Sanitary Survey Report and Sampling Plan for Carlingford Lough Produced by AQUAFACT International Services Ltd On behalf of The Loughs Agency The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority June 2011 AQUAFACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES Ltd 12 KILKERRIN PARK TUAM RD GALWAY CITY www.aquafact.ie [email protected] tel +353 (0) 91 756812 fax +353 (0) 91 756888 Table of Contents Glossary 1. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 1 2. Overview of the Fishery/Production Area ......................................................................... 3 2.1. Location/Extent of Growing/Harvesting Area ...................................................................... 3 2.2. Description of the Area ........................................................................................................ 4 2.3. Description of Species .......................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1. Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) ........................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1.1. General Biology .............................................................................................................. 9 2.3.1.2. Distribution .................................................................................................................. 12 2.3.1.3. Fishery .......................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.2. Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) ................................................................................................ 14 2.3.2.1. General Biology ............................................................................................................ 14 2.3.2.2. Distribution .................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.2.3. Fishery .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.3. Razor Clam (Ensis spp.) .................................................................................................................. 17 2.3.3.1. General Biology ............................................................................................................ 17 2.3.3.2. Distribution .................................................................................................................. 17 2.3.3.3. Fishery .......................................................................................................................... 18 3. Hydrography/Hydrodynamics ......................................................................................... 19 3.1. Simple/Complex Models .................................................................................................... 19 3.2. Depth .................................................................................................................................. 20 3.3. Tides & Currents ................................................................................................................. 20 3.4. Wind and Waves ................................................................................................................. 30 3.5. River Discharges ................................................................................................................. 33 3.6. Rainfall Data ........................................................................................................................ 36 3.6.1. Amount & Time of Year ................................................................................................................. 36 3.6.2. Frequency of Significant Rainfalls .................................................................................................. 44 3.7. Salinity ................................................................................................................................ 46 3.8. Turbidity .............................................................................................................................. 48 3.9. Residence Times ................................................................................................................. 51 3.10. Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 51 4. Identification of Pollution Sources .................................................................................. 53 4.1. Desktop Survey ................................................................................................................... 53 4.1.1. Human Population ......................................................................................................................... 54 4.1.2. Tourism .......................................................................................................................................... 59 4.1.3. Sewage Discharges ........................................................................................................................ 65 4.1.3.1. Continuous Sewage Discharges ................................................................................... 68 4.1.3.2. Rainfall Dependent Sewage Discharges ...................................................................... 73 4.1.3.3. Emergency Discharges ................................................................................................. 81 4.1.4. Industrial Discharges ..................................................................................................................... 84 4.1.5. Landuse Discharges ....................................................................................................................... 86 4.1.6. Other Pollution Sources ............................................................................................................... 102 4.1.6.1. Shipping ...................................................................................................................... 102 4.1.6.2. Birds ........................................................................................................................... 106 4.2. Shoreline Survey Report ................................................................................................... 108 4.3. Locations of Sources ......................................................................................................... 123 5. Shellfish and Water Sampling ........................................................................................ 136 5.1. Historical Data .................................................................................................................. 136 5.1.1. Shellfish Water Quality ................................................................................................................ 136 5.1.2. Shellfish Flesh Quality .................................................................................................................. 141 5.1.3. Norovirsus (NoV).......................................................................................................................... 179 5.2. Current Data ..................................................................................................................... 181 5.2.1. Sampling Sites & Methodology ................................................................................................... 181 5.2.2. Microbial Analysis Results ........................................................................................................... 185 6. Expert Assessment of the Effect of Contamination on Shellfish ..................................... 189 7. Sampling Plan ................................................................................................................ 191 7.1. Identification of Production Area Boundaries & RMPs .................................................... 191 7.1.1. Production Area 1 & RMPs .......................................................................................................... 207 7.1.2. Production Area 2 & RMPs .......................................................................................................... 208 7.1.3. Production Area 3 & RMPs .......................................................................................................... 209 7.1.4. Production Area 4 & RMPs .......................................................................................................... 211 7.1.5. Production Area 5 & RMPs .......................................................................................................... 212 7.1.6. Production Area 6 & RMPs .......................................................................................................... 214 7.1.7. Sampling Methodology ............................................................................................................... 215 7.1.7.1. Time of sampling ........................................................................................................ 215 7.1.7.2. Frequency of Sampling ............................................................................................... 215 7.1.7.3. Sampling method ....................................................................................................... 215 7.1.7.4. Size of individual animals