SHERKIN COMMENT Issue No. 40 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2005 INSIDEINSIDE Nigali Passage to Nirvana Providing Clean Water in Dubin Bay Birds of Farne Islands Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and gorgonian fan. Photographer: Pete Atkinson Page 2 ....................................................................................................................................................................Sherkin Comment 2005 – Issue No. 40 Contents Editorial EDITORIAL: Management of Ireland’s Wild Salmon..2 Drift netting is not the only problem that wild salmon face, according to Matt Murphy. Management of The Rise and Rise of the Gannet................................3 Oscar Merne on the good news for the Gannet population. Problems Facing Copenhagen from Transport Pollution ....4 Finn Terp explains how Copenhagen is coping with Ireland’s Wild Salmon their air pollution problems. Providing Clean Water for Dublin Bay ..................................5 vital. It is recognised by salmon research Clean in Dublin Bay means a Blue Flag for By Matt Murphy Table 1: ESB Generation Stations listed with Dollymount Strand. scientists that there is a major survival capacity (in Megawatts) and Fuel Type Birds of the Farne Islands ........................................................6 problem in the North Atlantic. Ireland is MUCH is being written about the not alone with declining salmon stocks. Anthony Toole visits a paradise for birds off the north effects that drift netting of wild salmon is The USA and Canada have similar prob- east coast of England. having on stocks. If one is to believe those lems. Changing sea temperatures in the Backyard Burning ......................................................8 that want this type of fishing banned then North Atlantic need to be investigated A change of behaviour is needed to stop illegal everything would be fine and our rivers more to see what effects they have on the burning. will be well-stocked again after many salmon. For instance, do they affect years of decline. Of course, stocks will migration speeds, routes and food avail- A Spotlight on World Environmental Matters ..............9 improve but to what extent? Sherkin Interesting news on the world’s environment from ability? Another issue is to what extent are Comment believes much more will be post smolts being caught as a bycatch in Alex Kirby. needed to solve the problems of salmon mackerel fisheries. Maybe one of the Sea Turtles ............................................................................10 stocks in Irish rivers. Marine Institute’s two research vessels An informative leaflet from ENFO on sea turtles. A management program must be intro- should have as its priority an extensive On-site Treatment of Waste Water ................................11 duced, together with much scientific period each year on salmon research in research. Major issues need to be Gerard O’Leary of the EPA stresses the need for proper the North Atlantic. addressed. waste water systems. Exploitation of salmon should be con- Rarely have there been any discussions fined to the estuaries or river mouths thus Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) in Irish Waters ....12 measures to be taken that will ensure the on the impact of hydro dams on salmon avoiding a mixed salmon stock fishery at survival of the Irish salmon as an eco- Declan Quigley talks about a very rare visitor to on the rivers Erne, Lee, Liffey and Shan- sea. This would allow each fishery to be nomic, social and recreational resource. Irish Waters. non. Although these installations are individually managed and strict quotas And it is a campaign that will, at the end The Wind Ships ..................................................................13 technically passable (fish passes) by adult could then be enforced for each river basin. of the day, require sacrifices by all of Daphne Pochin Mould reminisces on sailing ships. salmon, they are not considered to have The above issues we raise show that those who exploit the runs of salmon. Far self-sustaining salmon populations. These there are many problems that need New Developments and Flooding Risks........................14 from arguing that there can be no com- rivers have been defined as non self-sus- addressing on the decline of salmon Paddy Leahy outlines the need for a flood risk mercial net fishery we envisage achieving taining in the Central Fisheries Board stocks, most as important as drift netting. assessment for certain new developments. a situation in which it might very well “Freshwater Salmon Habitat Asset” 2003. Critics of commercial fishermen must continue to catch many more salmon than Nigali – Passage to Nirvana............................15/16/17 The loss of potential salmon producing remember that they have a legal right to the angling sector.” It is hoped that this is Life underwater in the South Pacific, with Pete habitat for the four Hydrodams is esti- carry out drift netting. Most drift netters the view of the various groups that oppose Atkinson. mated at 35.5% of the total riverine are fishing at sea in small boats not large drift netting. habitat accessible to salmon in Ireland trawlers - it is one of the most dangerous Thirty-five Years of Pollution Control in America ....18 Finally, the drift net fishermen around (see Table 1). The Central Fisheries Board occupations. The weather conditions are Matt Murphy interviews Walter Mugdan, US EPA the coast need to organise themselves into is strongly of the view that serious con- mostly difficult to say the least. For many Director in New York. one group so that they can negotiate a fair sideration should now be given for the period (now very short) is a very Breeding Birds in Roaringwater Bay, 2005 ..............20 deal of compensation and also be adequate and effective free passage of important income for them. A voluntary involved in the management of salmon A report from Julian Wyllie on populations for returning adult salmon upstream to their buy out or set aside scheme along the lines stocks. There are too many splinter 2005. spawning grounds and the unhindered of the decommissioning scheme for sea groups, each going off at tangents. They Aquatic Bugs of Sherkin Island ......................................21 migration of smolts downstream, particu- fisheries is now essential. need one spokesperson that can put their Christopher Barry highlights some freshwater insects. larly during peak runs in these very To quote from remarks by Niall case with clarity. They should take a important wild salmon rivers. Greene, Chair “Stop Salmon Drift Nets Back to Saxon Transylvania ....................................................22 lessen from the “Stop the Salmon Drift The design of the hydro dams in these Now” at a meeting in Cork City 18th John Akeroyd continues to highlight the precious Nets Now” group who have had one of the rivers should be reviewed to allow for March 2005: flora of Romania. most effective and united PR campaign these fish to travel freely during the peak “The campaign to end drift netting for for many years on an environmental issue. Silicon – From Flint Axe to the Space Age ..................23 runs. The board also adds that this new salmon at sea is being maliciously por- Anthony Toole continues his look at the elements. approach would also benefit other den- trayed by some as a row between anglers Publications of Interest ............................................24 dromonus species such as shad, lamprey and the commercial sector as to which Matt Murphy, Sherkin Island Marine and eels. Oileáin – A Guide to the Irish Islands ......................25 should have the right to kill most fish. It is Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork, The contribution of the generating sta- nothing of the kind. It is a campaign for Ireland. A wonderful adventure from David Walsh. tions on the four dams to the ESBs Captain Cockle ........................................................26 national grid only amounts to a maximum More exciting facts from John Joyce. of 4.9% in a full year (see table 1). One East Coast Nature Reserve ........................................27 solution to the problem would be to turn BirdWatch Ireland’s wonderful new project. off the generators for the peak migratory period. The loss for the short period Nature’s Web/Taste of the Sea Stir-Fry......................28 would be negligible ± 1.06% against the A new internet-based environmental newsletter for total capacity being generated by the ESB children and a seafood recipe from BIM. Generation Stations (see table 2). Puzzle Page ..............................................................29 A proper management system needs to Damien Walks for Gold ............................................30 be introduced in the rivers to ensure there Damien O’Donovan earns a gold award from Gaisce. is (a) greater policing of illegal fishing (b) Sherkin Island Marine Station Environmental increased spawning areas and improve- Competition 2005 ....................................31 ment in the quality of many of those already there (c) ownership of many fish- Presentation of prizes at the Carrigaline Court eries on the rivers is unclear and uncertain Hotel, Carrigaline, Co. Cork. and must be addressed d) reasonable Listening for Answers ..............................................32 access for locals and visitors/tourists. Source: Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Fisheries Statistics Report 2003-2004 (Central Fisheries Board) Michael Ludwig