Sherkin Comment

SHERKIN COMMENT

Issue No. 32 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2002 Price 95c

INSIDE

ESBESB EnvironmentalEnvironmental PhotographyPhotography AwardsAwards 20012001

“Gannets” by Edward W. Delaney, New Ross, Co. Wexford (Amateur Category of ESB Awards) Page 2...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 Contents Editorial Editorial: “Difficult Choices on Whales” ...... 2 Matt Murphy provokes some thoughts about the longterm effects for whale management. Difficult Choices on Whales An Awesome Journey - Spring Migration of Brent Geese ....3 Oscar Merne looks at the amazing journey of the geese from Ireland to their breeding grounds in Canada. lines. It is right that sea mammals get pro- our limited aquatic resources means the Puffer Fish in Irish Waters ...... 4 By Matt Murphy tection, but are they entitled to their loss of jobs, careers and opportunities. A relatively rare fish highlighted by Declan Quigley. present status as being untouchable? The immediate issue that needs to be New EPA Environmental Impact Guidelines ...... 5 WHALES or trawling, what will cause With some notable exceptions, marine addressed is the population of 760,000 Tadhg O’Mahony outlines the guideline which help the bigger heartache? Have we made any mammal populations are approaching minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean. relevant authorities make informed decisions. meaningful, long-term steps toward levels unseen in over a century. The Their increasing population is combining shouldering the burden of wisely manag- Antarctic Minke Whale population is par- with global warming to put a major strain The Largest Sand Castle in the World ...... 6 ing our seas? We do not have a choice in ticularly successful. Marine mammals on the entire Antarctic ecosystem. These Anthony Toole visits Fraser Island in Australia. these matters. We either manage to sus- eat fish and the food that fish eat. questions need answers: Catching Sand ...... 7 tain and protect our aquatic resources or Because of this simple fact, their future is (i) Have the Minke’s exceeded the re- Michael Ludwig tells us about the constant stand by and watch the oceans change to troubled, especially those whose numbers gions carrying capacity for themselves? movement of sand on and off beaches. areas without resources, opportunity or are rapidly increasing. It is estimated that (ii) Is there sufficient food for the entire Ireland’s Last Outpost ...... 8 hope. the world’s general population of whales community relying on Antarctic food The splendour of the Blasket Islands is viewed from In the late 1980s, three California Grey doubles every 15 to 23 years. In a short species, including penguin and other the air by Daphne Mould. whales became trapped in a Bay in few years, our revered marine mammals seabird populations? Why Conservation? - The Religious Dimension ...... 9 Alaska as ice choked off their route to the will become major obstacles to re-estab- (iii) Is the krill, which many animals feed on, being overfished? Jenifer Baker looks at how conservation has been open ocean. Their plight was daily news lishing and maintaining the seafood for more than three weeks. A massive, production that humans now enjoy. At (iv) Is the recovery of other whale promoted through religion. multimillion dollar, effort via helicopters, present, the 75 species of whales annu- species being held back because of the The Limitless City ...... 10 icebreakers and hundreds of volunteers dominance of the minke whale? The writings of Oliver Gillham on urban sprawl was involved in the rescue. It is uncertain If fishing nations world-wide are not are highlighted by Robert De Santo. if any of the whales was brought to free- “In a short few years, our prepared to curtail their commercial fish- Swimming Upstream ...... 11 ing especially in Southern Oceans, then dom. While this rescue operation went revered marine mammals Fisheries biologist, Jim Lichatowich writes about his on, Native Siberians (Inuit) were hunting the pressure will come on the IWC to chosen career. the same species for food. Since 1982, will become major obstacles introduce a “cull” of some whale stocks. What is a Marine Protected Area? ...... 12 the shores of Cape Cod Bay have experi- to re-establishing and Can you imagine the political conse- Joseph Uravitch highlights these areas and how enced six major strandings of pilot maintaining the seafood quences of making either choice? But, much they can vary in form. whales resulting in 23 to 97 deaths each production that humans now clearly that time is coming. That choice time. This year 56 died. In each case, is difficult enough, but can you imagine 25 Years of An Bord Pleanála...... 13 enjoy.” large numbers of people and support planning the actual cull. To even mention John O’Connor and Tom O’Connor talk about equipment were brought in to save the the word cull and sea mammals would be different aspects of the Board and its function. whales. Whales rarely survive being considered as a treasonous act to many. Alpha Taxonomy ...... 14 stranded. In both these situations the ally consume approximately 250 to 440 Without some management, populations The essential foundation of all studies of applied whales were probably hunting food. The million tonnes of marine life. The annual of whales and seals continue to increase biology as described by Henry Disney hunt for food is also causing the death of world fisheries catch is about 90 million or starve to death as a consequence of our Sponsoring the Environment ...... 15 thousands of seabirds annually trapped in tonnes. Whales are better at catching fishing practices. At the present rate of Barney Whelan looks at ESB’s approach to fishing nets or hooked on longlines. seafood than humans. If the marine mam- events there will be no options but to do sponsoring the environment. National Government’s, the media and mal population grows at its present rate so. Observers must insure no return to ESB Environmental Photography Awards 2001 ...... 16/17 many NGO’s have shown little or no something will have to give. the atrocious ways of the past. Do we trust the whaling nations to wisely man- Mapping the Future...... 18 interest in the massive and continuing If marine mammals continue to receive murder of the seabirds or what it means. sacred status then countries world wide age the stocks? They haven’t earned our Ray Keary talks about the exploration of the seabed Why, one must ask? Is it because birds will have to begin to reduce their annual trust yet. and what is has unfolded. are small and usually can be counted in fish catches to sustain other fish eaters. If the world’s seas are to be sustained, Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental Award ..19 the millions? Are the global populations The needs of marine mammals, seabirds Governments, fishermen, NGO’s, and you Presented to Ray Keary for 2001 by Matt Murphy considered “not at risk?” These events and humans will create conflicts between must address the major issues as well Medieval Dublin ...... 20 tell a story. Is anyone listening? the objectives of such groups as Interna- informed equals. If proper controls are not One of Enfo’s many leaflets on our environment. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and tional Whaling Commission (IWC) and put in place then the ecosystems of the A Salmon Farm and the Environment ...... 21 sealions are sacred animals to many peo- fishermen. Failure to make this adjust- world’s seas will become as barren as the Jane Twelves farms salmon on the Outer Hebrides, ple. The accidental killing or beaching of ment is occurring around the Northern Sahara Desert. Then everyone will want and sees little damage to the environment there. even one of these animals will receive Pacific and marine mammals are starving solutions but the pendulum will have then massive media attention worldwide. Here to death. Commercial fishery landings swung too far for “easy” solutions. Where Publications of Interest ...... 22 in Ireland, the orphan seal pup will be are declining, particularly in inshore areas is the wise and courageous leadership we The Dunes at Tramore ...... 23 featured in the media while on the same where marine mammals are concentrated. need? All species must have equal billing. A Special Area of Conservation. day, a human death will get but a few In human terms, the over-harvesting of There cannot be discrimination amongst us. Summer at Glasnevin...... 24 Donal Synnott takes us on a floral journey through the summer at the National Botanic Gardens. Protecting Romania’s Lost World...... 25 SUBSCRIPTION FORM John Akeroyd takes a trip to Romania and looks at SHERKIN COMMENT is a quarterly publication of Sherkin I enclose cheque/postal order to the sum of €...... some of its unspoilt landscape. Island Marine Station aiming to promote the awareness of our Captain Cockle and The Pond...... 26 natural resources, their use and protection. Name ...... The second of an exciting four part story by John SUBSCRIPTION: to receive a year’s subscription to Address ...... Joyce - The Land of the Giants! “Sherkin Comment”, please send a cheque or money order for Weathering the Storm ...... 27 €5.72 for Ireland and £5.60stg for the U.K. (postage included ...... - sterling cheques accepted from UK); send €9.40 for Europe Its a race against the weather! ...... and €10.67 for the rest of the world (surface postage) - A Story of Courage from the RNLI ...... 28 payable to Sherkin Comment, Sherkin Island Marine Station, Signature ...... Date ...... Seaweed Puzzles...... 29 Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Ireland. Tel: 028-20187 Gold Venture Project to earn a Gold Award...... 30 Fax:028-20407 E-mail: [email protected] STAFF: Publisher, Matt Murphy; Editor, Matt Murphy; Sandra Wright’s helps children in Romania. Editorial Assistant, Susan Murphy Wickens; Typesetting, Susan Please send a 1 year subscription - beginning with Issue Murphy Wickens. ISSN 0791-2447 © 2002 Apple and Spice Baked Seafood Recipe from BIM....31 No...... Learning to Fly Fish...... 32 Please send a 2 year subscription - beginning with Issue Fly fishing for beginners with Peter O’Reilly. Sherkin Island Marine Station website: No...... http://homepage.eircom.net/~sherkinmarine Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 3 AANN AAWWEESSOOMMEE JJOOUURRNNEEYY The Spring Migration of Brent Geese

birds, mostly ones “banded” bly accomplish - in favourable by this route - particularly the By Oscar Merne by researchers from the Cana- weather conditions - in 15-20 crossing of the Greenland ice- dian Wildlife Service, but also hours flying. But how do they cap. Perhaps the Brents took a SEVERAL years ago I was by expeditions from the UK travel from western Iceland to longer but less demanding route on a day-flight from Amster- (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) the Canadian high arctic - with around Cape Farewell at the dam to San Francisco. The and Ireland (University Col- the enormous obstacle of southern tip of Greenland. first part of the flight, in a Boe- lege, Dublin). In earlier years, Greenland in the way? The This spring my doubts about ing 747 jumbo jet, cruising at many of the recoveries of direct route would take the the crossing of the Greenland over 1,000 kph at an altitude of ringed birds resulted from geese 300-400km over the icecap were dispelled. The 11,000m, was uneventful, with Brents being shot on their Irish Denmark Strait to the east National Geographic Society provided funding for six Pale- bellied Brent Geese to be fitted Photos: © Oscar Merne with miniature satellite trans- The Pale-bellied Brent Goose. mitters so they could be Disko Island in western transmitters have been pro- tracked all the way from Ire- Greenland, having success- grammed to “sleep” during the land to their breeding grounds. fully crossed the icecap; the breeding period and to reacti- This investigation is part of a other stayed for some weeks in vate at the beginning of the study of the Canadian-Irish western Iceland with a group return migration in autumn. Pale-bellied Brent Geese of (presumably) non-breeding That way it is hoped the bat- being undertaken by the Wild- Brents and then seems to have teries will last long enough to fowl & Wetlands Trust, the died. The surviving four made track the birds back to Iceland Irish Brent Goose Research a quick journey over the Den- and Ireland in September and Group, National Parks & mark Strait, crossed the October. You can follow the Wildlife, and our colleagues in Greenland icecap by a wide, story of these Brents on Iceland. In May a flock of high route, continued over the www.wwt.org.uk/brent. Brents were captured in west- David Strait, and then split and ern Iceland during their spring dispersed to different locations Oscar Merne head the Bird stop-over, and six birds were within the breeding range. At Research Section of National Above: Pale-bellied Brent fitted with transmitters. Unfor- the time of writing they are Parks & Wildlife, Dúchas - Geese spending the winter tunately two of these birds months on the Slobs in Co. hopefully busy rearing a new The Heritage Service, 7 Ely came to a bad end: one is Wexford. generation of goslings. The Place, Dublin 2. Right: The distance from the thought to have been shot at north coast of Ireland to the south coast of Iceland is about 1,100km, a journey which Brent Geese can probably accomplish - in favourable weather conditions - in 15-20 hours flying.

heavy cloud obscuring the land and sea below. But over the coast of south-east Iceland the cloud gave way to completely clear conditions, which wintering grounds, but after coast of Greenland, a journey remained so all the way over the species was fully protected which should not present them the Denmark Strait, Greenland, information on the origins of with any great difficulty. But the Davis Strait, Baffin Island, our birds came mainly from then they would have to cross the tundra, taiga and prairies of field sightings of geese, which the great icecap at a point Canada, over the Rocky Moun- have been fitted with tele- where it is 1,000km wide and tains and to the Pacific Ocean scope-readable neck collars or over 3,000m high. This leg of coast at Vancouver Island. As large-inscription leg rings. the journey would be an we flew over the arctic wastes So, we have good informa- incredible feat of endurance, I found myself thinking of the tion on the distribution of the with temperatures down to epic journey of the Pale-bellied Pale-bellied Brent Geese dur- minus 50 degrees Celsius, and Brent Geese which spend each ing the seven winter months greatly reduced oxygen levels winter on the benign and tem- from October to April (when at high altitude. On the west perate coasts of Ireland. Here they are in Ireland), and a rea- coast of Greenland south of 74 was I, cocooned in a warm and sonable idea of their summer degrees N there are lowlands comfortable aircraft, propelled distribution in the Canadian with suitable habitat where by four enormous jet engines. high arctic. We also know, geese have another major sea By contrast, the little Brent from aerial and ground sur- crossing (perhaps 500km or Geese have to do it all them- veys (and ringing recoveries), more, depending on their selves, fuelled by the fat that the Brents stage in spring route) to Baffin, Devon or reserves they manage to accu- and autumn in western Ice- Ellesmere Islands. Those that mulate from grazing on Irish land, where they rest and feed continue on to Melville Island saltmarsh plants, green algae for two or three weeks before have another 900-1,000km to and coastal grasses. continuing their migrations. go - over mountains, glaciers, Our Brents spend the sum- The journey between Ireland sea pack-ice, and some rela- mer on the islands of the and Iceland is relatively tively benign coastal plains. Canadian high arctic, as far straightforward for a migra- I contemplated all this while west as eastern Melville Island tory goose. The distance from flying over this awesome land- (75 degrees N, 110 degrees the north coast of Ireland to scape in my jumbo jet and I W), and above 80 degrees N the south coast of Iceland is have to say I had doubts about on Ellesmere Island. We know about 1,100km, a journey the physiological ability of these this from recoveries of ringed which Brent Geese can proba- small geese to make the journey Page 4...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 PUFFER FISH

Photo: © Florida Marine Research Institute in Irish Waters Oceanic Puffer Fish (Lagocephalus lagocephalus)

to Madeira (in the E Atlantic) and in the W like a balloon with either air or water and thus By Declan T. Quigley Atlantic from New England (including double or treble their size. Many species also Bermuda) to Brazil (S. spengleri) and from have spines partially buried in their skin, PUFFER FISH, also known as Globefish, Bermuda to the Gulf of Mexico (C. rostrata), which, when inflated, stick out like a pincush- Blow Fish, Blowies, Toadfish, Toados (Aus- have been recorded as far north as Portugal (S. ion. It is curious too that a group with two such tralia), Tobies (S. Africa) and Fugu (Japan) spengleri) and Morocco (C. rostrata). well-developed defensive mechanisms should belong to a relatively large family of fishes Puffer Fish are particularly rare in northern also be acutely poisonous if eaten. Certain parts (Tetraodontidae) that includes 19 genera and European waters where only 3 species have of Puffer Fish, particularly the gonads, liver, Photos: © Declan Quigley about 121 species. The family, however, is been recorded and only 2 of these from UK and gut, skin and blood, contain a violently poorly represented in both the Mediterranean Irish waters: Oceanic Puffer Fish (L. lago- paralysing neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin (TTX), Blunt-head Puffer Fish Sea and the NE Atlantic, where only 4 genera cephalus) and Blunt-head Puffer Fish (S. which is 1250 times deadlier than cyanide. A (Sphoeroides pachygaster), Dingle Bay 18.09.1989 and 6 species have been recorded. pachygaster). However, it is possible some of single milligram of TTX, an amount that can be Of these, the Brown-backed Puffer Fish the species mentioned above might also occur, placed on a pinhead, is sufficient to kill an adult The Blunt-head Puffer Fish is normally (Lagocephalus spadiceus) has only recently albeit rarely, in NW European waters. human, while smaller amounts can suppress all found circum-globally in tropical and temper- been recorded in the SE Mediterranean (Egypt, Puffer Fish are generally found in shallow outward signs of life, yet leave a victim’s con- ate seas: from South Africa and St Helena to Israel, Turkey and Aegean Sea) as a lessespsian tropical and subtropical inshore waters, around sciousness intact. Nevertheless, in certain parts Nigeria and Azores (E Atlantic); New Jersey to immigrant from the Indian Ocean via the Suez reefs, in sea grass beds and in estuaries, while of the world, Puffer Fish (or Fugu) are regarded Argentina (W Atlantic), Australia and New Canal. several species live exclusively in freshwater as a delicacy. Indeed, about 20,000 tonnes are Zealand (SW Pacific), Japan (NW Pacific), Bennett’s Puffer Fish (Ephippion gut- (e.g. R. Nile, Congo and Niger) and a few are annually prepared for aficionados (who pay up Hawaii (mid Pacific) and both sides of the tiferum), which is normally found from Angola pelagic (e.g. L. lagocephalus). Most are stout- to $400 per serving) by specially trained chefs Indian Ocean. Within these areas, the species to Morocco, also appears to have been extend- bodied, rounded fishes with small fins, in 1500 Japanese licensed restaurants. How- appears to occupy a wide range of habitats, ing its range northwards into the SW moderately large eyes, and small slit-like gill ever, despite the tight controls, fatalities are not including deep oceanic water (down to 480m) Mediterranean (southern Spain and Algerian openings. They are not powerful swimmers, uncommon, and Fugu claims 70-100 lives each and shallow inshore areas on sand, mud and coast), while a single specimen has been but propel themselves by means of gentle wav- year. rocky substrates. Indeed, the species’ wide recorded from the Bay of Biscay. ing dorsal, anal, and sometimes pectoral fins. The Oceanic Puffer Fish is one of the few range of adaptability may explain its recent Similarly, the Band-tail Puffer Fish (Spho- All have four teeth, the pair in each jaw form- exclusively pelagic species that lives in the sur- phenomenal invasion into the E Mediterranean eroides spengleri) and Sharp-nosed Puffer Fish ing a parrot-like beak. face waters of the tropical Atlantic, Indian and and its successive northward extension into (Canthigaster rostrata), which are normally When threatened, Puffer Fish are well Pacific Oceans. It has only rarely been recorded NW European seas, including Irish (Table 2) found on both sides of the Atlantic from Angola known for their ability to inflate themselves in NW European waters, and its presence there and UK waters. Indeed, a total of 5 specimens is undoubtedly due to vagrant drift from have been recorded in Irish waters since 1984, warmer waters of the SW Atlantic. including a specimen from the Co Donegal The species has only been recorded on 7 coast, which is the most northerly record for the occasions in Irish waters (all from the SE, S NE Atlantic. A Sherkin Island Marine Station and SW coasts) and only twice during the last The recent increase in Puffer Fish and Trig- 100 years (Table 1). Most of the specimens ger Fish abundance (see Sherkin Comment were recorded between August and December, 1997, No. 23), as well as other warm water and may have been disorientated due to species, in both the Mediterranean and NW decreasing water temperatures. European waters, may be another indication of Although most of the 20+ UK specimens significant climatic changes worldwide. Publication have been recorded from the English Channel, two specimens were taken off the Orkney Declan T. Quigley, Carrigadrohid Smolts Ltd., Now a Islands (N Scotland) in 1853 and these would Carrigadrohid, Macroom, Co Cork. A Beginner’s Guide to appear to be the most northerly records for the Mobile: 087-9080521 NE Atlantic. Very little is know about the Bestseller! species’ biology, but it appears to feed on squid Email: [email protected] Ireland’s and crustaceans.

