69th MEETING OF THE FOYLE CARLINGFORD AND IRISH LIGHTS COMMISSION Wednesday 7th September 2011 @ 11am Loughs Agency Offices, Carlingford Attendees Present Tarlach O’Crosain (Chairman) Jacqui McConville (Vice Chair) Joe Miller Alan McCulla Thomas Sloan Jim Wilson Denis Haughey John Byrne Winston Patterson Brendan Byrne Enda Bonner In Attendance - Loughs Agency John Pollock – Director of Corporate Services John McCartney – Director of Conservation and Protection Gerard Mills – Director of Development Barry Fox – Director of Aquaculture and Shellfisheries Laura McCready (Minutes) 1. Apologies John Mulcahy Derick Anderson – CEO 2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate record. Proposed Winston Patterson Seconded Denis Haughey 3. Reserved Minutes The reserved minutes of the previous meeting were agreed. Proposed Winston Patterson Seconded Denis Haughey 4. Matters Arising Chairman welcomed all to the 69th Meeting of the Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and advised the Board that Fishery Inspector Seamus Cullinan had had an accident at home on his farm and had received some serious burns and was currently in the burns unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The Board asked that a letter be issued to Seamus to wish him a speedy recovery. Best wishes were also conveyed to the CEO who still remained on sick leave. 5. CEO Report As the CEO was currently on sick leave there was no CEO report and all issues were covered in the Directors reports. 6. Directors Report The Board were provided with updates from the Senior Management Team each giving a brief overview on their respective areas. Aquaculture and Shellfisheries Barry Fox, Director of Aquaculture and Shellfishes provided the Board with the following report; Native Oyster Fishery The Agency has received 58 applications for licences for the 2011/12 oyster fishing season. To date 38 of these have been approved. Licences will be issued from the Greencastle Community Centre on the 8th and 9th of September 2011. We are continuing to submit samples of oysters from the Southside Bed to Cork University who are analysing them for the presence of Bonamia on a monthly basis through the EU Oyster recover project which aims to help the recovery of oyster fisheries affected by Bonamia. Seed Mussel Surveys The Agency conducted seed mussel surveys in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough in July and August. No seed mussel was found in either Lough. Options paper for Lough Foyle Carrying Capacity Model The Board will note from their papers the options paper for the delivery of a carrying capacity model for Lough Foyle. Once the options have been fully investigated I will report back to the board on the Agency’s preferred option. Biotoxin and E.Coli sampling The Board will note from their papers the report on Biotoxin and E.Coli sampling. Issues have arisen with securing samples from sites that have been under production in both sea loughs over the past months. These samples must be taken to ensure that the sites remain open for harvesting. As you will see from the paper supplied the Agency proposes to place stack boxes in the areas where samples are taken to ensure a constant supply of mussels and oysters for analysis. Proposed water bird survey for Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle As part of the Appropriate Assessment of Lough Foyle & Carlingford Lough under the EU Habitats Directive it will be necessary for Loughs Agency to collect information on waterbird species presence/ absence and density. By comparing data from aquaculture sites with non-cultivated areas, in house collection of this data by Loughs Agency, would allow for assessments to be made of how waterbird populations may affect or be affected by aquaculture activity on Carlingford Lough. Management Agreement The Agency on the Boards instruction has written to the relevant Ministers and Sponsor Departments voicing the Agency’s concern over the lack of progression of the management agreement. To date no response has been received other than a confirmation that the correspondence has been received by the Ministers office in the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources. Jim Wilson asked if it would be helpful to meet Pat Rabbitte TD. Barry advised that this may be helpful. Chairman stated that Barry Fox should arrange a meeting with the Minister, Barry and a few members of the Board. Bonamia Ostreae Infection in Lough Foyle The Agency continues to monitor oyster beds to identify the extent of the spread of bonamia. Monthly samples are being taken to monitor monthly infection levels. This is being done collaboratively with University College Cork. Conservation and Protection John McCartney, Director of Conservation and Protection provided the Board with the following short report; At the last Board meeting the levels of violence and