soaked chip. Then the tiny submarine seemed to leap up out of the available from all good bookshops. Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 27

1. Barnacles 9. Dahlia Anemone 17. Limpet Tiny animals which have cone- An anemone that bares a A cone-shaped shell that clings shaped shells, made of up of 6 resemblance to the flower of tightly to rocks, with a strong plates, protecting their bodies. the same name. sucker foot. 2. Beadlet Anemone 10. Dead-man’s Fingers 18. Mermaid’s Purse SEARCH This animal has blue, bead-like An animal that gets it name The egg case laid by the warts at the base of its from its resemblance to soft, dogfish. It has long twisted tentacles. bloated fingers! tendrils to attach itself to 3. Black Shields Lichen 11. Dogwhelk seaweed. A white plant, with black This sea snail is usually 19. Mussels reproductive bodies, that grows grey/cream in colour. Animals that have slightly oval above the high tide mark. 12. Edible Crab shells that may be blue, black THE 4. Blue-rayed Limpet A red-brown crab with “pie- or brown in colour. A sea snail, recognised by its crust” edging around its 20. Otter Shell broken electric blue lines protective shell. This mollusc has a large white, running down its shell. 13. Flatfish smooth, oval-shaped shell. 5. Breadcrumb Sponge Fish that lie on their side and 21. Prawn This animal is green in colour camouflage themselves in the This animal is transparent, and has small volcano-shaped sand, hiding from predators. although it may have SEASHORE openings on its surface. 14. Hermit Crab fluorescent yellow leg-joints and 6. Black Brittlestar An crab that lives in the empty red and black lines on its body. Many will be able to identify at least one or two animals A fragile starfish that has a shells of sea snails in order to 22. Sand eels central disc and long, spindly protect its soft body. Silvery fish that can be seen or plants on the seashore - but here is a chance to test arms. 15. Jellyfish swimming in shoals at the edge your knowledge further! Below are 24 pictures which only 7. Butterfish A transparent jelly-like animal of the shore. give a little glimpse of the whole animal or plant. Can you A long, brown eel-like fish, with that often washes up on the 23. Sea Lettuce match the names to their picture? Each name has a little dark spots on either side of its beach. A green seaweed, similar to its back. 16. Keel Worm vegetable namesake! description, which may help you. 8. Common Shore Crab A worm that lives inside a 24. Serrated Wrack When you have successfully identified each picture, see This animal’s skeleton is on the chalky tube that it makes itself This seaweed gets its name if you can pick out those that are plants and those that are outside, protecting its body and and which is permanently from the saw-like edges of its has five pairs of legs. attached to rocks. fronds. animals? Photographs from A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Seashore - ISBN: 1 870492 96 X

A S G M – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

N B H – – – – T – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

I C – – – – – O U – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

V D J P – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

W E K Q – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

R X F L – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Page 28...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Join Storm Sea Sense Force the RNLI’s club for young people, and you will be sent an exciting members’ pack filled with Watch the Water lots of goodies. Four times a year you will receive the action packed Storm Force News Waves and Wind magazine full of exciting stories, paintings, ideas or jokes from Storm