Date Location Method T.L. F.L. Wt.

c1837 Tramore, Co Waterford stranded Seashore September 1850 Wexford 45.0 26.08.1852 Ardmore, Co Waterford 55.2 “A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s December 1854 Ardmore, Co Waterford 11.10.1949 Dingle Harbour, Co Kerry seen on surface 62.0 2327 Seashore” is a pocket-sized guide, ? Kerry Coast suitable for beginners of all ages. 15.08.1969 Oysterhaven, Co Cork seen on surface 47.1 43.5 910

With the help of this book you will be Table 1. Oceanic Puffer Fish (Lagocephalus lagocephalus) in Irish Waters able to explore the wonders of marine life on the shores around Ireland. Available for €6.34 at all Date Location Depth Method T.L. S.L. Wt. good bookshops. Jan-84 NW Ireland 100-150 pelagic 15.7 13.7 550 10'N, 090 12'W trawl

19.08.1989 SW Ireland trawl 30.0 Order Form for “A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Seashore” 510 10' N, 080 W Available at all good bookshops or order from: I enclose a cheque for ...... for ...... copy(s) 18.10.1989 Dingle Bay trawl 34.5 30.0 1015 € SW Ireland Matt Murphy, @ 6.34 plus 63c p&p per copy. Sherkin Island Marine Station, Name ...... Sep-90 56km W Fastnet Rock 160 trawl 37.0 32.5 1425 Sherkin Island, Co. Cork, Ireland. SW Ireland Tel. 028-20187 Fax: 028-20407 Address ...... Email: [email protected] ...... Telephone ...... Jan-02 SW Ireland trawl

Signed ...... Date ...... Table 2. Blunt-head Puffer Fish (Sphoeroides pachygaster) in Irish Waters ISBN: 1-87-049296-X Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 5 What is a Marine Protected Area? National Park System, with 95% of its (Code of Federal Regulations, 2000). The Vir- Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands By Joseph Uravitch 173,000 acres covered by water. The area was gin Islands National Park protects coral reef National Park share jurisdiction over some set aside in 1968 to “...preserve and protect for habitat and sea-turtle nesting areas (National ocean waters (National Academy of Public MANY accept the definition developed by the education, inspiration, recreation and Park Service, 1998). Midway Atoll National Administration, 2000). Finally, some MPAs, the World Conservation Union: “any area of enjoyment of present and future generations a Wildlife Refuge protects habitat for endan- such as the Cape Cod National Seashore in the intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with rare combination of terrestrial, marine, and gered species and historical artifacts from the Massachusetts, include both marine and land its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, amphibious life in a tropical setting of great World War II battle that occurred there (U.S. components (Bauman et al., 1998). historical and cultural features, which has natural beauty” (Public Law 90-606). Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002). The Monitor been reserved by law or other effective means Some MPAs are sanctuaries where little, if National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of to protect part or all of the enclosed environ- any, use or human North Carolina pro- References and websites of interest ment” (IUCN, 1988; Kelleher, 1999). But, disturbance is per- tects the site of this Bauman, C., S. Brody, D. Fenton, and B. marine protected areas (MPA) mean different mitted. Others are famous Civil Nicholson. 1998. A GIS Database of Existing things to different people, based primarily on specially managed “MPAs [Marine Protected Areas] are War-era shipwreck Coastal and Marine Protected Areas, Conser- the type of protection provided. The concept areas designed to used as management tools to protect, (National Ocean vation Zones, and Restricted Fishing Areas in of an MPA has been around for centuries, the enhance ocean use. Service, 2002). the Gulf of Maine. Gulf of Maine Council on term has been in use for over two decades. maintain, or restore natural and The range includes MPAs can range the Gulf of Maine Web Site. MPAs are used as management tools to pro- cultural resources in coastal and areas closed to pub- dramatically in size < www.gulfofmaine.org > tect, maintain, or restore natural and cultural lic uses, such as the marine waters” and shape. There resources in coastal and marine waters. They National Ocean Service (on-line). Accessed UK, Marine Special are small areas, have been used effectively internationally, to June 2002. NOAA’s National Marine Sanctu- Area of Conserva- such as the 14-acre conserve biodiversity, manage natural aries Program Web site. tion at the deepwater coral reefs off NW Farnsworth Bank Ecological Reserve in Los resources, protect endangered species, reduce < www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/oms/ > Scotland; to sites that permit access but do not Angeles County, California (McArdle, 1997), user conflicts, provide educational and allow consumptive uses, such as Edmonds and large areas, such as the Monterey Bay United Nations, World Conservation Man- research opportunities, and enhance commer- Underwater Park in Washington (Mur- National Marine Sanctuary in California, agement Centre (on-line) Accessed June 2002. cial and recreational activities (Salm et al. ray,1998); to areas where the use of specific which covers 5,300 square miles (National < www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/ > 2000). types of fishing gear is restricted, such as the Ocean Service, 2002). There are many different types of MPAs. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (on-line). fishery management areas off Iceland; and to MPAs differ in location and jurisdiction. For example, MPAs may include regional or Accessed July 2002. National Wildlife Refuge multiple-use areas, such as the Florida Keys Some MPAs are in national waters only, national marine sanctuaries, fishery manage- System Web site. National Marine Sanctuary (National Ocean which, for the most part, extend from three to ment zones, seashores, parks, and monuments, < www.refuges.fws.gov > Service, 2002). MPAs also protect specific 200 miles offshore. These are managed under critical habitats, wildlife refugees, estuarine natural and cultural resources. The near-shore national laws by federal agencies. Some research reserves. MPAs have different Joseph Uravitch, NOAA/NMFS, Silver Spring, Bristol Bay fishery closure area off Alaska MPAs are found in coastal waters where both shapes, sizes, and management characteristics, MD, USA 20910-3281, USA. protects king crab aggregations and habitat regional and national laws may apply. MPAs and different purposes. Biscayne National important to this valuable fisheries species may overlap. The Channel Islands National Park is the largest marine park in the US Page 6...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 THE LARGEST SAND CASTLE IN THE WORLD

By Anthony Toole

THOUGH the ferry crossing from the Queensland coast takes barely ten minutes, once you land, you know you are in remote territory. People have disappeared here, and accidents often lead to rescues on an epic scale. This is strictly 4WD country. An ordi- nary car would not get five yards. For this is Fraser Island, the world’s largest island composed entirely of sand. We set off from Brisbane shortly after 8 a.m. Our journey took us past Toole Photo: © Brendan the precipitous, spiky Glasshouse Fraser Island dingo Mountains, through miles of eucalypt only to cross the many creeks that ran and pine forests and the cane planta- out of the scrub. At Eurong, we tions that provide Australia with 95% stopped for a short break.

of its sugar. Four hours after leaving Toole Photos: © Brendan This tiny village has chalets and the city, we arrived at Inskip Point, camping facilities as well as a few Fraser Island sand dunes just north of Rainbow Beach, and amenities like shops and a garage. A transferred to our 4WD vehicle. visitor centre supplies information ground reservoirs. Mackenzie, on the sand, and was backed by the forest. It By late afternoon, we were on our On leaving the ferry, we drove a about the walking and vehicle routes. other hand, is an example of a perched had the appearance of a picture way back to Eurong and the Great short distance along a deeply rutted There is also a swimming pool at the lake. It has no rivers leading into or out advertising a South Sea paradise. Sandy Highway. Frazer Island is not track that threw us about without hotel. Neither here nor on our drive up of it, but is fed by rain and loses its This was, of course a South Sea quite in the tropics, but is sufficiently mercy. Sea eagles circled over the the coast did we see anybody in the water only by evaporation. The water island, but we were in the centre of it, close for its dusks to fall rapidly and trees and dingoes mooched around in sea. This was because of the threat is held in the lake by a watertight bed not on its coast. early. By the time we reached the the scrub vegetation, scavenging for posed by sharks and poisonous jelly- of sand and compacted humus. About two dozen swimmers bathed ferry, it was almost dark. scraps that might be tossed away by fish that abound in the inshore waters. The ecology of Fraser’s perched in the clear, green water. And as if acti- A single day is not enough to give travellers. We then broke through a I strolled out onto the beach, but lakes does not rid itself of pollution, vated by a switch, the rain ceased, and more than a cursory appreciation of short section of soft sand into which retreated rapidly when I turned to see and traces of radioactive fallout from a minute later, a hazy sun came out. Fraser Island. One really needs to we sank up to the axles, before two light aircraft taxiing toward me at stay for a few days, much of it in the emerging onto the seashore. We were an alarming speed along the sand. same place, so that some time could now on the Great Sandy Highway: 75 We now moved inland, the smooth be given to encountering the richness miles of beach, that runs up the east- progress of our coastal run replaced of its fauna, which matches that of its ern side of Fraser, and serves not only by the staccato bumpiness of soft vegetation. As well as dingoes and as the main thoroughfare but also as sand and tree root. On either side of eagles there are brumbies (feral the island’s only airstrip. the track, at frequent intervals, lay horses), frilled lizards, tortoises, The sand of which Fraser Island is shell middens left by centuries of goannas. And from high points above composed is rich in oxides of tita- aboriginal occupation. the shore, turtles, manta rays, sharks, nium and zirconium, and originates Around us grew the darkness of the in the Blue Mountains, west of Syd- rain forest: tall eucalypts and trees Left: Great Sandy Highway. ney. It is washed by rivers into the with exotic names like tallow wood, sea, then carried northward by ocean Bottom Left: Epiphyte - staghorn fern, brush box, black butt, Queensland currents, to be deposited here, rising Central Forest Station, Fraser Island. kauri. And giving impenetrable in some places to a height of 200 Bottom Right: Lake Mackenzie.

ground cover and a look of the pre- Toole Photo: © Brendan metres. The western coast is more historic, was a dense underlayer of than 700 000 years old, while that on cycads. The trees themselves hosted the east is less than 500. From east to huge outgrowths of staghorn ferns west, a distance of less than ten miles, and basket ferns: epiphytes that, the island displays several distinct unlike parasites, took no sustenance ecologies, demonstrating how the from the trees themselves, but merely land has evolved through time. hitched a ride on their branches, feed- The eastern strip shows young veg- ing on the water that trickled down etation and newly formed humus. the trunks and the discarded leaves Farther inland, where the humus has that fell from the high canopy. had time to build up, stand tall, dense Much timber was cut down on rain forest trees. Travelling west, Fraser Island from the 1860’s to where the soil has become old and 1991. The main tree to be harvested depleted, one passes into a region of was satinay, a species almost unique scrub and sand held together by 300 to the island. Its value lay in its resist- 000-year-old roots. And finally are ance to a marine creature that bores the mangrove swamps and rich into wood. Because of this resistance, marine life of the west coast. Photo: © Anthony Toole Anthony Photo: © satinay was used to line the Suez Toole Anthony Photo: © Fraser Island is named after Eliza Canal during its construction. Fraser, the wife of the captain of a We stopped at Central Forest Sta- the British nuclear bomb tests of the The sand was damp, but easily dolphins and even humpback whales ship that was wrecked near here in tion for a more leisurely look at the 1950’s can still be detected in the sedi- covered by a towel, for now that we can be seen. the 1830’s. The survivors managed to vegetation, but our visit was cut short ments. This said, however, the were here, we had to sample the Such is the magic of this unique make their way to the island and held when the rain forest began to live up radioactivity is only marginally above waters. It was like a swimming pool, place that no visit would be long out, with help from the aboriginal to its nature. Within seconds, we were background level, and there is no addi- warmer in fact, without any of the enough. A few days after leaving, one population, until their rescue, some soaked, though the heat prevented tional source of pollution other than the shivering hesitation that visitors from would want to start planning a return months later. Eliza Fraser’s story was any discomfort. natural decay of the forest vegetation. the British Isles expect as the norm. visit. the inspiration for the novel, ‘A In the continuing rain, we drove to We stopped at a small clearing, and The lake was totally transparent. Its Fringe of Leaves’, by Australian Lake Mackenzie, one of around 40 despite the rain, ran along a short gently sloping floor leading to deeper Nobel Prize winner, Patrick White. M.A. Toole, 65, Cheswick Drive, freshwater lakes that are dotted over track to the lakeside. As the jungle water, and the lack of any currents We drove for about 20 miles up the Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, the island. Some of these are called opened out abruptly, it revealed a meant that it was completely safe, coast, sometimes splashing into the NE3 5DW, U.K. window lakes, and are part of the water scene that was as magical as it was and could be enjoyed by swimmers of edge of the sea, but slowing down table, drawing supplies from under- unexpected. The shore was of white any level of skill or none. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 7

viewpoint, eroding beaches, even without humans, are not very good habitat for most species. Beaches are always being changed by wind and water action. Some aquatic species take advantage of the constantly moving habitat to Catching Sand help them prey on confused organisms. Save some money, and reflects the wave energy. blocks, the guzzler system would leave the sand behind beach but did erode areas buy the property overlooking By Michael This idea was used for the uses pumps to suck water out and the beach would grow. where the water from the the beach, it’s a lot safer and landings at Brittany in World of the sand in the swash zone. These designers often forgot to pumps was discharged. Beach may last longer. Ludwig War II. Large concrete floats The pumping robbed the sand see if there was a source of users were annoyed. 1Use of tradenames is not an are used most often. The floats and water mixture of the ero- new sand moving into the What does work? Actually, endorsement of the product but meant solely to identify a concept. COASTAL erosion is a work well on days with calm sive fallback half of the cycle. clutches of the mighty water nothing eliminates beach ero- daily and storm-induced or modest wave conditions and A wave would strike the beach pumps. Beach goers were sion. Sacrificial beach occurrence. Because of it, a even provide a place for and travel up it only to have afraid they would be sucked nourishment postpones the Michael Ludwig, NOAA, whole industry has been bathers to rest. However, on the water pulled into the sand. into the beach. The operations inevitable and creates the least NMFS, Milford, CT USA spawned to deal with the stormy days the floats would As each wave pushed sand up used noisy pumps and lots of amount of complications. 06460-6499 symptoms, if not the causes. twist and turn. Concrete does the beach, disappearing water pipes. The system didn’t grow Curiously, from an ecological We have seen an unbelievable not twist and turn it tends to array of upland and aquatic break. Many of the wave bar- “solutions” to eroding riers sank. Their shape made beaches. While the situations excellent reef habitat, but are often times truly sad, the beach owners wouldn’t leave solutions are more routinely them where they sank. The outright funny. Take artificial technology has improved, but seaweed for instance. This a thorough wave analysis of a erosion control technology site should be used to deter- was sold as a means of reduc- mine if they are appropriate. ing wave height by mimicking The newer designs create the natural wave dampening problems with water circula- effects of marshes, thereby tion as well as trapping fish reducing erosion. Rows of and debris. They have a poor plastic strips with a piece of record in ocean settings. floatation attached to each tip When a wave breaks on a were embedded in the seafloor beach it creates a swash-zone offshore of a beach. Parents where water runs up and down hated the feel of the beach face. the plastic Some of the swash sinks streamers when “As each wave swimming, kids into the sedi- liked to tear pushed sand up the ment and some them up and beach, disappearing retreats back wave erosion water would leave into the sea. was not seri- the sand behind and The runup pushes sand up ously altered. the beach would In a storm, the the beaches as individual grow.” the energy of fronds or whole the wave is rows of the depleted. The stuff would break free of their fallback pulls sand down the anchors and wash ashore with beach. When waves strike a the other wrack. The propo- beach at an angle, the swash nents offered any number of cycle moves sand along and different materials. Unfortu- off beaches. The process is nately, none of them were able known as littoral drift. Why to reduce waves or be very not place something on the successful. Floating tyre beach that disrupts the cycle? breakwaters were the most Enter the “sand grabber.”1 common alternative. Masses Rows of concrete, building of tyres, connected together, blocks were fastened together can reduce wave size, in some with reinforcing rod (rebar), to situations. In coastal situations form cubes through which the the bundles tend to break apart runup water and its load of and litter beaches for miles. sand would pass. Once We got so tired of loose tyres through, the sediment-laden that all floating tyre breakwa- water lacked the energy to ters in the Northeast, were pass back and the sand was required to have each tyre grabbed. Good idea, but a fail- marked with the owner’s name ure in use. On stormy days the to speed the cleanup. Tyre blocks would grind against breakwaters did recycle a lot each other and as the rebar of old tyres. snapped the blocks were Enter the wave barrier pro- breaking into pieces. When ponents. Their designs attempt the storm passed, the broken to stop or reflect waves. By pieces made the beach unus- using inertia, waves can be able. Because the rubble reduced. A heavy, floating stayed on the builder’s beach, structure (often concrete) sits the blocks did not require to be at rest in the water. A wave marked. strikes it and expends its A modification of the sand energy trying to move the grabber was the beach guzzler. structure. The barrier absorbs Instead of piles of concrete Page 8...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 Ireland’s Last Outposts

strange things on those John Windle and Fr. Casey in keeping in Mr. Haughey’s By Daphne islands, the tiny wrens of 1838, as best they could. The house on the island. John Skellig (no long distance fly- Keanes lived in the beehive Windele, in 1838, said the Pochin Mould ers), wingless insects on hut - there were 8 children. island was “a great place for Tearaght and a few plants They left, but about 1850 a breeding eagles”. Sadly, the IF you fly low along the that dislike salt spray. The married couple were out fairly recent attempt to get great northern cliffs of Mount islands are the west-most out- there to mind the sheep (and them back, failed, but Mr. Brandon and look west, you posts of Ireland, only ocean destroyed much of the old Haughey has brought in red see a coastline and moun- between them and America. chapel to build walls). The deer, which if Foot and tainy peaks rising from it. It But they are not the west- man died, and the island was Mouth had reached Killar- is an illusion. Come closer, most point of all Europe, for storm bound: he was big and ney, might well have saved and the mainland ends, and that is the great cliff of Latra- heavy and the wife had to the unique Kerry species. the peaks resolve into the six bjarg in Iceland. wait to dismember the rotting Off and on, people have Blasket Islands set in a Six islands - but only the corpse and bury the parts, lived on this beautiful island, sparkling sea. Yet it is not all Great Blasket, with its writ- and was found in a distraught the Blasket islanders used to illusion, this is a drowned ers and story tellers and life state when help finally go rabbiting to “the Inish”. It landscape. Flooded valleys - at subsistence level (that arrived. was on this island that an now Dingle Bay, the Ken- ended with the final leaving island fiddle player, alone in mare River, the Skellig rocks in 1953) is well known. And his house, heard, or said he and the Blaskets - were once “The islands are

