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A GROUP OF residents in Co Cork is protesting the government’s decision to grant a licence for the mass mechanical harvesting of kelp seaweed in the local bay to a Kerry company.
The ‘Protect Our Native Kelp Forest’ campaign in Bantry is protesting the 2014 granting of a 10-year experimental mechanical harvesting licence regarding the kelp present in 1,860 acres of Bantry Bay to Tralee-based bioengineering company BioAtlantis.
A map of the area covered by the licence can be viewed here.
The protest group claims that the statutory public notice required by the government regarding what was being planned for Bantry’s offshore kelp (an advert in a local paper, and a notice held under lock and key at the local Garda station) was insufficient.
BioAtlantis strenuously asserts that it satisfied every condition demanded by the State and that it would have gone even further in its bid for compliance if asked to do so by the Government.
“There has been a lot of misinformation in relation to this,” the company’s CEO John T O’Sullivan says.
The Bantry residents, meanwhile, also say that BioAtlantis’ plans will irreparably damage the local sea environment – both in the case of the kelp itself and also the local marine life which they say is dependent upon the seaweed’s presence. BioAtlantis denies this.
The group has complained that the licence, which was granted in 2014 by the then-Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan, and first applied for in 2009 to the Department of Agriculture, was given without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) being carried out.
The Department of Housing, which currently has responsibility for foreshore (ie the area between the high and low water marks of a seashore) activities says that under European law, no such assessment was required, nor was it deemed necessary by the government of the time.
Harvesting of sections of the region’s kelp forest is expected to commence in the near future.
“We had no idea any licence had been granted until February when it showed up on RTÉ,” local woman (and group member) Deirdre Fitzgerald told TheJournal.ie (the programme in question was an edition of Eco Eye on the State broadcaster).
Fitzgerald claims that a “litany of questionable things” regarding the granting of the licence are behind the residents’ protest – a campaign that has seen a petition calling for the licence to be revoked garner nearly 7,000 signatures online.
Neither is the Bantry group satisfied with the levels of public consultation required by the government in preceding the application for a harvesting licence. “The consultation with the local community consisted of a tiny ad in a local paper that did not specify what was planned,” says Fitzgerald.
“No regard has been shown for the people who rely on tourism and marine activities such as fishing in the bay to make a living,” she adds.
Click here to view a larger image
BioAtlantis, for its part, says that all established protocols have been followed, both in applying for the licence and in the future harvesting that has been planned.
“Our issue is not with the company. They have done all that they were asked. It is with the government letting this happen without letting the locals know,” says Fitzgerald.
I mean you’re talking about one of the biggest mechanical harvesting operations in the history of the State.
Expert group
For many hundreds of years seaweed has been harvested off Ireland’s shores by hand. However, mechanisation of the process has in recent times become more prevalent in other European countries such as Norway and France.
The use of seaweed and kelp for research, treatments, natural beauty products, and food is big business in Ireland and Europe at present. In 2014, the worldwide seaweed industry was estimated to be worth €5.25 billion.
A 2015 report by Irish seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) meanwhile suggested that demand in Europe for sea vegetables is growing by up to 10% each year.
While seaweed has been farmed by hand for hundreds of years in Ireland, and the use of the plant in both nutrition supplements and beauty products is well-documented, BioAtlantis is not a cosmetics company.
Rather, the 13-year-old Kerry business plans to use the harvested seaweed as a means to develop alternatives to the use of antibiotics in the feed of farmed animals.
“We would completely disagree that there was not proper consultation,” O’Sullivan told TheJournal.ie regarding the granting of the 10-year harvesting licence to his company.
The action taken by BioAtlantis and approved by the government in the form of a trial licence is exactly as recommended by an expert group who provided an overview of kelp research, harvesting techniques, and resource management in other European countries in 2004.
Eight different bodies with specialists in the area assessed the application. The Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) concluded that subject to compliance with specific conditions harvesting was unlikely to have a significant negative impact on the marine environment.
“If there were other requirements in relation to consultation then BioAtlantis would have complied with these also.”