Photo: © 1995 SoftKey International Inc., and its licensors Force headquarters. WHEREVER you go by the to it out in a bulge. The spinning Tide times and tables the top of the wave keeps sea, remember that the water is of the Earth causes another moving. Eventually, the surface To join just send your If high tide is at six name and address, with a very powerful and can easily hurt bulge on the the other side. topples over and crashes onto o’clock in the morning, the cheque/P.O. for €7.50 to: you. It is important that you the beach. A breaking wave These bulges make high tides, level of water will gradually Storm Force HQ, RNLI, understand the dangers there. can “dump”, “spill” or “surge” with low tides in between. drop until low tide at about 15 Windsor Terrace, Dun onto the shore depending on There is also a pull from twelve noon. It will then rise Laoghaire, the steepness of the underwa- TIDES the Sun, but it is weaker than steadily again to the next Co. Dublin. Low Tide ter slope. Tel: (01) 2845050 the Moon’s because the Sun is high tide at six in the If you have been to the sea- Fax: (01) 2845052 farther away. However, when evening. However, the time side you will have noticed that Email: [email protected] the Sun and Moon line up, the of each high or low tide is the sea moves regularly in over Web: www.rnli.org.uk pull from the two together different every day. The the shore and then out again. makes an even bigger bulge. Sun, Moon and Earth are con- Spilling Wave This movement is called the This produces very high tides, tinually moving and this may be too strong, for even For swimmers, the types of tide. The level of the water is and very low tides in between causes changes in the time the best swimmer. A rip cur- waves can be very important. very high twice a day (HIGH called SPRING tides. When and the height of the tides rent can often be identified Spring Tide Wave can be fun - Spilling TIDE) and very low twice a day you see a Full Moon or a New each day. Although you could by discoloured water, with waves have crests of surf (LOW TIDE). But what makes Moon in the sky, this is when roughly work out the times of brown foam on the surface tumbling down the front - there will be Spring tides. high and low water, a set of beyond the breaking waves, or the water rise and fall? Tides great for body surfers, swim- When the Moon and Sun Tide Tables will give you by debris floating back to sea are caused by the pull (force) mers and board riders - they are at right angles to each exact times and height for with the current. Also, where of gravity of the Moon and the can also be dangerous. other the pull is not so great, Sun. As the Moon travels each area along the coast. there is surf, a rip current will so there is not such a high make the waves smaller. around the Earth, its force of Check yours and don’t tide. This is called a NEAP get cut off! gravity pulls the water nearest Neap Tide tide. WINDS Dumping Wave WAVES Onshore winds blow from Dumping waves break with a When you blow across a bowl the sea onto the shore. They huge force and can throw a of water, your breath ruffles can make the waves so much Win three colouring books! swimmer to the bottom and the surface into little waves. more powerful that they drag them out to sea as it The same thing happens when become dangerous. rushes back out. 10 Tips to Reduce Waste the wind blows across the sea. Offshore winds blow from It pushes and drags against the shore out to sea. Although the surface of the sea, produc- the water may be calm close in Your Home ing ripples and forming waves. in, it may be rougher farther 1. ______Waves can travel huge dis- Surging Wave out and the wind can blow a tances, called the fetch. windsurfer, or inflatable far Surging waves are found on out to sea. 2. ______How waves move a very steep beach. They are Check to see if there is an very powerful and can knock Waves travel across the onshore or offshore wind by you off your feet or even surface of the sea. You might looking at which way any flags 3. ______pluck you from the shoreline. have watched them from the are flying, or you can hold 4. ______seashore or from a boat. But something up to be blown by did you know that the water CURRENTS the wind such as a handker- chief or T-shirt. 5. ______itself does not travel along? If Sea currents are caused by you see a bird bobbing up and tides and winds. There are down on the sea, the water AND DON’T FORGET - currents both at the surface • 6. ______just goes up and down as the Spot the Dangers and in the deep oceans. If you • waves pass through it. Each look at what has been washed Take Safety Advice • 7. ______time a wave passes, the water up on a beach, you may find Don’t go Alone actually moves in circles. The other things from other coun- • Learn How to Help circles are biggest near the tries that have been carried 8. ______Original article sponsored by surface and they get smaller there by currents. Crewsaver 9. ______deeper down. If you were in a A rip current is a very dan- submarine 100m down you gerous current seen at some wouldn’t feel the waves even in beaches. It is caused by water Storm Force News, 10. ______the most severe storm. coming into the beach, making Issue 50 - The Magazine Breaking waves channels in the sand, before Exclusively for Storm Send your tips to: running out to sea. These Force Members! When waves approach the “10 Tips to Reduce Waste in Your Home”, Supported by the direct the waves’ energy into shore, they get taller and Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Dept. of the one place and the Environment, closer together. The bottom power of the water The first 200 entries to be drawn out of the hat on 30th November 2003 Heritage & Local of each wave drags against the running back out again will each receive copies of the Station’s three colouring books: Government. Some of the entries seabed and slows down, but “Wild Flowers”, “Birds” and “Sea Life”. may be used in publicity. Name ______Address ______How waves move Rip Currents Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 29 Joining the Cleanup! TAKING ACCOUNT The answer to each clue fits into 1 2 3 Can you work out which words go together? the boxes on the grid. x + = Each row is a math equation - Be careful - one or two are a little tricky! work from left to right. (Answers on page 31) ÷ Each column is a math equation - x+ work from top to bottom. 4 5 6 1. clean ______line + – = 2. flotsam ______pipe 1. Legs on an octopus 2. Arms on a starfish x+÷ 3. over ______water 3. Pincers on a crab 7 8 9 4. Shells on a bivalve 4. = 27 pollution ______dump 5. Legs on a spider x + 5. rubbish ______jetsam 6. Legs on an insect 7. Leaves on shamrock === 6. sea ______board 8. Legs on an otter 7. sewage ______up 9. Spines on a 15-Spined 23 Stickleback fish 8. shore ______free (Answers on page 31) Visiting the Seashore? Re-arrange the tiles to read an important message. Flotsam & jetsam (Answers on page 31)