Photos: © Daphne Mould these days, weather permit- heard, music sweeping back mainland linked. There are Across Inishvickillane to the Tearaght. ting, it is easily visited. Yet the west-most and forth over the land. He the long, monotonous whale outposts of took up his fiddle and began back of An Blascaod Mór has to play, and gave us one of none of the magic or interest Ireland, only the liveliest of traditional of the outer four, whilst tiny, ocean between tunes, port na bpúcaí (the level, green Beiginis is them and pooka’s tune). hardly noticed as the boats And far off, the ultimate speed out from Dunquin to America.” Blasket, Tearacht. It looks the big island. Thirty-six like another Skellig, and may acres of good grass, between Inis na Bró and Inish Mhic have had a monastic site, the big island and the main- Uíleán (Englished as though all trace, if there was land, which Charles Smith in Inishvickillane) lie out one, is now gone. The rock 1756 said was very fertile - beyond the end of the Great rises nearly as high as Skel- “will fatten 30 bullocks every Blasket. Inish na Bró, the lig’s peak, and a helicopter summer”. Sheep have been Quern stone island, is high, pilot told me Tearacht was grazed there too, and, briefly cliff edged and hard to land the most difficult of all the it seems, a family lived there, on. Yet flying out over it, I rock landings. The light- in the absence of a well, row- was able to discover a rath, a house was established in ing to the Great Blasket to fill cliff edge “fort”, set high on 1870. Goats, brought in by barrels with water. the crag’s edge, and traces of the light keepers for milk, To the north, is the high hut foundations and old lazy have caused much erosion rocky Inis Tuasiceart (Eng- bed ridges. The rock itself and back in the mid 1850’s lished as Inishtooskert - and was suitable to make quern there were sheep that men Monastic remains and old field walls on Inishvickillane. there is another of the same stones for grinding the grain, went out to shear. In 1864, name in the Magharees island and it seems produced them the Port of Dublin bought it group.) The fanciful see in for export. Some may yet be from the Earl of Cork for its skyline, viewed from the lying there. Thrift (sea pinks) £200, a lot of money then for mainland, a man lying asleep. grow all over it and come in this jagged bit of rock. It Island goers and archaeolo- early summer. Then you will would always have been val- gists see the challenge of its see a pink island in a blue ued for its birds and their cliffs. For it is a high rocky sea. eggs. In the 1970s, the late mass, and there is no easy Inish Mhic Uíleán, sepa- Dr. Walton of the Zoology landing near the cliffs. Once rated only by a narrow department of UCC, led a up, it is pleasant enough and channel from an Bró, through very full exploration of the here are the remains of an which the seas race, is utterly island’s flora and fauna, from early Celtic monastery, asso- different. It is cliff edged the smallest bug upwards, ciated by tradition with St. indeed, but green and undu- and found it teeming with Brendan. A ruined chapel, a lating, with another early life. The zoologists use the couple of stone crosses, a monastic site and network of light keepers old hoist to get beehive cell and other ruins old field walls. Again, here is on and off, swung out on a and walls, lazy bed ridges, a ruined ancient chapel, cross cable above the cave that cuts modified by the people who, and ogham inscribed stones. through the island and then off and on, lived there. A One of these is now in Trinity down to the waiting boat. family named Keane lived College, with a stone lamp in Only the coming of the heli- there in the early 1800’s, the National Museum, and a copter has made access to the Inishnabro and Inishvickillane. indeed warmly welcoming broken stone “font” in safe islands easy. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 9 WHY CONSERVATION?

meant to be symbols and catalysts for action, recognising that the world The faiths have a total of four to five bil- lion followers - representing an incredible potential for specific ini- Religious tiatives to conserve the natural world. Here are a few examples. For each of the faiths mentioned below, there Dimension is first a short extract from that faith’s contribution to the Assisi Declaration, and then a description of two Sacred Gifts pledged by that faith. Christianity In his Canticle of Brother Sun, St Francis called all creatures his broth- ers and sisters because they are God’s gifts and signs of His provi- A Hindu temple in Malaysia Photos: © Jenifer Baker dential and reconciling love. Catholic Benedictine Sisters are doubling their school programmes for conservation. Three prime rea- things. The first two reasons are (particularly in tropical countries aimed at reducing the toxic waste in By Dr. Jenifer Baker sons (as expressed by Charles Elton, clearly based on the various values with high rainfall). There is also an Lake Erie (N. America). The United a founder of ecological science) are of the environment for human use, argument based on the precautionary CONSERVATION and religion Methodist Pension Board aims to 1) opportunities for richer human such as recreation and food produc- principle - we should conserve the are not always thought of together, convert its $30 billion funds to envi- experience; 2) promotion of ecologi- tion. The third reason, whilst it is full range of natural diversity but the connection becomes apparent ronmentally responsible ‘ethical’ cal stability; and 3) right relationship closely intertwined with the first because its complexity is mind-bog- if you consider the various reasons investments. between humanity and other living two, is different - it is essentially gling. We just do not know enough religious. The religious dimension of to say what species, if any, can be conservation is being increasingly lost without any undesirable conse- Islam recognised, and there have been quences for us. Unity, trusteeship and accounta- some exciting international develop- 3) Right relationship between bility, three central concepts of ments in recent years. These are Islam, are also the pillars of the envi- described later, after a closer look at humanity and other living ronmental ethics of Islam. the three prime reasons. things Muslim fishermen will help to 1) Richer experience This most fundamental reason for save turtle nesting sites in Zanzibar; and the Islamic Government of Recreational, aesthetic and cul- conservation does not depend on Saudi Arabia will establish the coun- tural values underlie the work of values for human use such as those try’s first ever biosphere reserve. many environmental organisations. mentioned above. All the world’s For example, there may be conserva- major faiths recognise that there are tion of countryside and waterways non-humanistic values, i.e. the natu- Judaism for walking, riding, and angling; and ral world is of inherent value as part of the creation - not just because it We have a responsibility to life, to conservation of species that people defend it everywhere, not only find appealing and interesting, such may be useful to us. A right relation- ship takes this into account. against our own sins but also against as birds and butterflies. Conserva- the sins of others. We are all passen- tion of species in the wild The importance of the religious dimension for the work of conserva- gers together in this same fragile and necessarily also involves conserva- glorious world. tion of the habitats in which the tion organisations was expressed in the Assisi declaration in 1986 Jewish organisations in the USA species live (e.g. you can’t conserve intend to reduce energy use in build- frogs unless you also conserve (co-ordinated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature - WWF). At Assisi, ings by 10% in three years; and to ponds!). Cultural values are basic to encourage the use of wood products the conservation of heritage sites, in the Church of St Francis, there was an historic gathering opened by from sustainably managed forests which encompass places of archaeo- for synagogues, schools and other logical and historical interest, a wide Father Lanfranco Serrini (Minister General of the Franciscans). buildings. variety of public and domestic build- Finally, the photographs illustrat- ings, and industrial sites. There is The major faiths ‘proclaimed through liturgy, scripture, symbol ing this article are from a Hindu also educational value - as evi- temple in Malaysia and illustrate the denced, for example, by the use of and declaration, where they stood on the issue of conservation. Likewise, Hindu awareness of nature and rev- sea shore sites for school or univer- erence for life (reminiscent of the sity field work. the secular forces of conservation looked into their own values and same tradition in Celtic Christian- 2) Ecological stability beliefs and began to realise that there ity). It is recognised in the Assisi declaration that traditions such as Conservation counteracts the was more to this world than they had these, and the Jewish and Christian over-exploitation which leads to ever dreamt possible.’ concept of stewardship, need to be breakdown of ecosystems and eco- More recently, in November 2000, reapplied in our contemporary con- logical processes that are important there was a memorable event held in text. to us. A familiar example of Kathmandu, Nepal. Following initia- exploitation is deforestation, which tives by WWF and the Alliance of reduces the ‘locking up’ of carbon Religions and Conservation (ARC), Dr. Jenifer Baker has worked all dioxide into tree biomass, and so is 11 faiths (Bahals, Buddhists, Chris- round the world as an believed to contribute to global cli- tians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, environmental scientist, specialising mate change. Another example is Shinto, Sikhs, Taoists and Zoroastri- in oil spill response, and is currently that both deforestation and overgraz- ans) pledged 26 ‘Sacred Gifts for a a theological student. ing can result in soil erosion Living Planet’. The Sacred Gifts are Page 10...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 The Limitless

Commendation from Har- talise downtowns drained by growth of wealth and the Oliver Gillham considers the vard University, Graduate competition from suburban reason for growth is his history and development of School of Design in 1975. centres. He has worked in newly published treatise, sprawl and examines current He has devoted untiring both the private and public The Limitless City debates about the issue. The energies for more than 25 sectors on projects across (www.limitless city.com). author argues that whether The main qualities of urban sprawl are plain to see from the air. Lost open space and lower aesthetic values are inevitable years to understanding and the United States and in Aus- The book provides a clear we like it or not, sprawl is consequences and independent dwelling units decrease energy developing plans to create tralia and India. description of the predomi- here to stay, and only by efficiencies. These factors can only be managed through careful urban centres for rapidly nant form of land use in the understanding where it came planning of “smart growth” and managed avoidance of the root developing communities — United States today and its from and why it developed causes of sprawl. The Limitless City plans to change transporta- all too familiar pattern of will we be able to success- tion patterns to discourage His latest effort to manage commercial and residential fully address the problems it frustrate its environmental sprawl, and plans to revi- the struggle between the development known as has created and is likely to By Robert S. control, and that result in urban sprawl (See Sherkin create in the future. De Santo, Ph.D. affluent societies choking on Comment No. 29 The Fail- This is the first book to the byproducts of their new ure of Success, and No. 30, provide a realistic look at Urban Sprawl –The Cursed sprawl, with a frank recog- A LITTLE recognised found wealth and the inde- Blessing of Economic nition of its status as the leader in the Principles and pendence and mobility it Prowess). Gillham has con- predominant urban form in Solutions of the Interna- brings individuals. Those sistently sought to discover America, now and into the tional Urban Sprawl Debate, prizes of wealth can cost the the source, pattern, and man- near future. Rather than Oliver Gillham should be loss of countryside, clean agement of urban sprawl. railing against it, Gillham recognised as a source of air, and pure water. Difficult Do we know what it is? charts its probable future focus and direction in what choices for social Where did it come from? Is course while describing crit- is happening and what will “progress.” That is what it really so bad? If so, what ical efforts that can be happen as a nation experi- Gillham helps us make con- are the alternatives? Can undertaken to alter the ences an era of bourgeoning sciously and responsibly. anything be done to make it future of sprawl and our economic prominence. He As an architect and plan- better? existing urban core areas. has championed understand- ner based in Cambridge, Photos: © Robert S. De Santo That search is the essence Such a strategic understand- ing the history of political, Massachusetts, USA, he of The Limitless City. It is ing of what it is and what social, and economic forces received a Master of Archi- Urban Sprawl creates an unbroken monotony of “ticky-tacky” houses that smother landscape and make mobility by automobile a an accessible examination of controls it can be realisti- that foster urban sprawl, that tecture Degree, with Special virtual necessity.” those and related questions. cally developed to direct its Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 11 City Swimming

the huge exodus from the cities seventy-five years ago. In a sense, it is only logical that Americans should find Upstream fault with where they are today, having come this far down the road. It is only By Jim Lichatowich spring chinook spawning natural that a nation should habitat blocked by the dam. “Fishing and To design the best research begin to treasure what it has hunting gave me a A FEW weeks ago, Matt Murphy asked me to write an program, I started asking lost in abandoning the cities article about my career and what events caused me to spend questions. In particular I love of the and that its people should most of my adult life caring for the Pacific salmon. Respond- started asking questions about outdoors, but change their minds about ing to Matt’s request was not as easy as I first thought. I Oliver Gillham the goals of the hatchery pro- reading Aldo what should be built in the expect most people spend their careers focused on the imme- gram. Not the goals in terms Leopold’s Sand future. But the logic of such diate challenges. We don’t take the time to examine the of the number of eggs to be County Almanac consequences giving us an a process doesn’t mean that motives or search for the inspiration that opened up the par- taken or the number of juve- advantage from which any we, as a nation, should be ticular paths that became our careers. Matt’s request caused niles to be released or even gave me a purpose, population can certainly complacent, either. Prob- me to make such an examination. the number of adult salmon a reason to pursue If I could summarise the last 30 years of my career into one benefit. lems clearly exist, and if left returning to the river. I wanted a career in word it would be story. We tell stories about nature and our “The current malaise is alone, they will only get to know how the hatchery conservation.” hardly new. People in the relationship to it and those stories are powerful regulators of would be integrated into the worse.” how we behave toward the world we live in. Our stories are United States were unhappy management of the Rogue buried deep in our culture and are rarely examined or evalu- River’s large runs of wild with big cities in the early Robert S. De Santo, Ph.D, ated. Gradually over the course of my career I came to realise salmon. How would the natu- part of the twentieth century, Vice President, Chief the overriding importance of our salmon story. I learned that and they were unhappy with ral and artificial production Scientist, and Director of the salmon’s real problem wasn’t the over harvest, the log- systems be integrated so the the first tendrils of sprawl Environmental Planning, ging, irrigation, dams, although they are all part of it. The caused by streetcars in the hatchery compensated for the Parsons Transportation salmon’s problem is more fundamental. It’s our story. loss of habitat above the dam without diminishing the nineteenth century. But the Group, Inc., 655 Winding Like many of the other students at Oregon State University remaining wild population below the dam? How would the level of unhappiness that Brook Drive, Glastonbury, studying fisheries science, I spent most of my early life out- harvest of hatchery fish be regulated to avoid over harvesting exists today is what causes doors, fishing and hunting in all the local wood lots and Connecticut 06033, USA. the wild fish? How would the dam be operated to enhance the change – just as it caused streams. Fishing and hunting gave me a love of the outdoors, survival of both hatchery and wild fish? but reading Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac gave me a I could not find the answers to those questions. The hatch- purpose, a reason to pursue a ery was being operated as though it were independent of the career in conservation. Over ecosystem, so to the managers those questions were not rele- the years, having Leopold’s vant. Not only were there no answers to the questions, I found writings nearby on my book that simply asking the questions branded me as a “hatchery shelf has been like having a basher,” a malcontent. As my career progressed, I became great mentor always in the very interested in this unquestionable status of hatcheries. same room, ready to help. He How did a tool, for hatcheries are just that, a tool, reach the gave me a solid set of princi- status of a “sacred cow”. How did the tool reach the point that ples and a solid story to guide it was improper to ask questions about its use, even if the pur- my professional life. However, pose of those questions was to improve its performance. I I also had some practical lean- started looking for the answers in the history of the salmon ing to do as a biologist. management. For the next ten years my study of the history of When I left Oregon State salmon management occupied much of my spare time. It was University, like most gradu- that study that opened my eyes to the importance of story. ates, I believed that hatcheries The environmental philosopher and theologian, Thomas were a great salmon manage- Berry, tells us that our stories help give meaning and set ment tool. In fact, hatcheries value to the often confusing signals we find in the world. were the solution to nearly all Stories help guide our behaviour to preserve that which we problems faced by biologists in value. Our deepest crises, according to Berry, occur when our salmon management. If stories no longer protect the things we value. My study of the demand for harvest increased history of salmon management led to an examination of the beyond the capacity of rivers story that has guided our behaviour toward these animals. It and their wild salmon stocks, is a story about the control of nature, regardless of the eco- increase the supply by building logical costs. That story has caused us to view ecosystems as hatcheries. If habitat degrada- machines producing commodities for markets instead of liv- tion decreases the productivity ing things with important gifts. It is a story without a happy of freshwater habitats, hatch- ending for the salmon. Eventually my study led to the reali- eries will make up for those sation that the real problem the salmon faced was not the losses. Hatcheries were the tool logging, gold mining, irrigation, dams, pollution, grazing and of choice for nearly every all the other human activities that degrade habitat, although problem a salmon manager these are very real symptoms of the problem. In the later might face. years of my career, I wrote a book about the failure of our My first job as a biologist for story and the need to build a new relationship between the State of Oregon was to humans and the salmon. That task will consume the rest of evaluate the effects of a high my professional life. I will continue swimming upstream. dam on the salmon in the Rogue River in southern Ore- gon. Part of the evaluation of Jim Lichatowich is a fisheries biologist and author of the the effects of the dam was an award-winning book, Salmon without Rivers: A History of assessment of Cole Rivers the Pacific Salmon Crisis. He lives in Columbia City, Hatchery. The hatchery was Oregon, U.S.A., and can be reached at built to mitigate for the loss of [email protected] Page 12...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 New EPA Environmental Impact Guidelines By Tadhg O’Mahony