O’Sullivan, likewise, claims that “the decision to grant a licence obtained cross-party political support”, given it was originally approved by the Green Party’s John Gormley in 2011, before being officially granted by then Labour Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly in 2014.
Currently, the Department of Housing (and its newest Minister, Eoghan Murphy) has jurisdiction over the issue.
Click here to view a larger image
“Normal public consultation procedures were followed with the application being advertised in local newspaper The Southern Star and it was also made available for inspection at Bantry Garda Station for a period of 21 days,” a spokesperson for the Department told TheJournal.ie.
“No submissions were received from members of the public during the consultation period,” they added.
The local protest group counters this fact by saying Bantry Garda Station kept the notice in a filing cabinet to be produced only when the public asked to see it, and the scale of the licence was not made clear. TheJournal.ie contacted Bantry gardaí to confirm that this is indeed the case: “That is the policy, and is so for all such applications, not just sea licences,” a spokesperson said.
“You come into the station and ask to view it, we produce it and you can view it, but it cannot be copied and cannot be taken away.”
When asked how the public can know about something if it is not visible, the spokesperson replied: “I don’t think the facilities are here to put it on public display.”
Environmental assessment
An Environmental Impact Assessment meanwhile was, according to the Department, not required as the “proposed project was not within a Natura 2000 site (Natura 2000 is a European network of important ecological sites)”.
Nor does the project satisfy the criteria to qualify for an assessment under Annex I or II of the European EIA Directive, which would make an EIA mandatory (projects such as motorway building, or even intensive fish farming, automatically qualify for such an assessment).
While it was open to the Minister at the time to carry out an EIA, it was not considered necessary.
The spokesperson added that the “sustainability” of any mechanical harvesting would be subject “to a strict monitoring programme”.
The licensed area is split into five distinct harvesting zones and not all of the seaweed in the bay will be harvested.
Much of the criticism levelled at the granting of the licence has been at the level of public consultation required by the relevant state bodies, or perceived lack thereof.
In a letter to the foreshore section of the Department of Housing in late June, Cork academic and coastal marine environmental expert Seán Lynch described a situation in which a licence of the sort granted to BioAtlantis without adequate public consultation as being “entirely irresponsible”.
“Marine spatial plans should aim for sustainable and efficient use of marine space by maximising multiple uses and where necessary for the management of conflicts or to highlight specific opportunities for potential investors the zoning for preferred uses,” Lynch said.
Meaningful and early consultation with all stakeholders including the general public, is essential. In my honest opinion such a lack of foresight severely undermines the Department’s ability for good governance.
“People weren’t aware that it was to be a mechanical harvest,” says local independent TD Michael Collins. “If it was to be a hand harvest, well there would be no issue with that.”
But a mechanical harvest, it’ll have a visual impact on the whole Bere area.
The Minister says he can’t do any more, but I think he can. He can stop the process and allow a proper public consultation to proceed.
“There might be a way around this, but at the moment people are looking at it and they just see that 1,800 acres are on the licence. Everyone needs to take a step back,” Collins adds.
Clew Bay
BioAtlantis’ experience in Bantry, meanwhile, is not the only strained situation the company has found itself in with locals regarding the mechanical harvest of an area’s seaweed.
In 2015, the Mayo News reported that locals in Clew Bay in the western county had set up their own seaweed association, a move prompted by BioAtlantis seeking a 10-year exclusive licence to harvest the coastline’s seaweed.
The situation prompted local Fine Gael TD Michael Ring (now Minister for Community and Rural Affairs) to “outline his dissatisfaction… about the proposals” to then Housing Minister Paudie Coffey.
Back in Bantry, public opposition to the granting of the harvest licence appears to be growing.
“People have the right to sign petitions but it would be interesting to know whether they are aware of the facts,” says O’Sullivan.
“Kelp is proven to regenerate between three and six years post-harvest,” he added. (A key claim of the Bantry protest group is that mechanically cutting the kelp 25 centimetres from the root “will effectively kill the plant”.)