With the help of the clues find the words that fit into the puzzle. The answer to EAN COA CL UR INE number 12 is filled in to give you a helping hand. (Answers on page 31)

KEE P O STL 12

34

56

7 8

9

10

Across 11 12 P 3. A container in which fishermen store their catch (2 words) O 6. A resin that can be melted into a L shape e.g. a bottle Y 7. Waste water and refuse that are carried off from houses and 13 14 factories S

10. Unwanted goods that are T dumped on the beach Y 11. Covering for babies’ bottoms before it is toilet trained R 15 13. A set of 6 circles made from E “6 across” to aid the carrying of cans (2 words) N 15. Areas where sand collects on 16 the shoreline E 17 16. Free from dirt or rubbish F 18 18. A vessel for holding items e.g. a O bottle or a box A Down M 1. A vessel for holding a inflammable liquid, used for lubricating (2 words) 9. Where the land meets the sea, including the 2. Another name for litter or fouling the environment rocks, the beaches and the sea Forthcoming Exhibitions

4. A vessel made out of glass or plastic, that holds a 12. A material that is used to aid buoyancy or use to 14 - 31 July 2003: "Re-Sculptured". The Sculpture and Combined Media liquid make disposable drinking cups (2 words) Department of the Limerick School of Art and Design in association with IN-TOUCH Computer Company. 5. A mesh used for catching fish 14. Made from aluminium and used for holding liquid 5 August – 5 September: Seed Collection and Propagation Exhibition. Conservation Volunteers Ireland in association with ENFO will hold an 8. A name used for floating wreckage 17. A mesh or cable made from metal and used for exhibition on seed saving. fencing. Page 30...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 GoldenGolden MomentsMoments

THE highlight of The our which can be bestowed President’s Award – Gaisce to any individual in the year is undoubtedly the State” said President Mary Gold Award Ceremony McAleese Patron of the which for all of Award. the recipients “The fundamental The Gold is the culmina- principle or ethos Award is tion of a achieved by minimum of of the Award committing two years hard Programme is that hours of time work and com- each person taking in four differ- mitment. The part must set out ent areas, 2003 Gold their own goals in Community