THE Environmental Protection Agency Proposed Development (EPA) has published “Guidelines on the infor- Dr. Mary Kelly mation to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements”. These new Guidelines are Examine the Impacts on the Environment Newly appointed intended to improve the quality of Environmen- tal Impact Statements (EISs) in Ireland by Director - General, improving scoping and integration of the Envi- ronmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process Significant Likely Positive, Residual EPA into both the design and development control Adverse Impacts or No Impacts processes. An EIS contains the information necessary to enable the relevant Competent Authorities (the By Matt Murphy Propose Mitigation Finalise Design Local Planning Authority, An Bord Pleanála or Measures DR. MARY KELLY has been appointed the EPA) to make informed decisions in relation by an independent selection procedure, as to the permitting of development projects. An specified in the EPA Act 1992, to succeed EIS is the basis of every EIA which should Mr. Bill McCumisky as Director General of ensure that development (e.g. an infrastructural Incorporate Revisions Apply for Development the Environmental Protection Agency project or a new industry) is undertaken in a into Design Consent (EPA). Prior to taking up her appointment sustainable manner. Dr. Kelly worked with IBEC (Irish Business The Guidelines have been prepared following & Employers Confederation) with responsi- wide consultation, with the benefit of a number Figure 1. Environmental Impact Assessment bility for environmental policy. She was, of years in circulation as ‘Draft Guidelines’. upto her appointment, a member of the Experience has shown that the quality (suffi- primary objective of improving the quality of scoping between the parties concerned. Advisory Committee of the EPA. She had ciency and relevance) of the information in Environmental Impact Statements in Ireland. The importance of scoping cannot be over- major involvement in establishing REPAK, EISs is closely related to the methods and pro- Quality improvements will result from better emphasised. It can help to avoid delays caused the industry-led scheme for recycling of cedures employed by the participants. For this scoping and a closer integration of EIA into by requests for additional information. It also packaging waste and was a Board member. reason additional guidance has been provided to both the design and development control provides an opportunity for the exchange of I have known Dr. Kelly for many years address the process that gives rise to the infor- processes. views at an early stage when there is still flexi- through our annual environmental confer- mation contained in an EIS. The guidelines The Guidelines will help to provide develop- bility in the design of the development. ences. She has, during her time at IBEC, stress that EIA (Figure.1) should be a practical ers, competent authorities and the public at Ultimately it helps to increase confidence in the always had a great commitment to environ- and dynamic process of environmental protec- large with a basis for determining the adequacy outcome of the EIA process. All parties should mental care. She is a very determined tion. of Environmental Impact Statements, within the have confidence that the scoping exercise will individual and was prepared to dig in her Figure 1. Environmental Impact Assessment context of established development consent identify the likely significant impacts of the heels with members that took a very lax The Guidelines have been drafted with the procedures. They will also provide a focus for development and that an appropriate assess- ment of these impacts is undertaken. This will approach to the environment. She was superb reduce the time, effort and expense required to in using the carrot rather than the stick. prepare and evaluate Environmental Impact Dr. Kelly is a very worthy replacement to Statements and should facilitate public partici- follow in the footsteps of Mr. Bill pation in the EIA process. McCumisky, who was a m an of the utmost The Guidelines address a wide range of proj- integrity and was dedicated to his work on ect types and potential environmental issues. It the environment. I have no doubt that Dr. must be stressed that all of these issues are Kelly will maintain the high standards that unlikely to apply to every project. Each EIS is a the EPA has attained through Mr. unique result of site specific issues interacting McCumisky’s leadership. with the effects of the proposed development. Recently there has been a very personal The new Guidelines supersede the Draft attack from the environmental lobby on Dr. Guidelines first published in 1995 and take Kelly on her appointment as EPA Director account of the practical experience gained in General. To quote: “We can have very little this challenging area as well as recent legisla- confidence in the EPA under her stewardship tive changes. A period of extensive and it is clear that the sustainability agenda consultation with interested parties and the pub- will not be moved forward significantly with lic was undertaken by the EPA to ensure that the former IBEC spokesperson at the helm.” there was a wide input to the Guidelines. This statement saddens me greatly. The 1992 Environmental Protection Agency Firstly, it attempts to cast a cloud over the Act (Section 72) provides for the preparation by work of the many hundreds of dedicated the EPA of such Guidelines on the information employees of the EPA. Surely, no one can to be contained in an Environmental Impact believe any Director General of the EPA Statement. The Act further provides that those could, if they so wish, influence them in preparing and evaluating Environmental Impact their research work in any way? Secondly, Statements shall have regard to such guidelines. does it now mean that people who have The EPA is also currently revising the Advice worked in the private sector cannot apply Notes on Current Practice (in the preparation of for environmental jobs in the public sector? EIS) and these will be published at a later date. To be in business does not mean being anti- The Guidelines are available from: environment. I believe that the bulk of EPA Publications Office, business people are very pro-environment. Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14. I have been involved for nearly 50 years Ph: 01-2680100; Fax: 01-2680199 in creating an interest in the environment, Cover price is €13.00 through outdoor activities, and in education and research with Sherkin Island Marine Station. The great void throughout most of Further information: this time, as I saw it, was not having an EPA Dr. Gerry Byrne, EPA Headquarters, PO Box in Ireland. We now have one and we should 3000, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford. be very proud of its achievements to date. Ph: 053-60600 Sherkin Comment will, in the coming Tadhg O’Mahony, EPA Regional Inspectorate, issues, continue to highlight the work of the Inniscarra, Co. Cork. EPA and comment on its progress if neces- Ph: 021- 4875540 sary. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 13 Taking Stock After the 25 Years of First 25 Years By John O’Connor

AN BORD PLEANÁLA (The Irish Planning Board) An Bord Pleanála The Board moved to new and larger premises in January has a threefold purpose in celebrating the silver jubilee 2002, at Marlborough Street, of its foundation - firstly, to mark the Board’s achieve- Dublin. ments over its first 25 years, secondly, to acknowledge tion of legislation in relation to the dedicated work of the many people who have served conservation of natural and and continue to serve the Board in various capacities The Role of the Inspectorate built heritage) the Board has and, thirdly, to take stock and ponder our preparedness actively encouraged and for the challenges of the future. This 25th anniversary In order to eradicate the back- within the Inspectorate, mainly assisted the participation of can truly be said to mark a watershed in the Board’s By Tom log, the Board has sought to deriving from the greatly Inspectors in various educa- existence because it coincides with the ushering in of radically supplement the increased workload and engage- tional courses. the new regime under the Planning and Development O’Connor Inspectorate’s resources ment of additional professional Although the essential char- Act, 2000 which changes and greatly enlarges the through the engagement of staff (both in-house and through acteristics of the Inspector’s Board’s role. THE primary role of an more than 40 “fee-per case” consultancy arrangements), in role had remained constant over The establishment of the Board in 1977 was a major Inspector in An Bord Pleanála is consultant planners to deal with 2000 the board obtained the past 25 years, it is also evi- initiative as the appeals function had been with the Min- to inform and advise the board the less complex casework, as approval for the creation of dent that the level of ister since the introduction of the planning system under in relation to appeals and other well as members of 7 planning three additional Deputy Plan- professional expertise and tech- the 1963 Act. By the time of the 1973 Bill, all party matters which are referred to it consultancy firms who under- ning officer (DPO) posts. Of nical competence required to support had emerged in the Oireachtas for the idea of an for decision under the provi- take appeals of a more the four DPOs now authorised, carry out inspections and to independent board to determine planning appeals. sions of relevant legislation. In substantial character. Over the one has been assigned responsi- effectively advise the Board has Working in the Minister’s Office in the late sixties and these matters an Inspector is last few years it has expanded to bility for the management of grown inexorably in parallel early seventies I had first hand knowledge of the pres- required to provide a written include planners from the UK, casework relating to functions with an ever increasing range sures and controversies which deciding individual report and recommendation for Australia, New Zealand and transferred under the 2000 Plan- and complexity of environmen- appeals entailed for Ministers. I think it is fair to say the Board’s consideration and to South Africa. In addition, the ning Act while the other three tal issues to be addressed under that events since have shown that an independent board supplement the recommenda- vast majority of casework aris- are involved in management of both national and European was the right approach. The basic structure of the tion with the specific reasons ing from the transfer of planning-type casework. Union legislation. Similarly, Board as set up in the 1976 Act and reformed in the and considerations for the deci- functions previously performed Appeals are generally dealt the expectations of the Board in 1983 Act, has stood the test of time. The procedures sion (along with any conditions by the Minister for the Environ- with on the basis of written sub- respect of the expeditious deliv- were streamline by the 1992 Act and further refined in which may be required). ment and Local Government is missions from the parties, ery of this wide ranging the 2000 Act. The fact that the Oireachtas saw fit in the From the outset the determi- handled by a panel of 16 inde- together with a site inspection professional service had devel- latter Act to assign very important new functions to the nation of “normal” planning pendent consultants (mainly by the designated Inspector. oped in concert with those of Board is a tribute to the Board’s standing and its com- appeals comprised the principal retired civil engineers of wide Oral hearings of planning the parties directly involved in petence in the discharge of its existing functions. task of the Board. It currently experience). appeals will normally be the matters to be decided. Over the past 25 years the Board has made decisions remains the case, but to a some- The Inspectorate currently directed by the Board only in It is the clear public service on major projects which were controversial. Many of what lesser extent because of comprises 38 planners out of a circumstances where it would objective of the Inspectorate to those that were portrayed as being unduly negative at the the additional categories of complement of 42. In 1977, aid the Board’s consideration of continue to provide a high qual- time can, in retrospect, be seen to have led to much bet- appeal casework introduced when the Board was established a particularly complex case or ity and efficient professional ter solutions. In general, I think it can be said that the over the intervening period. there were 19 Planning Inspec- where significant national or service to the Board in the inter- Board tended to take the longer term and broader view, Taken in conjunction with this tors (assigned entirely from the local issues warrant an open est of facilitating its being removed from some of the immediate pressures significant addition to the range Department of Local Govern- forum for public participation. determination of all matters that can be exerted on local authorities. and volume of casework to be ment). By 1984 the number of However, the majority of “new before it, in accordance with the The organisation and structures of the Board are now discharged, the almost exponen- full-time Inspectors had functions” cases will be the sub- principles of sustainable devel- under review to ensure that we are in a position to properly tial growth in “normal” planning dropped to 9. Following the ject of public oral hearings. opment. discharge both old and new responsibilities into the future. appeals received over recent reconstitution of the Board, the Having particular regard to years and difficulties in relation numbers again reached 19 by the rapidly increasing scale and Tom O’Connor is the Board’s John O’Connor was appointed Chairperson of the to the recruitment and retention the end of 1985. complexity of appeals (many Planning Officer and heads the Board in May 2000 (Article abridged from of a sufficient number of quali- In recognition of the addi- requiring the scoping/evalua- Inspectorate. He is also a commerative booklet) fied planners have posed major tional requirements for effective tion of Environmental Impact qualified architect. challenges to the Inspectorate. monitoring and management Statements and the considera- Manchester City Centre Litter Boat Launch

IN the UK, Manchester city centre’s first and cigarette boxes in the waterways, ruin- Centre Management Company. purpose-built litter boat was launched on ing the potential beauty in the eyes of It is hoped that the craft, a hybrid of two July 15th, sprayed with champagne by beholders. Now the super scooper, with its designs to cope with both the broad and Keith Barnes, Regional Director of Gov- two-metre-wide metal mesh basket, is set narrow canals of the city, will not only ernment Office North West, and Gordon to make a difference. spruce up Manchester’s waterways but McKinnon, Chair of Manchester Water- “Four men used to work with rakes on also send out a strong anti-litter message to ways Initiative. boats, physically taking out the litter by would-be waste chuckers. The boat will The boat is set to become a regular fea- hand, now it’s a two-man job and we can also complement ongoing MWI projects ture as it constantly trawls for trash, do it five or six times quicker,” says litter like the Commonwealth Pledge, in which travelling from the Bridgewater Canal at boat foreman, Terry Evans. waterside businesses are encouraged to Castlefield, through the Rochdale Canal in The British Waterways crew and their clean up their act to earn Bronze, Silver the city centre and up the Ashton Canal to managers have over 100 years of experi- There’s something for everyone, and when and Gold awards. the Commonwealth Games site, negotiat- ences working on the regeneration of the you add the wildlife too what more could “I don’t think you’ll ever stop people ing 16 locks en route. It will enhance region’s canals, and are totally committed you want?” chucking stuff in the canals,” says Terry 11km of water frontage each week, annu- to their task. The boat has been commissioned by the Evans. “But the litter boat certainly makes ally removing hundreds of tons of debris. “It’s great that canals which were Manchester Waterways Initiative (MWI) in it easier and faster to remove.” The popularity of Manchester’s canals derelict and threatening to people have partnership with the Mersey Basin Cam- and waterside developments has increased now gone the other way,” adds Terry. paign’s Healthy Waterways Trust, with a Reproduced from “Campaigner” - A phenomenally of late, but this has also led “They are now open with the multi uses of £146,000 Biffaward from landfill tax cred- magazine of the Mersey Basin Campaign. to people discarding cans, fast food cartons cycling, walking, fishing and boating. its and a contribution by Manchester City www.merseybasin.org.uk Page 14...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32

it is the latter species that is found in bumble- bee nests. G. vitripennis is the species found in wasp nests instead. The specimens from the exhumed human corpse had been deposited in the Natural History Museum in London. Alpha Taxonomy These were re-examined and it was reported in a paper of 1954 that they had been misiden- tified. They proved to be coffin flies, The essential foundation of all studies of applied biology and of Conicera tibialis. The genus Conicera is closely related to Gymnoptera. biodiversity and its conservation I have recounted these confusions to high- light a growing problem with current of heaps of rotting lawn mowings). This data for the taxonomist but further contributed textbooks and computer data bases. Data are By Henry Disney occurrence underlines a growing problem. to the revision of species level taxonomy. being reproduced in these without any realisa- Mankind is, unwittingly, increasingly trans- These sibling/cryptic species may resemble tion that every identification of a specimen is TODAY alpha (species level) taxonomy is porting species around the world. For other each other in appearance but be found to dif- an hypothesis. Every designation of a new commonly regarded as yesterday’s science. examples, I only have to cite a paper in press fer at the microscopic (micromorphological) species or newly recognised synonym is an This is surprising for various reasons. Con- on the scuttle flies of Tasmania. This includes level or molecular (nanomorphological) level. hypothesis. Every assignment of a species to a cern over the urgent need to take more four 'European'’ species. Three of these were Growing evidence suggests that the genus is an hypothesis based upon a set of effective measures to conserve as much as we undoubtedly accidentally introduced from destruction and degradation of habitats by interlinked hypotheses relating to the sup- can of the world’s biodiversity is currently Europe. However, while the fourth was mankind has caused a steep rise in the rate of posed affinities of the included species. hampered by the fact that the best estimates described from Europe (and is common in species extinctions. Species confronted with The chief source of error in textbooks, data suggest that only between 10 and 20% of the Buckingham Palace Garden today), its closest change to their habitat are confronted with bases and scientific papers is the misidentifi- species on planet earth are known to science. relative is an endemic species of Tasmania. I only three options: emigration, adaptation or cation of specimens. Yes, I did say ‘and The smaller a species the less likely it is to be infer, therefore, that it was accidentally intro- extinction. Emigration requires accessible scientific papers’. I have a growing collection known. For example, I study scuttle flies duced to Europe from Tasmania. suitable alternative habitats. Adaptation of papers with intriguing ecological data, (Diptera, Phoridae), which are mostly During the 18th and 19th Centuries the requires time for evolution (adaptive shifts in which, however, I have been obliged to file in between 1 and 5 mm in length, and I continue foundations of our knowledge of the world’s the frequency of genes in populations over my nonsense file - because it is obvious that to turn up species new to science in my sub- species were laid. In the 20th Century our several generations). While a selection pres- the underlying taxonomy is up the pole. For urban garden in Cambridge. Furthermore, I knowledge of economically and medically sure such as a pesticide may bring about a example, an otherwise admirable paper on the have just published a paper on the 75 species important species, as well as of popular relatively rapid evolution of resistance in scuttle fly pests of the cultivated oyster mush- of scuttle fly I identified in a recent collection groups with amateurs (such as flowers, birds many insects, a greater number seem doomed rooms in India is in this file. The reason is that made in Buckingham Palace Garden in the and butterflies), advanced rapidly. The to fail to adapt before local extinction over- the authors named their specimens using the middle of London, and one of these flies increasing use of the compound microscope takes them. The current rates and extent of manual on the pests of cultivated mushrooms proved to be new to science! Collections I am and the scanning electron microscope habitat destruction and degradation seem to be of Europe. They made no reference to the sent from more exotic places are typically revealed that many species that were regarded increasingly tipping the balance in favour of monograph on the scuttle flies of the Oriental dominated by undescribed species. as being widely distributed and/or diverse in extinction. Region. I have now collaborated with three One of the species that is common in Buck- their habits were found to be complexes of In view of these extinctions, I am some- teams of Indian colleagues and sorted out the ingham Palace Garden is an introduced sibling (or cryptic) species. Other advances in times asked whether all the effort aimed at the taxonomy of the pest species of their culti- warm-climate species (which is probably genetics, cytology and in particular molecular documentation of the world’s species matters? vated mushrooms. In their oyster mushrooms escaping frosts by breeding in the warm hearts biology, not only contributed new sources of By way of an answer I offer the following they have three species, two of which proved observations:Taxonomy is an integral part of to be new to science (and one of which has biology. Like the rest of biology it proceeds recently turned up on two oyster mushroom by advancing hypotheses to explain its obser- farms in Poland!) and the third is not in the vations on individual organisms. A typical manual on European pests. In the familiar but- example of a failure to appreciate that taxono- ton mushrooms their pest is a species better mists, like other scientists, are dealing in known from America. hypotheses is to be found in a scholarly book We require correct species identification in on bumblebees. This stated that the scuttle fly order to collate the known biological data on Gymnoptera vitripennis is to be found in the a species and to apply appropriate control nests of bumblebees. In support of this state- measures in the case of a pest species. Thus ment it cites a paper published in 1933. The one of the European species incorrectly author then adds that the same species of fly reported to occur in India can be simply con- has been reared from pupae found on an trolled by keeping mushroom cultures in the exhumed human corpse, citing a paper of dark, as its females will only oviposit in the 1924. While these biological observations are light. Its control, therefore, requires no use of sound the identity of the fly is incorrect in pesticides, unlike the introduced American both cases. How come? In 1933 a second pest species. paper was published in which it was pointed out that two sibling species were being con- Dr. Henry Disney, Department of Zoology, fused under the name Gymnoptera Cambridge University, Downing Street, vitripennis. The newly recognised species was Cambridge CB2 3EJ, U.K. named G. longicostalis. It then turned out that [email protected]

