Resumption of sprat trawling in Kenmare Bay 'wiping out marine life'
Fishing boats trawling for sprats at dusk
The resumption of sprat trawling in Kenmare Bay, Co Kerry, a protected marine area, has angered both locals and ecologists, who say it wipes out valuable feed for whales, seals, and other wildlife.
A ban on vessels of larger than 18m fishing inshore in the bay was introduced in 2019 following extensive public consultation and a number of scientific studies.
However, a legal challenge to the ban by two boats succeeded on technical grounds earlier this year — while upholding the right of the Department of the Marine to implement the policy of banning pair trawling on inshore waters.
Pair trawling is a fishing method involving two boats hoovering up the sprat shoals with small mesh nets — a practice that locals say is effectively wiping out much of the marine wildlife in the special area of conservation.
"Boats started trawling for sprat in the Kenmare Bay in 2007. Since then there has been a devastating decline in marine life, including sea birds, mackerel, whales, and dolphins," local woman Rachel Hawker said.
Sprat are one of the building blocks of the marine ecosystem, acting as feedstock for medium and large fish as well as larger marine mammals, she explained.
Most of the sprat from Kenmare is loaded onto tipper lorries and taken mainly to a fishmeal factory in Killybegs in Donegal where it is turned into fishmeal for salmon farms, according to locals.
Ecologist and writer Pádraic Fogarty has also highlighted the devastating effect of pair trawling in Kenmare and nearby Bantry Bay.
Sea bass and migrating salmon, are all destroyed, Mr Fogarty said. He has described the practice as "a wanton destruction of the whole marine ecosystem".
The Department of the Marine says further scientific studies are now needed to analyse the impact of sprat trawling because of the length of time that has elapsed since the original studies — a claim disputed by local residents and councillors.
Fine Gael councillor Patrick Connor Scarteen says he was saddened by the recent High Court ruling which overturned a ban on fishing within six miles of the coast.
"Extreme" damage is being done to marine life in Kenmare and other parts of the coastline as a result, he said.
Further scientific evidence or public consultation is not necessary as the evidence from the vessels in the area is there already, Mr Connor-Scarteen said.
The livelihoods of fishermen were affected because fish stocks were being wiped out, he said.
Members of Kerry County Council have now passed a motion to write to the Minister with responsibilty for the Marine McConalogue to reintroduce the inshore ban.
In a statement, the Department of Agriculture and the Marine said: "It has been five years since the original scientific and economic advice was compiled and the public consultation on this issue took place. In line with best practice, Minister McConalogue has approved the commissioning of up-to-date scientific and economic advice from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, respectively, on trawling in the waters inside 6 nautical miles before proceeding. Following receipt of this advice, the Minister will explore what policy options are available to address this important issue. The Minister remains committed to ensuring inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and that pair trawling will be prohibited inside the six-mile limit in line with the commitment made in the Programme for Government.