Award cere- Involvement Photo: © Shane O’Neill, Jason Clarke Photography mony, which each of the four (60 weeks) Pictured at the Gaisce President’s Award Gold Awards in Dublin Castle are the Special Olympics Group, Kanturk. From Left: Donie Carroll, President's Award Leader, Kieran Buckley, Gold Awardee, Emily Hurley, Gold Awardee, President Mary McAleese, Kevin took place in areas and then go Personal Skill O'Connor, Gold Awardee and Vivienne Buckley, President's Award Leader. The Gold Awards are for Personal Community St. Patrick’s about achieving (52 weeks) Involvement, Sporting Success and Adventurous Pursuits. Hall, Dublin them to the best of Physical The fundamental princi- challenge is pushing oneself three earned FETAC and dedication that he Castle on May their ability.” Recreation ple or ethos of the Award beyond what even one Awards for their endeav- applied to his goal. Such 15th last was (18 weeks) Programme is that each per- thought were possible. In ours in the Personal Skill attributes were in great no exception. and an son taking part must set out their own unique way each section. Kieran Buckley demand when the trio set Thirty-seven young adults Adventurous Activity (4 their own goals in each of of the 37 Gold Award recip- trained for and passed his about their Adventurous from the four corners of Ire- days, 3 nights), taking a the four areas and then go ients did just that. assistant teachers award Activity which was a 50 land came to Dublin Castle minimum of two years to about achieving them to the The achievements of with Swim Ireland and is mile hike on the Kerry Way to receive “the highest hon- complete. best of their ability. The Kieran Buckley, Kevin now coaching a group of over four days. However, O’Connor and Emily Hur- Special Olympic athletes in bad weather, sore feet or ley of the Special Olympics the Mallow pool. Emily difficult terrain was not Club in Kanturk, Co. Cork Hurley set about improving going to stop Kevin, epitomised that principle, her golf skills in the Kieran and Emily and they that spirit, indeed that Charleville Golf Club and succeeded in their endeav- Gaisce! The trio set about recently won a Gold medal our. And so, the three achieving their Award over at an Inter regional compe- members of the Special two years ago under the tition. Kevin O’Connor Olympics Club arrived in guidance of their President took up sailing and power Dublin on Thursday the Award Leaders Vivienne boating in the International 15th, May to receive their Buckley and Donnie Car- Sailing Centre in Cobh, to well earned Gold Awards roll. Working with the get there every week, and were not only a credit elderly and helping out in a Kevin had to take a bus and to themselves and their local parish for their Com- a train on his own, high- families but an inspiration munity Involvement, all lighting the commitment to us all.

Wildlife Colouring Buy 3 Colouring & Guide Books and & Guide Books 1 Nature Diary for only €6.00 plus 92c p&p! Learn about and Nature Diary Wild Flowers, Birds and Sea Produced by Sherkin Island Marine Station Life by colouring the 29 featured species in each colouring book. A short description of each species is given along with their English, Latin and Irish names. The Nature Diary contains lined pages to fill in a daily record of sightings and nature news. All A5 format - 32 pages per book (softback) Only €6.00 Order Form + 92c p&p I enclose € ...... for...... set(s) of Colouring Books & Diary @ €6.00 + 92c p&p per set. I enclose € ...... for...... set(s) of Nature Books @ €18.50 + €6.50 p&p per set.

Total Enclosed: € ...... Order from: Matt Murphy, Name ...... Sherkin Island Marine Station, Address ...... Sherkin Island,Co. Cork, Ireland...... Telephone .... Tel. 028-20187 Fax: 028-20407 Email: [email protected] Signed ...... Date .... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34...... Page 31

Answers to Puzzles on Pages 27 & 29 Grilled Whole SEARCH THE SEASHORE (P. 27) A = Beadlet Anemone P = Limpets TAKING ACCOUNT (P. 29) JOINING THE B = Barnacles Q = Edible Crab CLEANUP! (P. 29) 8x5+2=42 C = Hermit Crab R = Dahlia Anemone D = Black Brittlestar S = Deadman’s Fingers Fish with 1. clean up ÷ x+ 2. flotsam jetsam E = Otter Shell T = Jellyfish 3. over board 2+8–6=4 F = Breadcrumb Sponge U = Butterfish 4. pollution free x+÷ G = Serrated Wrack V = Mermaid’s Purse H = Flatfish W = Common Shore Crab Garlic, Lemon 5. rubbish dump 3x4+15=27 6. sea water I = Black Shields Lichen X = Sand Eel === 7. sewage pipe J = Prawn 8. shore line 12 10 23 K = Sea Lettuce Only Serrated Wrack (G); and Herbs L = Whelk Black Shields Lichen (I) and FLOTSAM & JETSOM (P. 29) M = Keel Worm Sea Lettuce (K) are plants Across: 3. fish box; 6. plastic; 7: sewage; 10. litter; N = Blue Rayed Limpet - the rest are animals. Fish cooked on the bone - the best way to 11. nappies; 13. plastic rings; 15. beaches 16. clean; O = Mussels experience the rich flavour of the sea. Of course 18. container. Down: 1. oil can; 2. pollution; 4. bottle; 5. net; 8. flotsam; VISITING THE SEASHORE? (P. 29) you can use your favourite marinade for this. keep our coastline clean