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spectrum of activity, use a variety of communication channels and deal with many of the key issues facing us. In assembling such a portfolio of activity the companies key objectives were to: • Position ESB as an organisation which is encouraging structured and informed debate on the issues of en- vironment and development among all ages and various sectors of society. • Encourage a positive attitude shift towards ESB. • To support the implementation of ESB’s Corporate Environmental “Red Squirrel” Policy and guidelines which seeks Pat Sutton, New Ross, Co. Wexford. to demonstrate the company’s stew- (2nd Prize - Amateur Category - Animal Wonder) ardship of environmental matters. In implementing this sponsorship SHERKIN Island Marine activity ESB set out to actively Station investigates ESB’s engage with audiences of all ages, schools, individuals and committees. approach to sponsorship of In doing so the company aimed to the environment. In an encourage those who participated to interview earlier this year, the focus on the detail of our interaction Company’s Public Relations with the environment. Throughout “Curraghchase - Winter Evening” - Pat Canavan, Raheen, Co. Limerick (3rd Prize - Amateur Category - Wild World) Manager, Barney Whelan the programme the company publi- cised its involvement with each outlined the rationale, the sponsored initiative. • ESB Lanesboro Angling Festival sponsoring activity over many years. do care about the environment in results and the benefits. Included amongst the many initia- • ESB and Birdwatch Ireland The results indicate a significant which they live and they are willing to ESB, the country’s main electricity tives which ESB sponsors are: • ESB Euro Life Demo Project impact on attitudes towards ESB. show this through their actions. In supplier sponsors a number of envi- • ESB Environmental Photography And last but of growing impor- The results demonstrate the impact participating they and their children ronmental initiatives which have Awards tance Sherkin Island Marine Station’s of an integrated approach to sponsor- and neighbours have learned about the received public acclaim and the • ESB Primary Schools Environ- own schools programme and its Cork ship, not only in terms of the actual intricacies of the issues surrounding endorsement of environmental cam- mental Awareness Awards Harbour Initiative. activities but also in terms of design, environment and development - some- paigners such as David Bellamy. • ESB Community Environment Always mindful of a return on what awareness-building collateral distribu- thing which faces ESB every day. ESB’s present activity, current and Awards is a significant investment, ESB has tion and advertising. The key future investment programme and • ESB and Down to Earth Theatre been researching the impact of this outcome remains that ESB customers Barney Whelan is well known for his future revenue stream are inextricably Company involvement in ESB’s Brand activity linked with the country’s economic • ESB Landscape 2000 over the last 6 years, being responsible • development. As one of the key driv- ESB Lough Ree Environmental for ESB’s award-winning “Where do ers of this development, the Summer School we get the Energy” campaign. He generation, supply and use of energy also managed ESB’s extensive poses significant challenges to our environment and that of our neigh- Sponsorship portfolio, receiving the bours. prestigious “Sponsorship Manager of It is of crucial importance to ESB, the Year” at the National Sales and and indeed other generators, that the Marketing Awards earlier this year. debate about environment and devel- His brief at ESB also included media opment be conducted in a structured relations, the company’s internal and informed manner. ESB was one newspaper “Electric Mail”, design, of the first companies in Ireland to ESB’s web presence and event publish an Environmental Policy and management. Barney has now been Guidelines. The company has also appointed as Director of Marketing published an Environmental Report on its interaction with the environment. and Communications for SafeFood, The company has developed a “Floating” The Food Safety Promotion Board, Rory Curtis, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow. “Altmount 2000” one of the six North/South portfolio of sponsorships which tar- (1st Prize - Youth Category - Waterworld) Cliff Hutchinson, Firhouse, Dublin (Amateur Category - Animal Wonder) get all age groups, cover a broad Implementation Bodies.

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be complete), the real work realising that the project is a currents or in deep muddy and biological systems will must begin. This will consist beginning not an end. deposits. react. This is complicated by of a design stage for the next When the plan for the proj- The geography of the other, superimposed factors. phase. What use will we make ect was being formulated, we seabed has an influence on the For example, any middle- of the information? Will we did not regard it as a self-con- paths taken by currents. The aged person who has hand put it to productive purposes tained entity, rather as a currents control the distribu- lined for mackerel, will have or will it be allowed to gather starting point from which a tion of sediments. The noticed that over the last dust on a shelf. This will not multi-disciplinary programme presence or absence of sedi- thirty years the fish have got be decided by the scientific of study could arise. There is ments determines the type and smaller. You do not need to and technical people involved very little point in trying to density of the fauna. consult ICES (International but by our great leaders and map the distribution of organ- At present we are living in a Council for the Exploration of elected officials. isms if you cannot say whether period of global change. We the Sea) publications to come I have heard various people they live in exposed or shel- do not know just what they to the conclusion that their refer to the Seabed Mapping tered areas, among strong will be or how the physical population is decreasing. Project as a scientific research project. I do not believe that it should be regarded as science in the strict sense. Rather it is a preliminary to science. It is exploration. The hills and val- MaMappinppingg leys of the seafloor, the areas of rock outcrop and the plains and sediment deposits are being mapped for the first time. When it is finished we Ray Keary (right), with Mick Geoghegan, on a research trip. will have an appreciation of the geography of our country, is the prime object of the exer- which we never had before. It By Ray Keary cise, there are a number of will also be possible to claim other data sets being collected, that we have a better knowl- THE Seabed Survey which which may be regarded as edge of our national seafloor the Geological Survey is equally important. These than any other nation on earth. undertaking is proceeding include magnetic and gravity Most important probably, we well. According to plan, the measurements and shallow will have some appreciation of main data-acquisition activity seismic sub-bottom profiling. the interaction of the water will be completed this year. All the above are geological in masses with the sea floor. This, of course still leaves an nature but in addition tempera- There is a danger that peo- enormous amount of work to ture-salinity profiles of the ple, in positions of influence, carry out. Ground truthing water column are being col- will regard the project as an end must be carried out and inter- lected and observations are in itself. When it is finished pretation of the results must be they may attempt to draw a line

made on birds and cetaceans. Photos: © Geological Survey of Ireland completed. In addition to the under it and try to divert funds When interpretation is com- RSV Bligh, Primary survey vessel, GOTECH Ltd, alongside at waterford actual seabed mapping, which plete, (if it ever can be said to away from marine science, not Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 19

The fish do not get an opportu- parts are interrelated just as are entific way, would it have any need to be continued for a num- nity to grow to full size before the organs in a body. To under- effect on a world wide scale? ber of years without a break in being caught. The sea con- stand the interrelationships of If the European Union fol- order to collect a meaningful tains a complex fauna and the parts, it is necessary to lowed suit it would be time series. This is the type of Sherkin Island flora, which form a food pyra- have some appreciation of the significant as far as the North activity that does not fit easily mid. This is not a simple overall corpus. In Ireland we Atlantic the Mediterranean, the into the research programmes Marine Station structure. Within it are con- will soon have an overall view Baltic and the North Sea goes. of universities or even of some tained many smaller systems of our submarine geography What effect would this have on government laboratories. They and subsystems. Some of them and geology. And as I have the rest of the World’s Oceans? are forced by the current eco- Environmental Award may be able to continue to already mentioned, an impor- Some time ago the Canadian nomic ideologies to opt for function if the major system tant by-product of the seabed Government got worried about programmes with well defined collapses, others may not. The mapping we will also have an cod stocks and constrained fish- beginnings, middles and ends. 2001 details of this structure, unparalleled series of tempera- ing in the Grand Banks area. It The natural world does not fit in locally, will be influenced by ture and salinity profiles was, apparently, in time to have with these short term ideologies I AM firstly going back to 1869 when the greatest marine scientist of any century explored the waters off Ireland’s west coast. This scientist, Charles Wyville Thomson, who then held the Chair of Geology at Belfast University and the Chair of Natural History at Belfast and Cork, disproved the belief that there was no life ththee FuturFuturee below 300 fathoms in the waters off Ireland’s west coast. He organised the successful Porcupine Expedition and dredged animals from 2435 fathoms and established that the shape and nature of the sea there were coral reefs present. It took over 130 years to floor. re-discover these in 2001. If you take a horizontal layer Thomson went on to organise the expedition on the out of the middle of a pyramid HMS Challenger for a grand three and a half year voyage the top will fall down. If you that took them across 68,890 nautical miles of ocean from seriously erode a horizontal the North Atlantic to the South Pacific. 715 new genera layer, the whole superimposed and 4717 new species of ocean life forms were found. structure may not collapse, but it They registered a depth of 26,850ft in the Marina Trench. will function well below its Nearly 100 years on in 1962 a young geologist, Ray optimum. If you continue to Keary, was appointed as Assistant Junior Lecturer at take away the critical layer it University College Galway. will eventually reach a threshold In 1975 he was invited to become the first marine point. Quantitative changes sud- geologist at the Geological Survey of Ireland. Ray at denly become qualitative, you last started to put his dreams into practice - to explore tip over an edge, and reversal of Ireland’s seabed. the trend is probably impossi- In 1983 I invited Ray and five other scientists from ble. I suggest that this may be Irish Research Institutions to Sherkin to discuss marine happening today in the oceans, research in Ireland. The station published the ideas of with the active assistance of the group under my name because none of the government agencies and inter- participants could sign their name to it without national bodies such as the E.U. submitting it for approval to their bosses, whom we We could probably presume knew would not give their imprimatur. I have re-read that, sometime in the late this in the past few days, especially Ray’s contribution eighteen hundreds or before on exploring Ireland’s seabed. Yes, in the next 20 years the first World War, the biol- Ray delivered his dreams. He was instrumental in the ogy of the oceans was in GSI carrying out the ongoing National Seabed Survey. equilibrium. Fishing still I have no hesitation in saying that Ray Keary is in the depended on sail, steam and mould of Charles Wyville Thomson. If Ray was alive a muscle power. Electronics had century ago he would have been on the Porcupine and made no impact. ICES was 3d image of west porcupine area Challenger Expeditions. Ray Keary is that unique Irish founded about that time and naturalist. His determination, his stubbornness, his has done a lot to create an through the water column. a good effect. Many years and suffers as a result. courage and his wonderful ability to play ducks and understanding of the dynamics These were taken as sound before that the Icelanders began There needs to be a big drakes with authority to get his way means that in a of the fish population. velocity profiles, a necessary to worry about their own cod rethink on this matter. Some hundred years hence, historians researching the great Much of what is known and measure when carrying out stocks and in the face of bully- coordination between official Irish naturalists of the past and their contribution to available is, at best underused. multi-beam sounding. In addi- ing tactics from the British they bodies is necessary. On the Ireland’s marine research will write about Ray Keary’s Each year the European fish- tion there will be an amount of persisted and won the right to one hand the fish stocks are legacy. So I am delighted Ray has accepted our eries Ministers meet to sampling and dredging which control their own stocks. reaching dangerously low lev- Environmental Award for 2001. allocate quotas. In this they will yield bottom samples. There is an interest in the sea els while super trawlers are - Matt Murphy pay lip service to the scientific The seabed topography and in Ireland. This has been supported. On the other hand input of the Fisheries Labora- the water column profiles in demonstrated by the recon- another branch of the public tories. In reality they are particular, could be of use in struction of the famine ships, service interprets E.U. direc- forced to make decisions on a attempting to predict the cycles Dunbrody and Jennie Johnston. tives in such a way that political basis. and dynamics of important eco- This interest could, with educa- exploitation of sea-bed Conservation of the Envi- nomic fish species. The water tion, be redirected into more resources which are neither ronment is the fashionable column profiles will also be pressing topics. In fact the sail- unique nor rare are refused. jargon phrase of our time but useful in attempts to interpret ing ships could be used to carry While it is essential to prevent in reality the decisions made the effects of global warming out many routine oceano- the ultimate oceanic catastro- are on short term, short on the oceanic circulation. graphic tasks. It is important to phe, it is also necessary to sighted, economic and politi- However, there are several realise that having mapped the exploit exploitable resources cal arguments. important questions which have sea floor and the water-masses within acceptable limits. The EU issues directives. to be answered. First of all what it is necessary to continue to Until we know what these These are interpreted and will happen to the ocean if the keep an eye on what is happen- limits are we are wandering in turned into laws by the important food fish species are ing, especially in the the dark and present policies National Government Offices. effectively wiped out? water-mass. A sailing ship will not result in light. These are influenced by the Leaving out the economic could, if outfitted cheaply, carry political attitudes of their Min- and nutritional effects on out a series of routine water Ray Keary is largely isters, the economic demands humanity, will the Oceans temperature, salinity and plank- responsible for the approval of of their budget offices and by stagnate or will some new sys- ton measurements on a series of the ongoing National Seabed ideologies and theories which tem of cycles develop? predetermined stations, at regu- Survey being managed by his are well meaning but have lit- Just suppose we succeeded lar intervals. This could be tle basis in physical fact. in persuading the Irish Gov- combined with a sail-training employers - the Geological Audrey Murphy Photo: © The ocean must be taken as ernment to begin looking at and navigation programme. Survey of Ireland (GSI) - The award was presented to Ray Keary (left) by Matt Murphy, Director, Sherkin Island Marine Station. a whole, in which each of its the Ocean in a logical and sci- This type of operation would until his retirement. Page 20...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32

