SHERKIN COMMENT Issue No. 51 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2011 Hannah Hauxwell’s Legacy The Antipodes Islands & their Albatross An Afternoon on High Island (Ardoilean) Torsc Teo Ireland’s First Cod Farm The unique legacy of a remarkable woman An insight by Julia Baer into subantarctic John Gore-Grimes visits a unique island off the An innovative project becoming an integral is explained by Anthony Toole. 5 Antipodean Albatross research. 8 North West coast of Connemara. 12 part of Ireland’s aquaculture industry. 23 Centre pages: IRELAND’SIRELAND’S Hidden Depths Photograph Paul Kay:: Compass Jellyfish 2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHERKIN COMMENT 2011 Issue No 51 Contents Editorial EDITORIAL: The Skype Generation..................................2 Matt Murphy argues for a teamwork approach to help stop the stem the flow of emigration. The Skype Generation Copeland Bird Observatory ......................................3 Established in Co. Down in 1954, Oscar Merne ing members. It is perhaps time for co-ops or existing projects, offering over 300 new looks at an observatory still going strong today. By Matt Murphy to re-evaluate their roles and again become jobs. They could not be assisted due to the the leaders and the promoters of local enter- EU Directive. The Directive operates as a Meet Me in St. Louis............................................................4 We are engulfed in the midst of a seri- John Akeroyd gets a tantalising glimpse of North prise. This initiative must come from its blanket prohibition, without regard to sci- ous financial crisis, our youth see no ordinary members and shareholders in the entific or site specific factors. In many America’s native wildflowers and vegetation. prospect of work and 50,000 of their num- knowledge that their family’s future instances there is no environmental Hannah Hauxwell’s Legacy ..........................................5 ber are emigrating to seek employment in depends on them. adverse issue and the current approach The unique legacy of a remarkable woman is Canada, Australia and other parts of the Co-ops have professional management needs to be appropriately addressed. In world, leaving behind 450,000 of their fel- explained by Anthony Toole. and corporate structures, command huge stating that we point out that Sherkin low countrymen and women unemployed. financial and human resources. They are Island Marine Station has promoted envi- Business Development in Inland Fisheries Ireland ......6 We are being drained of our most produc- ideally placed to invest and actively partic- ronmental protection since its foundation tive and talented resource, as many of our Ciaran Byrne on Inland Fisheries Ireland’s aims ipate in the many good and worthwhile in 1975. Its record on monitoring pro- youth will never return. The social fabric to develop the business potential of angling. local projects and ideas struggling to get grammes on plankton, the rocky shore, of our country is being destroyed with off the ground. Unless initiatives such as terrestrial plants is well known. It has Greening the Built Environment ..................................7 cities, towns and parishes suffering the this are pursued the only way many will undertaken educational programmes for The fourth & final article from Walter Mugdan closure of local pubs, post offices and see their children and grand children in the schools and has a extensive list of publica- on the evolving “green construction” movement. shops. Countless communities are finding future will be on Skype. tions of environmental interest. it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain The Antipodes Islands & their Albatross ................8 New policies and incentives must be It is the role of government to untangle sporting and social activities, due to loss of An insight by Julia Baer into subantarctic applied at National level and with public, the net that is choking the development of players and participants to emigration. private and institutional participants work- the aquaculture industry. There are, for Antipodean Albatross research. Many of our youth, currently in Second ing together. No one sector or organisation example, over 500 license renewal applica- Promoting Duhallow’s Local River ........................10 and Third level education, accept emigra- has all the answers and a teamwork tions currently awaiting a decision from the tion or unemployment as their unavoidable Patrick Fitzpatrick on how a local rural approach offers the best chance of success. licensing authority. What is not realised is fate. This level of low morale must not, development company are restoring their river. In this regard there is a glimmer of hope that French companies now own nearly 40% and cannot be allowed to continue. that may offer a template for many other of Irish oyster farms and as other Irish oys- Ireland’s Wild Flowers Magnificently Revealed......11 There is a huge sense of anger at the sectors of the economy where jobs can be ter farmers get older they will also sell their