SHERKIN COMMENT Issue No. 45 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2008 Clare Island Survey Cruising Antarctica A Slow Approach From Botany Bay to Glasnevin Michael Guiry on a unique survey, carried out Jim Wilson’s position as an ornithologist aboard A look at Prof. Brian Bary’s long and impressive Daphne Pochin Mould looks at the origins of by naturalists nearly 100 years ago & followed a cruise ship in the Antarctic proved to be a career as an oceanographer and his some familiar plants, many of which came from up by the Royal Irish Academy in 1991. 5 dream job for the wildlife photographer. 15 commitment to monitoring. 18 hotter climates on the other side of the world. 25 The Calf Islands in Carbery’s Hundred Isles (Page 11) Yellow Flag Iris. Photograph by Robbie Murphy 2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHERKIN COMMENT 2008 Issue No 45 Contents Editorial EDITORIAL: What is the future for Ireland’s aquaculture industry? ..........................................................................2 Matt Murphy gives his views on the industry. What is the future for Ireland’s Coastal Birds in West Africa......................................3 Oscar Merne writes about his visit to The Gambia and Senegal and tells about its coastal birds. aquaculture industry? A Spotlight on World Environmental Matters ..................4 News from Alex Kirby on worldwide issues. which were so positive about the future Norwegian owned Marine Harvest. Their Clare Island Survey..................................................5 By Matt Murphy for aquaculture. New species were then at main operation is at Fanad in Donegal. In Michael Guiry describes the richness of the Clare the developmental stage, two of these recent years they have taken over a fish THE insane overfishing of the world’s Island flora and fauna. abalone and sea urchins. A hatchery on farm at Killary, Co. Mayo and the latest seas continues unabated. Few countries The UK’s National Trust ........................................6 Bere Island, Co. Cork, mastered the tech- information is they are now taking over are prepared to face up to this reality. niques but the grow-on in a number of the site of Ocean Farms in Donegal Bay. Tony Burton explains how they are protecting the Indeed, the seas are a free for all and big- sites around the coast have yet to produce How is it that the Norwegians, the world UK’s national treasures. ger and bigger vessels are being build adults in commercial quantities. There has leaders in salmon production at over world-wide with more sophisticated ENVision brings maps to EPA website ....................7 also been hatchery success with sea 600,000 tonnes annually, want to expand equipment to locate and catch fish. Many Useful and interesting information available at the urchins but again few adults for commer- in Ireland – obviously they see the poten- of the world’s fish stocks are close to touch of a button, as explained by Fiona Lawlor. cial sale. Turbot development took place tial of our clean waters. At present there being wiped out. The greatest example of Pomfrets in Irish and Northern European Waters....8 on Cape Clear and what a success – it was are sufficient licensed sites around the this is the cod fishery in the waters off coast to grow up to 40,000 tonnes of Declan Quigley tells us about another unusual fish against all the odds. In 1996, they had an Canada’s east coast. Continuous warnings salmon. The question must be – what is in Irish Waters. for the need to introduce conservation annual production of 33 tonnes whilst the might Norwegians were still researching wrong that these sites are not utilised? Food for Thought....................................................9 were sounded from the early 1970s but no The foreign buy out of salmon sites is one listened until the 1990s and by then and developing the same fish. Tragedy hit A look at the amounts of food wasted in households. in 1997 when a disease from the wild now coming to the oyster section. French stocks were down to a few thousand companies have already bought out Irish- A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Wild Flowers........10 tonnes which in the 1960s saw catches of (through the sea water) occurred. Under A new book from Sherkin Island Marine Station. EU regulations any fish with such a dis- owned sites and Dutch interests have done around 800,000 tonnes annually. so with some in the bottom mussel sec- The Calf Islands ....................................................11 In its latest report, the FAO (Fish and ease had to be destroyed. The Department of the Marine at Abbotstown ordered all tion. Again they obviously see the John Akeroyd writes about three gems in Agriculture Organisation) in Rome has