The description of kelp as a forest is inaccurate as it gives the impression of something old and covered with trees. This is not true. Kelp is a type of algae or seaweed, it is not a type of tree. It grows quickly unlike a tree and has a short generation time. Kelp in Bantry Bay is only three-to-five years old.
And as for a commencement date for harvesting?
There is no fixed commencement date; we are not ready to start yet.
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They really need to pass these reductions on to all their customers..
Kev , I agree. Its galling for existing customers who are “captive”.That causes deep resentment .However looking at theterm of the loansaffected , you might wonder how many will benefit. Two year and ten year terms are the main beneficiaries.
PTSB are offering discounted to tracker mortgage holders while threatening eviction to those who have been hammered on the variable rate .
This is illegal discrimination as the purchase of the bank by the State brings the bank under the irish Constitution and discrimination is illegal !
Best of luck to those of you who get your 20 to 30% discount on your trackers – you are setting a precedent for all other mortgage holders !
The average rate of a mortgage in Europe is 2.3 % if my memory serves me correctly.
A good time to buy me thinks… :-p
Why does Kenny the Pr**k not legislate for home owners on variable rate interest on their mortgage. He talks about taxing the hilt out of us and the banks do the same. Can wait to give him my good riddance vote .
Kenny obeys his master.
Great news but no letup on the variable rates they charge long standing customers they have been screwing ever since the collapse caused by their crazy tracker mortgages
Was the collapse really caused by trackers?
PTSB are also involved in the Bed and Breakfast loans to Anglo !
It is quite worrying when a Senator starts a post on a discriminatory piece of business by a State owned institution with the words “Great News ” ……
Ecb lend bank money at -0.05% bank charges me 4.75% Apr are you senators and politicians a waste of my vote. Answer yes, you can bring in legislation this is an extortion interest rate given the banks cost for loans from
Ecb.
you need to think about what rate your lender borrows (“funds”) at and what collateral they need to provide. the reality is that funding costs have collapsed and the next shoe to drop will be mortgage costs. if the Irish banks don’t do it i will bet my bottom dollar new lenders will come into the market. having a central bank that makes people pay 20% deposit and 4% mortgage rates after prices have dropped 50% is a dream scenario/environment for a new lender. all they need now is clarity on the rules as to what happens if the person falls behind on their mortgage but they have a lot of cushion at the moment. i reckon mortgages will be 3.25% in Ireland within 12 months. buy a house.
So much for increasing customer loyalty. If your a current customer screw you….
Well take you’re mortgage elsewhere then.
PTSB reducing their interest rates???
Is this the same bank that was charging it’s existing customers approx. 7% during the bust that they and their brethren created?
Is this the same bank that scammed it’s customers out of their trackers?
No, that was a different PTSB.
“Great”
“Another new competitor in Irish banking”
Shocking to think that these banks are allowed con new customers in under these new rates but punish those that are long time customers. Those customers that were dragged into the housing trap during the last decade by both these “reckless” lenders.
The Govt are acting like a toothless tiger… Roaring about protecting people but not putting pressure on the banks to pass on the phenomenal low rates from the ECB.
Terry , you are right. The borrower should ask ” can I afford these repayments “. The lender should be stict in questioning ” can the borrower afford these repayments”. If the answer is “no” to the questions , then it is both reckless borrowing and reckless lending. The balance of responsibilty , in my opinion lies with the lender.
My idea of reckless lending was offering 100%+ mortgages… Getting people to throw their car loans into the mortgage pot etc… This was not only reckless but wholly unethical. How they get away with not passing on the low interest rates on borrowings while doing so with savings???
As I said this Govt are toothless and in all probability scared of upsetting the cosy banking cartels, by not forcing them to pass on the low rates. After all these organisations would have been blown out of the water if it wasn’t for the public purse that rescued them. Now as the banks return to profitability they continue to impose crippling interest rates on these people while at the same time we continue to suffer the effects of austerity brought about by these organisations…
Simply put now… bye bye Enda, Joan & Co… Ye are in the death throws of your p1ss poor Govt…
“dragged into the housing trap”?