John Akeroyd on a landmark book in the study of behaviour of bankers and developers who created. Recently the Department of Agri- farms. In five years time 60% of the farms the Irish Flora. were largely responsible for the present culture, Fisheries and Food published a will be foreign owned and by 2020 over state of affairs. There is also a realisation An Afternoon on High Island (Ardoilean) ............12 strategy report, “Food Harvest 2020”. This 85%. The reason for the take-over is simple, that the regulators, who were supposed to Ireland has unpolluted crystal clear waters, John Gore-Grimes visits a unique island off the oversee the banks, failed miserably in car- report lays out a vision for Ireland’s largest superior to any in Europe. This demon- North West coast of Connemara. rying out their duties. Against this indigenous industry namely the agrifood strates that the vast potential of the industry unregulated background, together with and fisheries sector which collectively City of Ships ............................................................14 is recognised abroad and yet we fail to massive bank bonus payments, cheap employs some 150,000 people with an Daphne Pochin Mould Cork Harbour’s history. realise this and its long term economic ben- credit and a get-rich-quick mentality, peo- annual output of over €24 billion. The efits, instead the industry has been totally Groundwater Quality in Ireland 2007-2009............15 ple spent as if there was no tomorrow. Report was prepared by a committee of 31 hampered by red tape, some of it from the Matthew Craig on working towards achieving Consumer products were purchased with people from various public companies, EU in Brussels. In similar fashion potential water quality targets for 2015 & 2021. credit and massive loans were taken out to organisations and semi-state bodies. Rec- ommendations were made for ten specific also exists in salmon, trout, turbot, cod, sea Ireland’s Hidden Depths....................................16/17 fund the acquisition of properties, both at home and abroad. It was assumed that sectors, mainly agriculture, horticulture, urchins and abalone farming. Sherkin Island Marine Station’s latest publication. matters would continue, in this fashion, seafood and related activities. Aquaculture is but one area where signif- World Class Facility in Ireland ..............................18 into the foreseeable future and that the At Sherkin Island Marine Station for the icant jobs can be created. Commercial past 35 years, we have been particularly fishing is another and has vast added value Michael Guiry’s taxonomic database Algaebase.org much heralded “soft-landing” would ensure that everything would be fine in the vocal on the potential for environmentally potential. Marine tourism such as angling, Redfishes & Rockfishes in Irish & European Atlantic end. It was not to be and could not be. sustainable marine and seafood sector sailing and adventure sports can also be part Waters ......................................................19 Massive mistakes were made, crimes com- development, thus certain aspects of the of the increased job mix. The sea is a Declan Quigley on a large sub-family of fish. mitted and billions in debts placed on the Report are to be very much welcomed. resource, which can provide sustainable The seafood target output envisaged for ongoing jobs. Let us now use it sensibly and Beware - Landgrabbers at Work ..............................20 shoulders of our blameless youth for gen- 2020 is €1 billion per annum. The current sensitively for the benefit of our people and Alex Kirby on the price being paid by some in erations to come. We must now learn from the mistakes of value of output is €700 million. Aquacul- the protection of our pristine environment. order to produce food. the recent past, stop the blame game and ture volume output is expected to increase If one were to ask if Ireland can step Control of Hottentot Fig on Howth Head ............21 consider how best to repair and develop by 78%. A startling fact in the Report is back from the edge of the economic Working to stop the spread of this aggressive our still great nation – and great nation it is. that 88% of fish caught in Irish waters is precipice, the answer must surely be that it can. There are areas of opportunity – the invader. It must be remembered that the evolution by non-Irish vessels, with very little, if any, landed in Irish ports. Increased land- sea is but one. It requires vision and leader- Marine Fisheries - Tested to Destruction ..............22 of the Celtic Tiger had its roots in the self- sacrifice, community spirit, and prudent ings in this country would create ship. We must rally to the cause so that the Edward Fahy gives his thoughts on the subject. management of earlier generations, who additional jobs on-shore and would com- export of our human talent is stopped. This Torsc Teo Ireland’s First Cod Farm ..........................23 remembered past periods of recession. Let pensate, to some extent, for the depletion is the key factor to our recovery.