Here in this tidal pool they lar canons of the Augustinian could protect their ships from order, the ruins of whose chap- seaward storms and from land- terhouse may still be seen ward attacks. immediately to the south. The Vikings’ defensive The floor of this room rep- enclosure (Irish longphort), first resents ground level as it was Medieval Dublin constructed in 841, may have in the thirteenth century. The occupied the eastern end of the constant accumulation of ridge on which the medieval household rubbish and the reg- HAVE you ever wondered town was eventually to grow. ular rebuilding of wooden where exactly the medieval An alternative site would have houses by successive genera- town was located, or why the been somewhere near the great tions of Dubliners caused this modern Irish name for Dublin ninth-century cemetery at level to rise, hence the wealth is Baile Átha Cliath, or why Islandbridge-Kilmainham. of archaeological material that there were two cathedrals in Viking Dublin was probably lies beneath our feet in many the Middle Ages, or why St. the biggest slave market in parts of the medieval core. Stephen’s Green is so called? western Europe, where men and With the conversion of St. Medieval Dublin lies mainly women of mainly Celtic blood Patrick’s Church to cathedral hidden from view, yet the awaited their fate in places as status, Dublin became the only signs are there for those who far apart as newly colonized diocese in Latin Christdom know how to interpret them. St. Patrick's Cathedral from the north. The Minot Tower dates the annual fair lasted for a fort- Iceland and Arabic Spain. with two cathedrals co-exist- Enfo’s ten-point guide to the from c. 1370 and its spire only from 1749. night each summer. Here Much of the external fabric is modern. ing in the same town - one more important visible merchants from elsewhere in 6. Christ Church Cathedral secular and the other monastic. remains can be used either as Ireland and from abroad would list of witnesses to Magna located on the edge of Little Ship Street (medieval a collection of individual items gather to buy and sell, to hag- Carta, the great charter of lib- medieval towns, since charity Sheep Street) presents us with Information on points or as a continuous sequence. gle and strike bargains, to erties presented to King John towards the sufferers was min- a fine stretch of town wall and quarrel and seek justice. By an 7. Cook Street, 8. John’s Lane, of England in 1215. gled with fear of the disease we re-enter the defenses via 1. Áth Cliath interesting coincidence part of 9. Fishamble Street, 10. St. St. Patrick’s was served for itself. St. Stephen’s Green was the site of the Pole (= Pool) The principal north-south this plot was later occupied by Mary’s Abbey, is available on religious purposes by secular the common pasture for ani- Gate at the bottom of Wer- axis of the modern city is rep- the Iveagh Markets. the “Medieval Dublin” fact canons, some of whom were mals kept by the townspeople. burgh Street. Right in the resented by O’Connell Street Keeping the town wall on sheet which, along with other resident in houses nearby and middle of the medieval town and Grafton Street. A suitable your right go down Back fact sheets, is available from all of whom were endowed we find the old cathedral of the starting-point for this journey Lane, the street formerly at the 5. The Castle with some part of the arch- Holy Trinity, better known as ENFO - The Environmental into and through the past takes back of the wall. Dublin’s Dubhlinn took its name bishop’s estate. The cathedral Christ Church. This was Information Service, 17 St. us well to the west of this, to position as an important centre from a dark-coloured pool chapter was headed by a dean, founded c. 1030 by King Sitric Andrew Street, Dublin 2. Tel the junction of Thomas Street, of international trade was (Irish linn dubh) in the lower whose counterpart at Christ Silkbeard and Bishop Dunan, 1890200191 (price of local Cornmarket, St. Augustine reflected in the older name, reaches of the Poddle. Open Church Cathedral was the and the late twelfth century call) Fax 01-8882946 Street and Francis Street. Here Rochel Street, derived from La ground due south of the castle prior of Holy Trinity. The pres- crypt is the oldest standing almost certainly was the cross- Rochelle in western France. still marks its site and is prob- Email: [email protected] ent deanery stands near the site building in Dublin. ing of three great long distance The medieval Tailors’ Hall, ably of great archaeological Fact sheets are also available of its medieval predecessors For most of the Middle Ages routeways: the Slige Mor to incidentally, was located in a potential. For this was the pool at their Website: www.enfo.ie and dates from 1781. Christ Church was served not the west, the Slige Midluachra different part of the town that attracted the Vikings of During the Middle Ages the by secular canons but by regu- to the north and the Slige (Winetavern Street) and the Dyflinn (as they called it). ground around St. Patrick’s Chualann to the south. At low present building dates from Cathedral constituted one of a tide travellers on the northern 1706. route forded the River Liffey number of ‘liberties’ of with the help of rafts of hur- 3. St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, that is to say, areas of private jurisdiction not subject dle-work deposited on the mud Where Nicholas Street turns flats, hence the ancient place- either to the king’s or to the into Patrick Street stood the town’s writ. name Ath Cliath (= main southern gateway of the Hurdleford). The baile prefix medieval town, St. Nicholas’s. 4. Dubhlinn is first documented in 1368. The walled area, even when There may have been a When Christianity came to enlarged in the thirteenth and church on the site of St. this district, the inhabitants early fourteenth century, was Patrick’s, between two built for themselves a church remarkably small (about 44 branches of the River Poddle, dedicated to St. Colum Cille acres) and beyond the defenses from early Christian times and (Latin Columba). Its site is stretched suburbs in every a fourth long-distance route- more familiar to us as that of direction. Nevertheless many way, the Slige Dlia, came Protestant St. Audeon’s. The of the later monasteries, as down The Coombe towards present nave dates from the well as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Poddle crossing. The first half of the thirteenth cen- had their own walled enclo- stream flowing down the val- tury, but new windows were sures, whilst in the fifteenth ley may have been a major inserted in the fifteenth cen- century several ‘extramural’ source of drinking water in tury. The now roofless gateways were provided so as early times. portions give some indication to close off access to the town The Slige Dala from Mun- of the size of what was the at night and in times of danger. ster continued a short distance biggest parish church in late These gateways were a substi- eastwards as the approach road medieval Dublin. tute for an outer town wall to to an ecclesiastical enclosure, protect the suburbs, of the kind whose characteristic shape is 2. Cornmarket that was built for many conti- still preserved in the street South-west of St. Audeon’s, nental towns. One of these alignment from Peter Row across the busy modern thor- extramural gates, St. James’s, round to Johnson Place (now oughfare, you will observe a later gave its name to a famous broken by a modern block of large and rather forlorn piece brewery. flats). This was probably the of medieval masonry. This was Before us now stands the burial ground and inner sanc- part of the defensive town largest cathedral in medieval tum of a monastic settlement wall. The great western gate- Ireland, situated with breath- founded in the sixth century way, known as Newgate, taking boldness well outside and called Dubhlinn (= Black- featured two three storey tow- the town wall. The man pool). The last recorded abbot, ers and contained the town responsible for its creation c. Siadal, died in the year 790. Forthcoming Exhibitions prison. 1220 was Henry of London, Part of this ancient enclo- Beyond the external defen- the second Anglo-Norman sure was occupied in 16 September - 31 October: Irish Energy Centre Energy Exhibition. sive ditch, which measured archbishop of Dublin and a Anglo-Norman times by St. about 40 feet wide and up to masterly politician in his own 1- 30 November: Birdwatch Ireland in association with ENFO. Stephen’s Hospital for lepers. 19 feet deep, lay a mainly right. So important was he that Leper houses were usually unbuilt plot of ground where his name comes second in the Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 21 A Salmon Farm and the Environment

immediately reflected in their numbers. By Jane Twelves Common seals inhabit the relatively shel- tered waters of the east coast of Uist. They can THE anti fish farming lobby frequently criti- be seen every day in the vicinity of fish farms G.S.I. cises the industry for ‘ruining the environment’. and I have counted haul-outs of over 60 seals at I have been running a salmon farm, Salar Ltd, the mouth of Loch Carnan. Very occasionally a with my husband, Eric, in Loch Carnan, South seal may attack a fish farm, but the number Uist, since 1983, but our involvement in salmon involved, as a proportion of the population as a farming goes back to 1974 when Eric set up the whole, is negligible. NATIONAL first salmon farm in South Uist for Booker We regularly see many different species of McConnell, and we see no evidence to back this sea birds, waders and other birds, including claim. avian predators, around the cages and herons When Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and other birds nest close by. Maps Available Now! was first found in scallops in 1999 one of the It has been suggested that where fish cages ‘conservation’ organisations said that fish are sited in the vicinity of reefs, as ours are, Did you know that……. farms were to blame. We immediately went they are beneficial to the biodiversity of the diving and collected scallops in 2 places, in reefs because the nutrients from the fish farm ...... Ireland's seabed area is 10 times the size of its Loch Carnan close to our fish farm and in Loch replace those which are removed from the land area? Eynort where there are no fin fish farms. We ecosystem in the form of fish and shellfish...... in its deepest areas you could hide complete gave the scallops to the Environmental Health The largest source of organic pollution in the mountain ranges? Officer of Western Isles Council who sent them seas off northern Scotland is dead and dying ...... most of it is unmapped and unknown? for analysis at FRS Marine Laboratory in seaweed. The largest standing forest of sea- ...... it represents a large untapped resource of great Aberdeen. The ASP level in weed in Europe occurs off the potential to many sectors? Loch Carnan was found to be 4 west coast of the Hebrides. ug/g and in Loch Eynort it was Each year many millions of In others words 90% of Ireland's territory is 5 ug/g. There is no correlation tonnes of these algae are torn underwater, undeveloped and undiscovered! between ASP and fish farms; from the seabed by winter gales this conclusion is borne out by or fall off during the annual research at Dunstaffnage May cast (deciduous seaweeds Marine Laboratory in Oban. drop their fronds in May). The So how can we learn more about it? At Salar we have always been nutrients are re-cycled in the ...... a comprehensive survey of Ireland's entire careful to monitor the environ- natural course of events and the seabed is currently underway. ment of Loch Carnan to ensure seas have mechanisms to do ...... it is a multibeam sonar survey of an area of that our activities do not have a this. Dead seaweed and other 525,000 sq. km in size. detrimental effect. Since May marine matter accumulate in 1998 we have regularly sent hollows and dips in the seabed ...... it is one of the largest surveys of its kind ever undertaken anywhere in the world

samples of mussels which grow Twelves Photo: © Jane where they rot down often under our fish cages to the Envi- anaerobically in localised sites Otter holt close to salmon ronmental Health Officer of cages in South Uist of natural ‘pollution’ and the Who benefits? Western Isles Council to be nutrients are released. It is analysed. As a consequence Loch Carnan is essential for the dynamics of the marine ecosys- · Marine industries e.g. fishing, mineral and oil/gas classified as Grade A with respect to mussels and tem that nutrients are recycled, otherwise the exploration, marine engineering and the results of tests for PSP, DSP and ASP in the seas will slowly die. infrastructure, renewable energy developments mussels have been consistently below the maxi- Each year many millions of tonnes of nutri- and marine policy-makers mum permitted levels. ents are removed from the sea in the form of · Marine biologists and research groups e.g. Our family has fished for crabs, both green fish and shellfish, and there has to be some universities crabs and velvets, in the loch and around the replacement. · Marine heritage and protection cages for the past 19 years, from a year before Today salmon farms are better regulated than · EVERYONE! Yes everyone! Irish society as a almost any other industry. SEPA regulates and the fish farm began. There has been no reduction whole benefits from all of the above. in catches over this period of time which can be monitors the amount of fish food that can be attributed to the fish farm - indeed the fishermen used so that when nutrients, in the form of fish have recently enjoyed bumper catches. food, are introduced back into the marine A wide range of data is being collected from the survey The local scallop divers find their best ecosystem there is little adverse impact in the and many different types of products are resulting from catches close to fish farms, they have a theory vicinity of the farm. SEPA has the power to the data. The primary products are bathymetric (water that scallop spat settle on the cage nets, grow close down any salmon farm which does not depth) and seabed classification maps of the Irish and fall to the seabed where they continue to conform to it’s standards. offshore. Maps are available now in paper and digital grow to commercial size. Salmon farms turn low grade fish into deli- form. To learn more please contact: The two freshwater lochs where we rear the cious and highly nutritious fish. young salmon have been constantly monitored, Salmon are demanding fish. They will not sur- Enda Gallagher, first by the Environment Monitoring Unit at vive in anything other than a high quality fresh Geological Survey of Ireland, Stirling University and then by the Scottish water or marine environment. Salmon farmers Beggars Bush, Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). have to operate to the highest standards, they From the information we get back regarding have to respect the environments in which they Haddington Road, nutrients, we have regulated our usage of the grow their fish – otherwise their fish won’t grow Dublin 4. lochs at sustainable levels. We have used these and they will go out of business. Simple as that. lochs since 1986 and 1988 respectively. The reason that critics of the industry are Tel: 01 604 1381 There are otters holts close to all our sea wrong to say that salmon farming has caused Fax: 01 604 1436 cages and otters use the freshwater lochs where massive environmental damage is that the we also have cages. I have monitored the otter otters, seals, birds, crabs and scallops would http://www.gsiseabed.ie population in the vicinity of fish farms in South have disappeared long ago from areas around http://www.estore.ie/home/gsiestore for purchasing online Uist since 1974 when the first salmon farm was salmon farms if it had. being set up. There has been no reduction in holt usage by the otters over the years, despite Jane Twelves, Salar, The Pier, LochCarnan, some fish cages being merely a few metres South Uist, Outer Hebrides HS8 5PD, from holts. Otters are the top predators in the Scotland. ecosystems and any adverse effects would be Page 22...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32

Flora Hibernica to gain a greater understanding of Kyoto Protocol, the first interna- J. Pilcher & V. Hall tional agreement, placing legally Collins Press, 2001 binding limits upon greenhouse gas emissions from developed coun- ISBN: 1-903464-03-X Publications of Interest tries. The intriguing report gives a €31.75(hb) step by step discussion of the proj- Anyone who has explored the ect, with vital aspects and key Irish countryside will know how events clearly boxed off. The tables problems behind the issues, dis- This beautifully illustrated and are essential if we are to conserve beautiful and diverse the flora is. Collins Wild guide – and graphs enable the reader to gain cussing adaptations by many com- photographed book provides a declining numbers of wildlife, es- This natural assemblage is the a greater understanding of the in- munities, then giving guidelines, The essential beginners comprehensive guide to ‘mothing’. pecially our over fished oceans and product of succession since the end formative text. Throughout this re- possible solutions and case studies. For any enthusiast who wishes to seas. Also the management of man of the last glacial period and this guide to British wildlife port it offers opportunities for This is a well laid out book and the study and enjoy moths in their nat- is as important as the decrease of book discusses the flora with refer- tackling problems that will arise wide use of diagrams and tables HarperCollins Publishers, 2002 ural habitat there are sections on species, as this goes hand in hand. ence to this in a clear and concise and encouraging future action. gives a very interesting and thought ISBN: 0-00-713716-8 finding moths in the daytime and at This book shows the legal implica- format. After a detailed introduc- provoking discussion. night with the responsible use of tions, with the planning and man- tion and timeline outlining the £12.99stg light traps. Techniques for finding agement of such sites. Giving Trees of Britain and events of the past 10,000 years, This book is an introductory and rearing caterpillars in captivity ideas on how to fund and manage, Northern Europe each chapter describes a different guide to the flora and fauna of Collins Wild guide – are described and useful hints on this book is a must for anyone in- habitat and the main species asso- Britain and covers a large number Dinosaurs – The essential how to photograph the colourful terested in marine protected areas. Alan Mitchell & J. Wilkinson ciated with them, accompanying of bird, flower, tree, mammal, rep- group provided. The book pro- HarperCollins Publishers, 2001 this text are excellently shot pho- beginners guide tile, amphibian, fish and insect vides a wealth of information and tos, capturing the beauty of land- species. ISBN: 0-00-219857-6 Adam Yates techniques to enable any moth en- Vision for water and scapes and specific species. Beautifully photographed, this thusiast to enjoy this fascinating nature £14.99stg HarperCollins Publishers, 2002 simple guide provides the reader group as fully as possible. Once again Collins publications with several important basic facts IUCN, World Water Vision, Groundwater and Society : ISBN : 0-00-712286-1 have produced an excellent guide on nearly 500 species, including WWC CME £8.99stg to field taxonomy. Using the same Resources, Tensions and behaviour and range. There is also The Natural History of IUCN, 2000 easy-to-use keys as their other This colourful guide is highly a month by month guide describ- Opportunities Moths pocket guides, the format allows informative and imaginatively il- ing when you can expect to see the ISBN: 2-8317-0578-9 both the professional and amateur J.J. Burke & M.H. Moench lustrated and includes 120 genera species and where to watch the M. Young £12.00stg botanist to easily identify a tree in of dinosaurs. The animals are wildlife. United Nations, 2000 T. & A.D. Poyser, 2001 This book is a compilation of 3 the field. The book covers a wide grouped into 3 sections covering The book comes complete with ISBN: 92-1-104485-5 workshops, entitled ‘Of the Devel- range of habitats; woodland, different periods of the Mesozoic a protective plastic cover as it is in- ISBN: 0-85661-103-4 era. Each genera has an accompa- opment of the Vision for Water and hedges, parks, gardens and town US$19.00 tended to be taken out in the field £31.95stg nying ID fact file, which includes Nature’, held in Zimbabwe, Thai- streets, and geographical locations To most communities and soci- to help with identification. With details such as diet, distribution The use of many diverse and land and Costa Rica in 1999. All within Northern Europe. For all eties groundwater is the only source over 500 pages, the Collins Essen- and body weight. The guide addi- fascinating examples of moth biol- focusing on management of the species excellent drawings of of water they may have, making tial Guide to British Wildlife tionally provides a brief introduc- ogy and ecology taken from both freshwater ecosystem, each bore a crown, bark, shoot, leaf, flower groundwater a very important dis- would be a perfect companion to tion to the evolution and biology of the amateur lepidopterist and re- different impact issue respectively. and fruit are provided along with cussion issue. Groundwater is sig- the nature lover. the dinosaurs as well as a thorough cent scientific research make this a These were social security, eco- detailed descriptions designed for nificant not only due to water’s use list of web sites and other refer- comprehensive guide to moth nat- nomic security and environmental identifications and general interest. in and around the home, but also for ences for further information. This Enjoying moths ural history. Feeding, distribution security. Physically we cannot sur- it’s use in industry and more impor- essential beginners guide is suit- and life history to pheromone at- vive without water and, as dis- tantly, agriculture. Thus declining R. Leverton Flowers at my feet able for older children and adults traction of mates and anti-predator cussed, with 50% of our wetlands water tables and polluted aquifers as it is a descriptive and easily un- T. & A.D. Poyser, 2001 responses are illustrated fully. The having disappeared within the last Bob Gibbons & D. Woodfall are having a huge impact on society derstood introduction to dinosaurs. conservation problems faced by century, it is time we took action and the environment. This book ISBN: 0-85661-124-7 moths and the causes of species de- against anymore loss and thus HarperCollins Publishers, 2002 discusses in depth the roles and £26.95stg clines are put forward with possi- managed our water consumption. ISBN : 0-00-220213-1 ble preservation techniques. The This compilation discusses the is- £24.99stg combination on enthusiasm, gen- sues of our increasing water intake eral knowledge and scientific re- and our inability to replenish what This book provides a botanical search has produced a book that we are taking. Overall very in- tour around much of England and Recent EPA Publications received includes something of interest for formative and educating about a Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The all moth lovers. topic that we must tackle. book concentrates on areas where native wild flowers have a foothold, € despite their constantly shrinking Air Quality Monitoring - Annual Report 2000 (2002) ...... 20 Nature Conservation Conifers habitats. It also gives examples, however, of wild flowers can make Peter Marren Aljos Farjon & Ireland’s Environment - Envirotrends - Facts on Five Key Issues ...... Free successful comebacks, such as the Christopher N. Page HarperCollins Publishers, 2002 recolonisation of former pitheads in European Waste Catalogue and Hazardous Waste List (2002) ...... €7 ISBN: 0-00-711306-4 IUCN, 1999 County Durham, England. ISBN: 2-8317-0465-0 The book is divided into sec- £34.99(hb) & £19.99(pb) tions representing the different Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000 Nature Conservation is a mod- Price: £15.00stg areas, with an introduction by a fa- ern naturalist book, giving a valu- As part of the IUCN’s Plant Ac- mous contributor, for example (including River Quality Map & Lake Quality Map)(2002)...... €30 able insight into the different tion Plan and funded by numerous Magnus Magnusson introduces aspects of conservation today. It international bodies, the book aims Scotland enables the reader to gain a clear to provide an “Action Plan to ad- Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000 Statistical Compendium of picture of the progression of nature dress conservation issues of conservation from 1970 through to conifers on a global scale”. Re- Cambridge Illustrated River Quality Data (diskette) (2002) ...... €10 modern day. It is effectively di- gional issues are addressed, mainly glossary of Botanical terms vided into three parts offering the with reference to the taxa featured M. Hickey & C. King Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000 - River Quality Map (2002)...... €10 opportunity to obtain knowledge in the global red list of conifers. on the societies responsible, the Ten historical overviews are pro- Cambridge University Press, € different wildlife habitats and vided and backed up by many ta- 2000 Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000 - Lake Quality Map (2002) ...... 10 mans attitudes towards wildlife bles, diagrams and photographs, ISBN: 0-521-79401-3 using interesting and informative which enable the reader to easily Expert Group on Lead in Silvermines, Co. Tipperary: Interim Report (2002) ...... €10 language and high quality photo- understand the threats and strategies £18.95stg graphs. required for sustainable manage- This book achieves it’s goal of EPA 2001 - A Review ...... Free ment of forest systems. This book de-mystifying the botanical termi- offers an extremely interesting ac- nology used in the description of Guidelines for Marine count of the importance of conifer vascular plants very well. It com- The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland 2001 (2002) ...... € 7 Protected Areas ecosystems in terms of global biodi- prises of two complementary parts. versity and as a human resource. The first part is a glossary of termi- Adrian Phillips Guidelines on the information to be contained in nology. This cross references to the IUCN, 1999 Climate, biodiversity, and second part of the book which com- Environmental Impact Statements (2002)...... €13 IUCN Publications Services prises beautifully illustrated exam- Unit, 219c Huntingdon Road, forests ples of many of the glossary terms. This combination provides for a Cambridge CB3 ODL, UK. Paige Brown much more accessible book of ter- ISBN: 2-8317-0505-3 World Resources Institute and All available from: minology than many other glos- £16.50 IUCN, 1998 saries or dictionaries of botany. EPA Publications, EPA Regional Inspectorate, Richview, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14. This makes the book perfect for Tel: 01-268 0100; Fax: 01-268 0199; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.epa.ie These guidelines aim to show ISBN: 1-56973-285-X the various steps that countries those embarking on a career in £13.50stg A cheque or postal order should be enclosed for the price quoted. Credit Cards accepted. should take to help conserve their botany and for those who simply coastal line, sub-tidal and terrain. Climate, biodiversity, and forests wish to expand their knowledge of The set up of these protected areas offers the opportunity for the reader wild or garden plants. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 23 The Dunes at Tramore Photos: © Declan McGrath