the fish to be killed – in all 60,000 fish. potential of our coastal waters. Roaringwater Bay. stated that of the total 90 million tonnes of It is interesting to read in the 2006 commercial and aquaculture fish landings Compensation was refused by the Depart- A True Pioneer ......................................................12 ment of the Marine (see Sherkin report, the section on research grants to in 2005, aquaculture production con- institutions – 27 projects in all. It is pre- Looking at the career of Prof. Enrique Balech, Comment No. 24). The great tragedy is tributed over 48.1 million tonnes. The sumed these are being funded to help from Argentina – a unique scientist. that when the strain was identified, it was FAO estimated that by 2050 aquaculture develop the aquaculture industry. But the a different strain to that which effected Wastematchers.com ..............................................13 would need to produce 85 million tonnes, question that needs to be asked is, do salmon and trout, so there was no need to An free online service for exchanging unwanted goods. as the world fish catches will decrease these projects fulfiling their brief? If the have killed the fish. The Cape project from its present tonnage. This leads one to aquaculture industry is to deliver the Gov- Rural Settlement in Medieval Ireland ....................14 closed down and they were without funds Ireland’s aquaculture industry. ernment’s 2008–2013 National Another informative leaflet from Enfo. to re-build the stock. The recently published “Status of Irish Development Plan for aquaculture we The decline in farmed salmon is the Cruising Antarctica ....................................15/16/17 aquaculture 2006” raises many questions, must have practical and progressive most worrying, only 11,174 tonnes was Jim Wilson on his visit of a lifetime to Antarctica. the chief being why production has research. What good are degrees in aqua- produced in 2006 less than the 12,368 A Slow Approach ..................................................18 declined or is close to static in a number culture to young people if there are no of species. I find this unacceptable as we tonnes in 1993 – over 13 years earlier. The Matt Murphy speaks to Prof. Brian McK Bary jobs in the industry, which is the case have wonderful clean waters for produc- peak year was 2001 with 23,312 tonnes. about his years as an oceanographer. today? BIM and Udaras must face the ing fin fish and shellfish. In 1994 Sherkin Something is wrong with the Irish owned challenge and lead on what development Maderia – Portugal’s Wild Atlantic Garden ..........20 Comment produced a supplement on section of the industry. The most success- and research is needed if aquaculture is to Tony Toole visits one of Portugal’s Islands. aquaculture in that we had many articles ful fish farming company in Ireland is the deliver the government’s 2008–2013 A Nature Trip with a Difference............................22 plans. What is equally important is that Ian Boler on a natural history club he started in the industry itself needs to carry out an Malaysia. SUBSCRIPTION FORM indepth examination of its role in how it represents the industry. A Real Insight into CFB Research ........................23 SHERKIN COMMENT is a quarterly publication of Sherkin Island There is a great future for aquaculture Matt Murphy gives a favourable review to the Marine Station aiming to promote the awareness of our natural resources, development in Ireland. I have been con- Central Fisheries Board’s research summary report. their use and protection. vinced of this for over 30 years since those Publications of Interest..........................................24 great pioneers David and Angela Tonge SUBSCRIPTION: to receive a year’s subscription to “Sherkin farmed trout, on a shoestring, in Dun- From Botany Bay to Glasnevin..............................25 € Comment”, please send a cheque or money order for 7.00 for Ireland and manus Bay, Co. Cork. We at the Station Daphne Pochin Mould looks at the origins of £6.50stg for the U.K. (sterling cheques accepted from UK); send €11.00 supported them with monitoring when red some plants, which have come from abroad. for Europe and the rest of the world (surface postage) – payable to Sherkin tide took most of their stock and which, in Captain Cockle ......................................................26 Comment, Sherkin Island Marine Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. the end, made the project financially un- John Joyce on the wonderful world of worms. Ireland. Tel: 028–20187 Fax: 028–20407 viable. We have continued this monitoring Reedbed Singers ....................................................27 Email: [email protected] work in Roaringwater