Who dragged them into it? Nobody put a gun to anyone’s head and forced them into signing up for mortgages they couldn’t afford
Whilst I agree that the interest rate reductions should be passsed on to all customers if you think 4% is classed as crippling interest rates Terry then you haven’t been around for very long!
Ah I’ve been around long enough to know that house prices back then were far lower not in the multiples of the hundreds of thousands they are now… Oh and what happens when interest rates start to climb???
i will stick with my 0.8 tracker rate
I think you’re right. If it wasn’t for my tracker, I’d be homeless.
Or, you know, renting…
Really? Homeless?
The difference between a tracker and a variable with PTSB can be €400 a month for an average sized mortgage, so homeless is not an exaggeration.
I’d be selling my body on the streets… turning tricks for 5 euros…
What about customers like me who took out a mortgage in the boom, this should be given to all of its customers not just new we were the ones who over paid and are left in the dark.
If they remain within the T&C’s that you voluntarily signed up to then I don’t think you have grounds for complaint
Excellent news.
For Bondholders
Excellent for who ?
Mr smithers..
Lure in that Fresh Virgin Meat.
The Pigs are hungry.
Oink Oink Oink!!!
It’s good news for FTBers. They have to get a mortgage from some institution and there aren’t that many providers.
O only 4.2% that’s still shit !!
A useful reminder for people who think 4% is shite!
http://www.moneyguideireland.com/history-of-mortgage-rates-in-ireland.html
Reg my reasoning here is that when these low ECB rates start to rise so too will the existing 4% +. will the banks keep rates at 4% odd when the ECB starts to throw on a 1/2 % here or there??? Simple answer is NO… Then we’ll be heading for the high rates of the 70′s and 80′s… These banks will do all they can to screw you for as much as they can during good times and bad… Don’t forget these same banks along with FF sleep walked us into a disaster that we and the generations after us will be paying for years to come.
While at the same time these banks are paying huge bonuses even pay rises to its senior staff…
Wan*ers.
Bank of Ireland will pay your stamp duty too ! Wonder where this is all heading ,good job the central bank is keeping an eye on things.
New buyers get suckered in then they jack the rates up… The fact that the rate remains the same for current mortgages should be a warning to anyone considering ptsb or boi for a mortgage.. They have no loyalty
The cheek of them greedy shower of bully’s . Existing customers are garnishing the bonuses of them nits while they put families out on the street. I seen how #boi treat their loyal customers from the inside it would make your skin crawl. Lesson here for new customers thinking of going near bank of ireland is don’t. Should you experience difficulties (such is life) they will rape you even after the vultures have picked the corpse. For small steps, for big steps, for life. A life sentence is what you get with bankruptcy your only defence.
Lesson here is anyone who bought into their previous spin is paying for it now. These so called new customers will soon become existing customers and will also suffer the same faith.
You need 20% of the value of the house to get this!! I don’t know many people able to save that amount
The rich can afford it. So the folks who need it can not avail of it. So those with the least will be chastised with the higher rate. Happy bonuses for bank of ireland , Richie Boucher and the blood sucking bond holders
So permanent TSB have announced a cut in their Variable interest rate for bleedin’ new customers, after years of increasing rates for existing variable rate holders during a period of record low interest rates across Europe. go figure.
Another ploy to get new customers in an emerging competitive market. Once they have a certain amount of new customers on their loan books then watch the rates increase again and everyone is stuck with the higher rates.
It’s a no win situation when your borrowing from financial institutions – you will get caught every way.
“THE GREATEST EVIL PERPETRATED ON MAN, THE COMPOUND INTEREST RATE,”
Our banks are still owned by the same colonial slave merchant families”
There is NO DEBT !!! There is no shortage !!! It’s all imaginary, just like the game of Monopoly!
Today’s money is merely IOU’s and is backed by nothing;
https://giftoftruth.wordpress.com/
Zero poverty: poverty is man-made and can be undone;
Zero un-employment: there is enough for everyone;
Zero evictions: there are legal remedies to settle all debts;
Zero evictions: the land belongs to we, the people;
Zero foreclosures: Legal remedies exist which the courts refuse;
Zero School Education fees and Zero Tertiary Education fees;”
have your say