water between the cliffs on either and fascinating in its description of By Matt Murphy side. On its landward side the five- the geology, plants and animals of kilometre beach runs the length of the Tramore Bay. TRAMORE (Co. Waterford) and inner bay. In the flora section of the book the its beaches have been a mecca to hol- Tramore has been designated as a author explains how the blown sand idaymakers for many decades. What Special Area of Conservation (SAC) on dunes and mud on salt marshes many do not realise is that this beau- due to the presence of Priority Habi- provides the ground necessary for tiful area has a very distinctive flora tat and Fixed Dunes with Herbaceous plants to germinate, grow and mature. and fauna, and its impressive sand Vegetation (Grey Dunes), where rare We learn that the ground is invaded dunes are an important feature of the and threatened flora and fauna are by colonists, usually in the form of south coast in general. Natural sand present. The flora of Tramore con- seeds brought in by wind, animals or dunes are a limited resource, com- tains four Red Data species: sea kale, even the sea, but plant fragments can prising only about 0.2% of the spring vetch, sharp-leaved fluellen also suffice for some species for surface of the country. They are of and bee orchid. which the sea is an agent of dispersal. great scientific interest because of the The depth of its natural history is Most plants require special adapta- distinctive flora they contain. contained in Declan McGrath’s tions to survive in these difficult The bay is an almost rectangular “Tramore Bay, Dunes and Back- conditions. Many dune plants have Main picture: Looking across the Backstrand towards the Malcolmson basin with around 1000 hectares of strand” - a book of immense detail long root systems, sometimes extend- embankments; Top left: Sea Campion; Top Right: Shelduck; ing to over one metre in order to Above: A map of Tramore Bay, the dunes and Backstrand. maintain a constant water supply. Full Colour Printing There are wonderful descriptions of and the Backstrand, and each species The treatment of sewage at some of the plants. The sea sandwort, has special adaptations when search- Tramore is archaic. Waterford Brochures, Reports, a small low growing perennial plant, ing for food in its own particular County Council drew up plans in the sea rocket, which depends on the niche. Tramore is internationally 1990 and three outfalls were consid- Magazines sea for dispersal of its seed, the prickly important for one particular wintering ered. The one chosen met with local Leaflets & Booklets saltwort, groundsel, sea beet, spear species, the brent goose, and is nation- objectors, who included the Salleen’s thistle, sea mayweed are but a few of ally important for several others. Awareness Group, the Tramore Envi- the many dozens of plants to read ronment and Tidy Town Groups, and about with lichen, mosses and fungi. especially Maureen O’Carroll, the The Tramore area, and especially Tramore Town Councillor. They suc- ceeded in having the outfall the Backstrand, is important for three “Natural sand dunes are types of birds: waders (shorebirds discharging 2000 metres into the bay. who wade about in the mud in search a limited resource, This book is a wonderful source of of food), wildfowl (mainly ducks and comprising only about information on the precious heritage geese at Tramore but also grebes and 0.2% of the surface of the of Tramore Bay. Anyone visiting the swans) and seabirds. Landbirds also country.” area will find it will give them an occur in some numbers at times. The insight into its natural habitats. I vast majority of the birds seen at highly recommend Declan Tramore do not breed there and are McGrath’s book and I have no doubt present in the winter months only, that people who live in Tramore will though numbers gradually increase in The account of the dump (landfill), have a better understanding, when autumn and slowly decrease in spring. which began in 1939, makes one they read the book, as to why their Food availability is the main attrac- wonder who allowed such a develop- area is an area designated as a Special tion of all birds for areas like ment in this wonderful amenity area Area of Conservation and needs spe- Tramore, though factors like the open in the first place. That it is still in use cial care. nature of the area, its relative inacces- is even more mind-boggling. The “A Guide to Tramore: Bay, Dunes sibility, the availability of safe annual waste input is estimated at and Backstrand” roosting sites and freedom from 10,600 tonnes. A draft license was by Declan McGrath. Price €14.00. Victoria Cross, Cork attack by predators are also of impor- issued by the EPA in April 2001 for ISBN: 0-9541062-0-2 tance. The birds find food in the form three years only - with the proviso Telephone (021) 4545655 of invertebrates in the mud and sand, that dumping can only take place ver- Matt Murphy, Editor, Sherkin Facsimile (021) 4342996 edible plant material on the mud sur- tically and that no lateral extension is Comment and Director, Sherkin face and fish in the channels, the Bay allowed. Island Marine Station. Page 24...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32

and are capable of identification. Specimens of the unidentified are collected and pressed for further study if required. Photographs are taken and illustrations made. Notes for publication and for further use are carefully filed. The constant effort to keep plant labelling up to date pro-

Photos: © Grace Pasley ceeds apace. Meanwhile behind the scenes the nursery is busy with the Herbaceous border season’s cuttings. Plants are con- the luxuriance of summer replaces stantly being replaced. Some die of the freshness of spring. Summer is old age or disease, from competition when the gardener reaps the rewards or extremes of climate. Some just of winter and spring effort. Prepara- outlive their relevance or are victims tion and planning now has its of fad or fashion. Some will be rewards. Each season is different. required next season in new plantings Last year the bearded irises were at at Glasnevin or in one or more of the their best. This year Lilium henrii is gardens in State care. Some will be Allium giganteum (Family beds) spectacular, celebrating that most grown for the horticultural shows if temporary summer feature. These famous of Irish plant hunters, Augus- where Glasnevin has exhibits. In the By Donal Synnott borders have featured decorative veg- tine Henry. The giant Himalayan lily glasshouses there are continuous dis- etables like Swiss chard, kale and red (Cardiocrinum giganteum) will plays of exotics. The alpine house AMONG the glories of the lettuce, as well as sunflowers and flower at Glasnevin in the summer, continues to have colourful displays National Botanic Gardens in summer other exotics. The exotic look has commemorating its very first flower- though the flush of spring alpine are its herbaceous borders. The cher- been enhanced by Canna lilies from ing in cultivation also at Glasnevin plants has long passed. Some Vireya ries, magnolias, tulips, daffodils, South Africa and banana plants from one hundred and fifty years ago. The rhododendrons extend the flowering bluebells, anemones, wallflowers and Japan. Early summer sees a burst of Chatham Island Forget-me-not season in the west wing of the Turner rare alpine plants of spring have shed flowering trees and shrubs. The hand- (Myosotidium hortense) has overwin- House while the South African bulbs, their flowers and are building up kerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) tered in superb condition. Its striated heathers and proteas vie with Aus- reserves for the next season. Summer and the Foxglove tree (Paulownia dark green glossy heart-shaped leaves tralian wattles and waxy gum trees in Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Cleopatra’ (Car Park planting) responses to stressful living condi- tions in the arid lands of the world. The Great Palm House of 1884 is being restored and will be a building site for the next two years. The palms, orchids and other tropicals are stored in every conceivable space in Summer at Glasnevin the Nursery area. Building projects apart, summer at Glasnevin is a is the season of the geranium, del- tomentosa), both from China are are spectacular, promising a feast of the East wing. Primitive conifers and delight. The sun and rain of an Irish phinium, aconite, poppy, crocosmia spectacular in May. Garden beautiful blue flowers. Nearby, blue cycads in the centre remind us of the summer conspire to keep the plant and the several hundred herbaceous hawthorns and apple blossoms follow poppies from Nepal will vie for the age of dinosaurs. The giant Amazon displays fresh and colourful in a set- perennials that make up the tradi- on. Laburnum blooms as Wisteria visitor’s attention and strange sax- Water-lily produces its extraordinary ting of lush green lawns. tional herbaceous borders. In recent fades. The first roses burst into ifrage relatives challenge our large dish-shaped leaves from mid botanical knowledge. Summer is a years a new exotic summer border bloom. Variation in the green colour May to mid October. Succulents from Donal Synnott, National Botanic has been put in place as an additional of the spring leaves becomes less as busy time for the botanist as well as the Old and New Worlds demonstrate for the gardener. Summer is when the parallel evolution in different plant Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, majority of plants flower and fruit groups and illustrate evolutionary Ireland.

Victoria amazonica (Water House)

Sempervivum guiseppi (Family beds) Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 25 ProProttectingecting RRomania’somania’s LostLost WWorldorld

diversity – the Trust’s 100-hectare orchard at The Trust and Romanian conservation groups Malâncrav holds more than 200 wildflowers! have joined forces in the “Sustainable Transylvania’s flowery meadows comprise a sig- Sighisoara” campaign: to halt Dracula Land nificant cultural element, integral to the churches theme park, a grandiose scheme backed by and villages. And they are undoubtedly the best politicians, including Romania’s Minister of lowland meadows to survive in Europe. A Tourism. Not only would the park damage Photos: © John Akeroyd Photos: © John colourful mix of wiry grasses and 20–30 yellow, ancient woods and wood-pasture, but also this An old Pear blooms in a traditional Saxon farmyard. pink and purple peaflowers – sainfoin, dwarf district has few roads, hotels or other tourism place of vampires and legend, home of Bram brooms, clovers and vetches – dominate the infrastructure. Dracula Park, so its supporters By John Akeroyd Stoker’s blood-sucking Count Dracula. In fact, sward. White Ox-eye Daisies and Dropwort and claim, will attract tourists, jobs and prosperity – 15th century warlord Vlad the Impaler, on crimson Charterhouse Pink, known locally as but the proposals are unfeasible and the sums A FEW weeks ago I sat on a rustic bench in whom Dracula was based, was far more vicious, ‘Blood of the Holy Virgin’, dot the grassland. On don’t add up. Nor would it benefit local people, front of a small country pub, beneath an old pear spearing Turkish prisoners and political oppo- steeper slopes grow true steppe plants: magenta slowly rebuilding their lives after the Commu- tree. Before me spread a timeless village scene nents on sharpened stakes. The old walled city Russian Viper’s-bugloss, Yellow Flax and Nod- nist era. The Saxon lands need sustainable at the quiet end of a summer’s day. The wide of Sighisoara, Vlad’s birthplace, lies in Saxon ding Sage, with tall bowed purple spikes. Blue, activities: organic farming, traditional but living dusty street was unpaved and flanked by narrow Transylvania, a district extending south and brown, copper and fritillary butterflies flutter crafts, and village tourism – harnessing the greens on which chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks south-east to Sibiu and Brasov. To this remote over the flowers; lizards and slow-worms wrig- skills of local people. The villages will regener- and guinea-fowl scratched and grazed. The region, while we English were invading Ireland, gle between grass tussocks. Everywhere is the ate and prosper only if we encourage pavement alongside the houses was of rounded came robust, hard-working immigrants from hum of insects, and towards evening crickets small-scale economic and tourist development cobbles. A wooden hay-laden wagon pulled by a Germany to defend Hungary’s eastern marches shrill noisily. Corncrakes, whose crek-crek fish- in sympathy with the landscape, its intangible strong brown horse stopped and the carter against enemies from the east, of whom the ing-reel rasp is almost gone from Ireland, creep sense of place and atmosphere of history. ordered a bottle of beer. He chatted and joked most terrible were the Tartars and Turks. Tartar through longer grass, from where their evocative with passing friends as he drank from his perch raids ceased only in the 18th century! call joins the pwhet-my-lips liquid of numerous Dr John Akeroyd, who is still active in Sherkin on the wagon. As I too enjoyed the last of the My Romanian visit was with colleagues from quail. Flooded cart-ruts are home to Fire-bellied Island Marine Station’s wild plant surveys, has fine summer evening, a procession of cows, the Mihai Eminescu Trust, a UK charity that Toads, whose presence in EU countries merits been visiting Transylvania since 2000. For horses and goats came up the street from pas- immediate Special Area for Conservation (SAC) works with local Transylvanian people to con- more information visit: www.sighisoara.com ture, each beast peeling off as it came to its own status! It is all magical but so terribly fragile. serve the ancient churches and village and www.eminescu.org.uk yard door. It was an almost medieval scene, cer- farm-houses, and to promote traditional build- tainly one from the novels of Thomas Hardy. ing, local crafts and country products. Much Even the wayside weeds were of a sort now rare village architecture dates from the 18th century – but widespread in pre-industrial Europe. – “flattened cart entrances, shingled lynch- I was in Romania, in Transylvania, a land of gates, hipped roofs and rows of gables … here rolling hills clasped within the southern bend of and there with a rather daring frill of baroque”, the Carpathian Mountains. Some of the coun- as travel-writer Patrick Leigh Fermor noted in tryside has been modernised, but unspoilt the 1930s. Alas Saxon numbers today are landscapes survive. Southern Transylvania is diminished, most having returned to Germany – like a backdrop to the stories of the Brothers after 800 years – in an exodus fueled during the Grimm – old settlements, arable plots, grassland 1980s and 90s by German government financial and woods of hornbeam and oak where wolves incentives. Most of their houses are taken over and bears still roam. Fortified churches erected by Romanians and Gypsies, so village life con- by medieval German settlers guard sleepy red- tinues, but it needs support and investment. tiled villages surrounded by a summer garden of My contribution has been a botanical survey in massed wildflowers that colour road-verges, and around the villages of Viscri and Malâncrav. hay-meadows, pastures and hillsides. It is a I am astounded at the sheer richness of plant Klinge Pharma produces bulk pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals for the treatment of diseases. We are strongly committed to environmental protection in all our operations.

We wish Sherkin Island Marine Station continued success with their valuable contribution to environmental awareness and protection. Street scene in Viscri, with unpaved road and Saxon houses – each a small farm with yard and barns through gates to rear. KLINGE PHARMA

Flowery grassland, arable and woods Killorglin, Co. Kerry form a wildlife-rich mosaic. Tel: 066 9792600 Fax: 066 9792606 email: [email protected] www.klinge.ie Hornbeam woods, still home to wolves and bears, extend to edges of villages. Page 26...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 J

Captain Cockle and The Pond u Abridged in four parts - Episode Two - THE LAND OF THE GIANTS

Far away in the distance, a giant man as tall as the n tallest skyscraper was hauling on a fishing rod that seemed to soar up and pierce the clouds. The giant pike broke the surface, bursting towards the sky, twisted and fell back into the water in an explosion of spray like a i

leaping whale. Again and again it rose and fell, until the o giant reached out with a landing net as big as the biggest fishing trawler ever carried, and pulled the struggling, wriggling fish out onto the headland of the tall, tall cliff that was only the bank of a pond! r Away in the distance, miles away it seemed, Jenny could make out a farmhouse on the top of a wide track. The giant picked up the fish and strode towards it, his footsteps thumping though the water like earthquakes. "He's taken ROVER," cried Jenny. "What ever will we P do?" “We're in a right old mess this time!" admitted Captain Cockle, back aboard the Cormorant. "Unless we can get enough electricity to expand to full size we'll be stuck a like this!" "But where are we going to get electricity from?" g asked William. "There are all sorts of things we could tap into if we could get up off the bottom and onto the shore. Even the power from a couple of torch batteries would give us e enough electricity to run the motors and fly like a heli- copter for a while, since we are so small." So Captain Cockle brought the Cormorant to the sur- s face and steered for the shore to hide the Cormorant in

the drain leading down from the house. A tall mountain of piled rushes rose out of the water and reached up to a level with the tall cliff that was the edge of the pond. "Right Catherine, you stay here with Jenny while I take William off to get a battery or something and look for ROVER. We won't be gone long." J "Just a minute Horatio," said Dr Cockle, crossing her arms. "Jenny is a wildlife expert and I am a doctor. We

will go and try to get help and find Rover, while you stay u here. You know it makes sense." And she stepped out onto the deck of the Cormorant, taking Jenny to climb the reed pile into the terrifying monster world. n After what seemed like a hundred nervous miles, the great block of the farmhouse loomed close on the hori-

zon. The path broadened out into a flat plain, and across i the plain an enormous red door split the rear wall of the

farmhouse in two. o To the left of the door two mountainous black refuse sacks leaned drunkenly against the wall. The bottom of one was ripped. Torn food wrappers, old potato peelings r and a few crushed tin cans spilled out onto the concrete. "Hmmm. Very messy!" observed Dr Cockle. "I won- der what did that?" But she didn't have long to wait to

Sketch: © John Joyce find out, because suddenly, from the middle of the tear in the bag, out popped the head of an enormous rat. special metal wires inside the outer hull of the submarine P "Granny! Run!" By John Joyce - shrinking the Cormorant until it was less than a metre Grabbing her grandmother's hand Jenny pulled her to long, and himself a little over five centimetres tall! safety, through the triangular opening of an empty can of The story so far: Captain Cockle - retired sub- Good Lord! At that size the pike could chop him in Cola! mariner and inventor of the Cormorant - an two with one bite of its enormous jaws! All at once, out a For a moment there was silence, and then suddenly the amazing flying submarine that can shrink to the of the corner of his eye, Captain Cockle caught sight of hairy snout of the rat rammed itself through the opening, size of a sausage at the touch of a button - has a spinning, flashing metal object whizzing towards him

two huge teeth locked on the edge of the metal, and the g at great speed. The pike saw it too! It jerked to one side, crashed into a lake after being struck by light- rat began to bite through the soft aluminium! opened its terrible jaws and . . . snap! . . . all hell broke ning. Together with his wife Dr Catherine Will Dr Cockle and Jenny escape the giant rats? loose! Cockle, and their grandchildren Jenny and Find out in the next episode - Attack of the Swans The pike twisted, spun and jerked, thrashing up bil- e William, they were trying to repair the Cor- - only in Sherkin Comment. lowing clouds of mud. Captain Cockle suddenly knew morant when a giant fish, bigger than anything what the spinning metal thing was. It was a fisherman's

ever seen before or since, burst out of the dark- lure, with a deadly three pronged hook, now firmly stuck Abridged by the author from “Captain Cockle and the s ness, swallowed Captain Cockle's ROVER robot in the pike's jaw! Pond” published in Ireland by Poolbeg Press and camera and turned on the rest of the crew . . . "The pike has been caught by an angler. It's being available from all good bookshops. dragged out of the water. We're saved!" Captain Cockle struggled free of the weeds and "But what about ROVER?" called William over the Visit Captain Cockle and friends online at glanced back at the gigantic pike. How had this hap- radio. www.cockle.com pened? The lightning bolt must have energised the Captain Cockle swam to the surface and looked up. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 27 Weathering the Storm

Ask a friend to play the game. You A sail boat leaves home early one morning will each need a marker each and a to sail around the island. It meets a lot of dice. Take turns to roll the dice, trouble along the way, before eventually moving the required number of spaces returning home again. Delayed by Seek Steady rough and following the instructions as you shelter at Sailing weather go along. The first to arrive home different Home Miss a turn Steady port Sailing safe and well is the winner! Wind Go back to 33 1 changes 22 33 Steady direction 32 2 Go back to 32 Sailing 25 Steady 31 3 Steady Sailing Sailing 30 4 Broken sail rope Back 2 spaces Steady Sailing 5 29 Steady Sailing Follow wind Go forward 6 to 30 28 Steady 7 Sailing Steady Forgot Sailing27 Compass Back to 8 start High winds Go back to Steady 22 26 IR23 9 Sailing

Steady Excellent Sailing 25 10 sailing wind 25 10 Go on to 14.