intimidation were highlighted to the Board, sadly this theme has continued although on a more sporadic basis throughout the season. The more recent attacks have again been at Lifford and staff will be preparing files for prosecution for assault and obstruction against individuals. The violence has also been seen at Sion Mills were recently masked man attacked a patrol of Private Riverwatchers from the Sion Mills Angling Club who had been trained by the Loughs Agency. This matter continues to be investigated by PSNI. Winston Patterson commended the great work of the Agency’s Fisheries Officers and Private Riverwatchers. Board Members asked that their best wishes and thanks be passed on to the Fisheries Officers and Private Riverwatchers who had been attacked. Consultations An updated schedule of regulations in development and consultations is attached for discussion by the Board members. Regulations on making possession of an altered carcass tag are due to be passed by the next NSMC. The Loughs Agency Trout strategy and the Agency consultation process are both out to stakeholder and public consultation. Health and Safety Since the last Board meeting there have been a number of recorded assaults, all of which are the subject of ongoing Agency or Police investigations. There has also been a small number of minor accidents including a minor burn, cut hand and a cut head all of which have been the subject of investigation by the Health and Safety Committee. Fish Counters 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Faughan 3322 2302 668 689 586 965 750 Finn 8071 5455 2941 2027 2099 126 1725 Sion Mills 8451 8355 339 1884 7226 1140 999 Roe 1877 1074 3749 2464 879 1665 1559 Corrick 1228 39 173 133 342 21 45 Newry Not Not Not 38 available available available 171 55 180 Omagh Not Not Not 43 available available available 109 176 55 Chairman expressed his disappointment at the fish counter figures considering the commercial fishery had been closed for a few years and this didn’t seem to have a significant impact on the number of fish returning. John McCartney advised the Board that there had been an improvement in the River Roe and Faughan in 2011. John advised that he had hoped that the Agency should see an improvement next year but this was also dependent on sea survival. Jim Wilson expressed his concern in relation to the River Mourne and River Finn counts and asked if there were any further conservation measures that could be put in place. John McCartney advised the meeting that in the Owengarve and Reelin rivers in 2009 there was a decline in redds so in 2010 the Agency turned over and cleaned the gravel and the initial indications are that there are significantly more redds. John added that the Agency are awaiting the electrofishing results for the juvenile population to get a scientific basis. John also advised the meeting that he had intended to set up a group along the same lines of the Strule Tributaries and Rivers Trust with the angling clubs and landowners of the River Finn to tap into local knowledge. Enforcement Actions In 2011 so far, Agency staff have dealt with 40 rod related offences, and 37 seizures. Agency protection staff have also seized 136 illegal nets, 7 boats, 2 cars as well as various other items including a fish trap, 5 knives, hatchets, hammers and batons. Staff have dealt with 56 pollution incidents, and taken 8 sets of statutory samples. The seizures are illustrated on the map below; Environmental Issues The number of high severity pollution incidents is down on previous years, and so far this year there has only been one fish kill in the Bessbrook River which is currently being investigated by Agency staff. All of the fish kills that occurred last year have been before the courts and the Agency and its partners have convicted all of the polluters for the incidents. An Bord Pleanála has given the go ahead for a controversial sewerage treatment plant in Moville, the decision to grant planning permission comes after a €278,000 two-day oral hearing in Redcastle Hotel in June 2009 which Agency staff gave evidence to. As part of the Donegal County Council development, four pumping stations will also be sited at Carrickarory, River Row, Carnagarve and Greencastle Pier with the main treatment plant at Carnagarve also. A pumping station at Glenburnie was denied planning permission on amenity / environmental protection grounds. RESERVED Development Gerard Mills, Director of Development provided the Board with the following report; SCENE/Queens University Belfast Project Bid has been made and submitted to SEUPB by 10th of July 2009. Outcome – Project has now been approved we await the Letter of offer. In Progress Staffing Interreg Marine Tourism Strategy FME now appointed. Sustainable Development Business Case This is with our Sponsor Departments and we hope to receive approval for 2011 call at July’s NSMC.