Ingredients

• 2 small whole plaice/lemon sole or rainbow trout • Marinade 1 red pepper - roasted, skinned and diced 1 green chilli 1 clove garlic • Parsley, basil, chives • Salt and freshly milled pepper Lemon juice Method

• Trim fish and make deep slashes through flesh on both sides • Place fish in marinade for 15 minutes before cooking • Grill fish under a high heat for 5-7 minutes each side (or steam for 12-15 minutes) • Sprinkle with a little soy sauce before serving

* You can substitute any white fish fillets, mackerel, herring or salmon.

Serves 4 Grilling Fish Grilling is cooking under a radiant heat and is a fast method of cooking. Suitable for fillets or small whole fish. Line the grill with foil and brush lightly with oil. Pre-heat the grill. Use even-sized pieces of fish when grilling. If grilling whole fish make two or three slashes through the thickest part of the fish to allow the heat to penetrate. Oil the fish lightly and turn the fish only once during cooking as it is delicate and may break easily. Photo: © BIM Page 32...... Sherkin Comment 2003 - Issue No. 34 Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental Award 2002 Photo: Robbie Murphy Michael Ludwig being presented with the Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental Award 2002 by Matt Murphy US EPA for the development plankton in Europe there are By Matt Murphy of disposal criteria for dredge few one can turn to. Mike’s spoil, especially the capping understanding, bluntness, IN 1987 we had a speaker of disposal contaminants at vision and commitment to the for my then 3rd Annual Con- sea. These are but a small environment, together with ference, Dr. Donald Squires record of his achievements in our similar frustrations to from the USA. When I was his work. what should be done to pro- putting together speakers for However the reasons for tect the environment, have on the 1988 conference, I con- our award to him is much many occasions kept me on tacted Donald, saying I closer to home. It is for his the right road. needed a no-nonsense person support and the clarity of his Of course he has for a num- who would tell it as it is – that thinking for the work of our ber of years been a regular person was Michael Ludwig. marine station. Since those contributor to our newspaper He is a Senior Marine days in 1988 Michael and I Sherkin Comment. His arti- Resource Habitat Specialist at have spent many hours, year cles are always thought the National Marine Fisheries in year out, discussing the provoking and I hope he will Services in Milford, Con- marine station’s long-term be contributing for many necticut, USA. He has had monitoring programmes. He years to come. He always vast exposure and experience has, since the beginning of meets his deadlines! in every type of coastal, estu- our friendship, understood Mike Ludwig to me has an arine and open ocean where I was going with our immense love of the environ- development activity - from rocky shore and plankton pro- ment and is a doer. He is impacts of docks, aquaculture grammes and other projects. totally without arrogance but development to hundreds of Our work at Sherkin is com- still a tough cookie. He has miles of energy pipeline habi- plex, driven solely by one underestimated the role he tat disturbance. His fellow criteria, that long-term data is has played in my thinking of scientists in Milford will tell essential to begin to under- the marine station’s research. you he makes things happen stand the marine To me he has one of the finest and more importantly he environment. Michael’s scientific minds I have ever makes the people around him understanding of long-term met. I was delighted that make things happen. data in both freshwater and Michael accepted the Sherkin He and like-minded col- marine environments in the Island Marine Station Envi- leagues in NMFS have set the US has been of immense ronmental Award for 2002. terms of reference for the importance and encourage- agency’s research on sub- ment to me over the past 15 merged aquatic vegetation Matt Murphy, Director, years. and use that information to Sherkin Island Marine When one is running two protect this important habitat. Station, Sherkin Island, of the longest monitoring pro- He has set standards with the Co. Cork. grammes on rocky shore and