Steady24 11Bad storm Sailing Go back to 9

Kept on 23 12Steady correct 23 course Sailing Go on to 27 13 22 13Always wore Steady lifejackets Sailing 21 14 Go on to 17 21 14Steady Misread map Go back to 20 15 Sailing 17 19 16 Follow wind 18 17 Rip in sail Go forward Steady Steady Go back to to 25 Swamped by Steady 12 Sailing wave Sailing Go back to 9 Sailing Page 28...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 A Story of Great Courage from the RNLI

Join “Storm Force”, the RNLI’s club for young people, and you will be sent an exciting members’ pack filled with lots of goodies. Four times a year you will receive the action packed Storm Force News magazine full of exciting stories, paintings, ideas or jokes from Storm Force headquarters.

To join just send your name and address, with a cheque/P.O. for €6.35 to: Storm Force HQ, RNLI, 15 Windsor Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Tel: (01) 2845050 Fax: (01) 2845052 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rnli.org.uk

Reproduced from “Storm Force News”, the RNLI junior members magazine. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 29

Everyone is familiar with the plants that grow on land, but plants also grow in the sea. These plants are called seaweeds and they belong to a group known as Algae. Seaweeds play an important role on the shore, providing food and shelter for many animals. Seaweeds Though there are many shapes and sizes of seaweeds, they are divided into three main groups, depending on their colour. These groups are the greens, the browns and the reds. All three groups can be found on the shore, although sometimes the brown seaweeds are so much bigger that they often hide the smaller reds and greens.

A typical seaweed

reproductive bodies - involved in producing new individuals

air bladders - help some seaweeds to float leaf-like upwards in the fronds absorb water water and make food for the plant a thick vein or midrib

stipe or stalk holdfast - anchors the seaweed to the rock

AIR BLADDER MAIDENS HAIR ALGAE MIDRIB BOOTLACE WEED MIDDLE SHORE BROWN OARWEED CHANNELLED WRACK PEPPER DULSE CORAL WEED PURPLE DULSE DULSE RED EEL GRASS SEA LETTUCE ENCRUSTING SERRATED WRACK Fill the words on the FROND SPIRAL WRACK left into the grid GREEN SUGAR KELP IDDEN REASURE HOLDFAST THONG WEED H T above. Answers on page 31 LINK FROND VELVET HORN With the help of the clues, find the answers to the LOWER SHORE puzzle. Then fill in the well-known saying below using the All seaweeds belong to one of letters from the puzzle. Answers on page 31 three groups: green, brown and ABCD Plants of the Sea red. Underneath each seaweed 1 S It protects your foot is their colour and group. Why not colour them in! 2 P Two of a kind 3 I One you look up to 4 R "…falls mainly on the plain" 5 A Land lacks moisture 6 L A body of water inland 7 W The force behind the sail 8 R A precious stone Sea Lettuce 9 A A burning substance Dulse (green) 10 C Nearly or completely motionless (red) 11 K A frame flying on a string

C11 B1 D6 A7 C3 A8 C10 D7

Oarweed (brown) B11 A1 D10 D8 C1 D8 A1 C11 D11 B5 Bladder Wrack Thong Weed (brown) (brown) Page 30...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32 GoldGold VVentureenture ProjectProject toto earnearn aa GoldGold AAwardward

Sandra Wright is from Ballinspittle in County Cork, is a student at the College of Commerce in Cork and is very active in the local community as a youth and ‘tidy towns’ leader. She is proficient at playing the flute, has participated in the local musical and keeps fit at the leisure centre with swimming. Sandra has displayed her caring skills by helping at an orphanage in Romania and by raising £10,000 to buy much needed supplies. Sandra was named as “Kinsale Young Person of The Year”. Sandra’s President Award Leader was Ursula McWhinney from Kinsale Community School. This is Sandra’s story. President Mary McAleese, accompanied by her husband, In relation to this we started which, although they had been where I thought I would possi- presenting Gaisce awards to Sandra Wright (second from left), By Sandra Wright to prepare for our trip. This, in worn, were still in great condi- bly turn around and come Rachel Moloney and Kevin Boyd. itself, was a set challenge for tion. Some medical supplies home again. I found this very and three times worse. But to there was no hot water, play- Preparation me and I had to think long and were also collected. Over all, strange as nothing even them this may not have been room equipment (as no hard about fundraising activi- with funds left over from pre- remotely like this had ever the case. However, when we playrooms existed), books, a For three years I was a ties. Within time, ideas came vious years, we left for happened to me before. How- went to visit the three in lot of medicines, things like Gaisce participant and I about and a number of events Romania with a total of about ever, I made it to Bucharest Galazts, which is where I first soap and shampoo etc, outdoor received my Gold Award in took place. My co-ordinator £10,000. but the strangeness I felt went, living condition were play equipment, helmets for February 2001. As part of the and I held an Easter raffle, Following this, we organ- would not go away at all. My very good but because it was children who bang their heads award I had to complete a ven- within the school, and many ised our flights and all went first impression was the amaz- my first visit I was shocked by off walls and also washing ture project. The requirement prizes were sponsored. A total well. We got a good deal and ing beauty - it was night time what I viewed and could not machines - the list was endless! to complete this is stated on of about £500 was raised. we flew out for a cost of about but the lack of green in the believe my eyes. I did cry but We travelled back down to the information booklet as a Mairead Healy, the teacher I £360. This money I scraped grass - which I noticed even I was able to hold back the Bucharest - three hours away - ‘hiking journey’ or as a would be accompanying to together by childminding and though it was dark - really sur- tears until I left the building. I so that we could go about ‘cycle’. As I felt that charity Romania, also held a cake sale working around my home prised me. realised that although I was looking for all of the items was, and still is, such a worthy for the people of Kinsale. On throughout the year. After this On the first day we travelled overwhelmed by it I loved it. required. We went to the metro and needy cause I took it upon the 25th of June I held a church it was just a matter of time to ‘metro’ - that was like a On the next visit to the sec- again and bought many of the myself to ask a teacher within collection in my local area and before my venture and chal- large shop where you could ond orphanage I was able to toys and playroom equipment. my school if perhaps I could raised at total of £550 towards lenge would begin. buy in bulk and where every- contain myself a lot better. The money, which I had venture with her to Romania our journey. This made people thing was great value. We This place, however, had the fundraised, paid for these. We and work as a volunteer. We very aware of my venture and returned to Galazts again - this discussed this and realised that the reasons for it and to my The Venture of My Life trip was done over and over this should be a good chal- delight many people very gen- Once the time had come I again; all in all, we travelled lenge to use as a Gold Award erously donated sums of was, I must admit, very nerv- for about five days of our trip. venture project and also an money to the fund - which, of ous about the trip, as I really It took us well into the follow- excellent experience - one that course, were not rejected! I had no idea of what to expect. ing week to get the things to I could share with other stu- also got together about £200 As we flew over I found their rightful place as all the dents. worth of children’s clothes, myself almost at the stage relevant forms etc had to be filled in properly to ensure that nothing would go astray once we left. We also went to the psychiatric hospital and at this hospital there was one newly built section, which was beau- An account was taken of what was needed at each orphanage tiful - but to be honest the old and this was purchased in Bucharest. one now consists of three to a bought 45 pillows for a psychi- bed with lots of leaky walls atric hospital located up in and very little light within the Please take out a Galazts. The following day we building. The people who run travelled up, in the mini bus, it are doing their best - it is just which we had the use of during the way it has turned out. our entire stay in Galazts. We The food over there was the subscription to visited the Child Protection nicest I have ever tasted. The Agency - this was necessary in weather had me melting it was order to get permission to see so hot and the people seemed the children and to ascertain quite nice. However, I found “Sherkin Comment” just what might be needed. In the language to be the hardest I Photos: © Sandra Wright Photos: © Sandra doing this we had a bit of diffi- have ever heard in my life. For culty but soon they were glad most effect on me and would the two weeks I was there to see us once they realised just draw me back there over and (from the 1st to the 14th of what our intentions were. over again! Here there were August) I learnt very little of In Galazts there were three thirteen babies, most of whom the language. Overall I really orphanages with approxi- were healthy, and these babies enjoyed my trip and would love mately thirty-five children in were swaying in their cots - for to go again as I found it to be a We need your each. Prior to this, only stimulation. I saw one child of real experience and most defi- months earlier, all these chil- about two years of age scrape nitely a challenging challenge! dren were in Nekerest - which all her stomach and another I would like to thank everyone support. we also went to visit. It was a bang her nose and make it who offered me help and assis- dump of a place where one bleed just for attention and this tance to achieve this venture. hundred and twenty children really shocked me. all lived together with no hot In the third orphanage there Further information on The water, where hygiene would were older teenagers - but they President’s Award – Gaisce have certainly been a problem looked about ten or eleven can be had from: and where a lot a love would years of age. There were also John Murphy, President’s have been needed. The place some really ill children with was very bad and the toilets!! I hepatitis ‘b’ and ‘c’ etc. During Award – Gaisce, Dublin could not even bare to look at our visits we took account of Castle, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 them. To me no matter how what was needed and a list was 4758746. Or look up the many bad things I could say made which consisted of all web site: www.p-award.net about the place - it was that forms of clothing, boilers - as click on “Profiles”. Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32...... Page 31 AppleApple andand SpiceSpice BakBakeded SeafSeafoodood

Autumn flavours and a plentiful sea harvest make this a great “back to school” dish.

Ingredients 700g/1½ lbs cod fillet 2 cloves garlic - crushed 1 tablespoon curry paste 1 tablespoon chutney 1 small apple - grated

Yoghurt Sauce 1 small carton natural yoghurt mixed with 1 tablespoon skinned, diced, cucumber and the zest and juice of half a lime Salt and freshly milled black pepper

Method Add garlic, apple and chutney to curry paste Coat fish and chill for 10 minutes Bake fish for 15-20 minutes at 190oC/375oF/Gas 5 Serve with yoghurt sauce You can substitute any firm fleshed white fish - pollock, monk or gurnard

Serves 4

S SERRA TEDWRACK EP E A I VE LVE THORN Visit the LINKFROND G E A A I RB LADDER TL A Sherkin Island Marine Station website THONGWEED S UR SCH http://homepage.eircom.net/~sherkinmarine C SUGARKELP BROWN O ECURL K F R OARWEED RP L F BOOTLACEWEED A MNEES

ANSWERS FROM PAGE 29 ADDULSEET

MIDRIB U D N < Seaweeds Seaweeds < DLC

PEPPERDULSE RED Well-known saying: “The world is my oyster” my is world “The saying: Well-known NEU

SS

8. ruby; 9. acid; 10. calm; 11. kite. 11. calm; 10. acid; 9. ruby; 8. CHANNE L LEDWRACK T 1. sole; 2. pair; 3. idol; 4. rain; 5. arid; 6. lake; 7. wind; wind; 7. lake; 6. arid; 5. rain; 4. idol; 3. pair; 2. sole; 1. ALI

M I DDLESHORE GREEN

∨ ∨ RAG Hidden Treasure Hidden LOWERSHORE Page 32...... Sherkin Comment 2002 - Issue No. 32

often likened fly casting to the game of bowls. Both allow you to watch in a sort of slow motion as either the bowl or the fly moves towards the tar- get. But unlike in bowling when you have to walk up to LLeeaarrnniinngg ttoo FFllyy FFiisshh retrieve the bowl, in fly fish- ing, you make another cast. By Peter do and then learn the various What is it that makes fly fishing, the fishing is very Unfortunately, a lot of the techniques of casting a line. fishing so interesting? When much your own responsibility - older fly fishermen in the past O’Reilly I have not yet met an fishing other types of tackle, and pleasure. You must be able fostered the myth that unless all-round angler, who has fished lets say deep sea fishing for to see/spot the fish or know you were an extremely gifted for salmon, trout, coarse fish or example, it is very much a team where it is lying, make the cast, and talented person you could CATCHING fish is not fish- pike or sea fish, that after hav- effort. An error on the part of control the fly movement, ing, it is hunting. So there is a never learn to fly fish well. ing mastered all types of tackle the skipper may mean a lost hook the fly and play and land Nothing could be further from difference between learning to and fishing methods, did not fish or may be no fish at all. In it all by yourself. Coupled fish and learning to catch fish. the truth. Any normally prefer to fish with a fly where it coarse fishing, companions with that is the satisfaction you co-ordinated person who First, you must acquire the was practical. To the best of my help make the trip or at least get out of fly casting. Using a appropriate rod and line for the wants to learn can master the knowledge, there have been no add greatly to the enjoyment. spinning rod may be fun but fly basics of fly casting in a few kind of fishing you are going to exceptions to that statement. But with fly casting and fly casting is pure pleasure. I have lessons with a competent Flyfishing in Ireland instructor. Of course there is always something new to learn; new casts and different techniques. This is one of the fascinations of the sport. But,

to be able to use a fly rod to Photo by Rod Calbrade: © catch a fish - game, coarse or Fishing the Dry Fly for River sea - requires only a few hours Trout of good instruction followed up by plenty of practice in the taper. Thus a double taper subsequent days and weeks. number 5 floatling line So where do you begin. First (DT5F) will be much lighter you must get yourself a suit- than a double taper number 12 able fly fishing outfit. When floatling line (DT12F). The selecting a fly rod line and reel, A.F.T.M. scale of lines now the wisest method is to bring goes from 1 to 15. someone along whom you Basic guidelines suggest know is competent to advise that if you are going to be you. Even then, it is a good using small flies trout fishing, idea to know and understand where delicate presentation is what to look for. We are look- necessary to avoid frightening ing for matched tackle. A a fly the trout, then you will need outfit must always be matched. light lines such as a number 4 The fly line is a long flexi- or 5 line. If you are lough ble weight that unrolls when it fishing and using a three fly is cast, carrying the fly on the cast, then common sense sug- end of it. You would not try to gests that you will need a carry a heavy piece of machin- heavier line, say a size 6 or 7. ery on a small pickup truck, But if you are salmon fishing, nor would there be any sense using big heavy flies, tube in using a 16 wheel low-loader flies or Waddington shanks, truck to carry a piece of light then you will need a number furniture. So it is with fly 11 or 12 line to do the job effi- lines. A light line is not capa- ciently. ble of transporting a heavy fly The rod is the next consider- to the target, nor is it practical ation and must be matched to to use a very heavy outfit to the line. You could not cast a 5 cast small flies. ounce weight with a light spin- For example, if you are ning rod. A rod designed for spring salmon fishing in Janu- casting a 5 ounce weight will ary and using a heavy 3 inch not load up with a 10 gram brass tube fly, a small Flying “C”. The same applies A.F.T.M. No. 4 double taper to fly rods. The rod is matched line just could not carry the fly to a specific weight of line but out over the river. And a heavy almost all well designed rods floating line such as a double will handle a line one weight taper No. 12 used with a little lighter or heavier than the one dry fly would develop so much that matches it perfectly. speed and land on the water On almost all modern fly with such a crashing impact rods, there is a label affixed that it would defeat the whole above the handle that says the purpose of using a tiny fly. rod is matched to a No. 5 line Most people select their fly or a No. 10 line - or whatever. fishing tackle in reverse order. Once you have determined They first buy the fly rod, then what flies and line you need, the reel and the line and finally then look at the label to select the flies. That is wrong! What a matching rod. should first be determined is At least, that’s the theory! the size of the flies that are to be used. Then choose the Peter O’Reilly is author of weight of line that will com- “Flyfishing in Ireland” fortably transport them. Lines ISBN: 1 873674 35 X are weighed by calculating in Price: €25.39 grams the first thirty feet of each, not counting the front