Sanitary Survey Report and Sampling Plan for Dundrum Bay Produced by AQUAFACT International Services Ltd On behalf of The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland March 2012 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 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 1 2. Overview of the Fishery/Production Area ................................................................. 2 2.1. Location/Extent of Growing/Harvesting Area ..............................................................2 2.2. Description of the Area .................................................................................................3 2.3. Description of Species ..................................................................................................7 2.3.1. Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) ................................................................................................. 7 2.3.1.1. General Biology ......................................................................................................7 2.3.1.2. Distribution & Fishery.......................................................................................... 10 2.3.2. Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) ...................................................................................... 11 2.3.2.1. General Biology ................................................................................................... 11 2.3.2.2. Distribution & Fishery.......................................................................................... 11 3. Hydrography/Hydrodynamics ................................................................................. 13 3.1. Simple/Complex Models ............................................................................................ 13 3.2. Depth ......................................................................................................................... 13 3.3. Tides & Currents ........................................................................................................ 14 3.4. Wind and Waves ........................................................................................................ 14 3.5. River Discharges ......................................................................................................... 17 3.6. Rainfall Data ............................................................................................................... 20 3.6.1. Amount & Time of Year ....................................................................................................... 20 3.6.2. Frequency of Significant Rainfalls ........................................................................................ 25 3.7. Salinity ....................................................................................................................... 26 3.8. Turbidity ..................................................................................................................... 28 4. Identification of Pollution Sources .......................................................................... 30 4.1. Desktop Survey .......................................................................................................... 30 4.1.1. Human Population ............................................................................................................... 32 4.1.2. Tourism ................................................................................................................................ 36 4.1.3. Sewage Discharges .............................................................................................................. 39 4.1.3.1. Continuous Sewage Discharges .......................................................................... 40 4.1.3.2. Rainfall Dependent Sewage Discharges .............................................................. 48 4.1.3.3. Emergency Discharges ........................................................................................ 52 4.1.4. Industrial Discharges ........................................................................................................... 52 4.1.5. Land use Discharges ............................................................................................................ 55 4.1.6. Other Pollution Sources ....................................................................................................... 67 4.1.6.1. Shipping ............................................................................................................... 67 4.1.6.2. Birds .................................................................................................................... 70 4.1.6.3. Pollution Incidences ............................................................................................ 70 4.2. Shoreline Survey Report ............................................................................................ 71 4.3. Locations of Sources .................................................................................................. 85 5. Shellfish and Water Sampling .................................................................................. 99 5.1. Historical Data ........................................................................................................... 99 5.1.1. Shellfish Water Quality ........................................................................................................ 99 5.1.2. Shellfish Flesh Quality ........................................................................................................ 103 5.2. Current Data ............................................................................................................ 117 5.2.1. Sampling Sites & Methodology ......................................................................................... 117 5.2.2. Microbial Analysis Results ................................................................................................. 119 6. Expert Assessment of the Effect of Contamination on Shellfish ............................. 121 7. Sampling Plan ........................................................................................................ 122 7.1. Identification of Production Area Boundaries & RMPs ........................................... 122 7.2. Frequency of RMP Monitoring ................................................................................ 123 7.3. Sampling Methodology ............................................................................................ 124 7.3.1. Time of Sampling ............................................................................................................... 124 7.3.2. Sampling Method .............................................................................................................. 124 7.3.3. Equipment .......................................................................................................................... 124 7.3.4. Size of Individual Animals .................................................................................................. 124 7.3.5. Sample Composition .......................................................................................................... 125 7.3.6. Preparation and Packaging of Samples ............................................................................. 125 7.3.7. Sample Transport .............................................................................................................. 125 7.3.8. Sample Submission Form ................................................................................................... 126 7.3.9. Delivery of Samples ........................................................................................................... 126 7.3.10. Receiving Laboratory ....................................................................................................... 126 8. References ............................................................................................................ 127 List of Figures Figure 2.1: Shellfish designated waters within Dundrum Bay (Source: DOENI, 2009a). 2 Figure 2.2: Licenced harvesting areas located within Dundrum Bay (Source: FSA in NI). 3 Figure 2.3: Location of Dundrum Bay. 4 Figure 2.4: Location of the SAC and Nature Reserve in Dundrum Bay. 5 Figure 3.1: Depths in Dundrum Bay (modified from The Loughs Agency data). 13 Figure 3.2: Average wind speed data for Northern Ireland from 1971 to 2000 (Source: Met Office, 2011a). 15 Figure 3.3: Average seasonal wind speed data for Northern Ireland from 1971‐2000 (Source: Met Office, 2011a). 16 Figure 3.4: Rivers in the Dundrum Bay catchment area (Source: NIEA, 2011). 18 Figure 3.5: Freshwater sources flowing into Inner Dundrum Bay (Source: www.nimap.net). Land & Property Services. Crown Copyright & Database Right 2009. 19 Figure 3.6: Average monthly rainfall (mm) data for January to June from 1971 to 2000 for Northern Ireland (Source: Met Office, 2011a). 21 Figure 3.7: Average monthly rainfall (mm) data for July to December from 1971 to 2000 for Northern Ireland (Source: Met Office, 2011a). 22 Figure 3.8: Seasonal rainfall averages (mm) from 1971 to 2000 for Northern Ireland (Source: Met Office, 2011a). 23 Figure