Eamonn Hayes and Walter Foley, Southern Region Representatives attended a meeting with a delegation of EU commission MEPs from Europe and Ireland led by Ireland's Grace O'Sullivan, Green Party, spokesperson for the Marine.
Eamonn raised the following issues
1. My Name is Eamonn Hayes I am the southern rep for the Irish Charter Skippers Association ICSA which represents Irelands charter boat fleet operating in the recreational sea angling sector in Irelands inshore waters,
our vessels also operate Eco cruises e.g. Dolphin Whale & Bird watch, showing the public the wonders in our seas.
Kilmore Quay has the largest charter boat fleet in any one port in Ireland . The ISCA Members are very alarmed at the proposed developments in our inshore waters and the negative effects they will have on the ecosystems within them ,which in turn we depend on.
In our inshore waters (12nm) are important Spawning and Nursery areas and in the South East (Wexford Waterford ) coast the Herring, Mackerel, Sprat and Sand-eel shoals are supporting the larger predatory fish like cod bass up to the mighty Fin whale.
The Geotechnical and Geophysical elements of the surveys, waters Sediment Plumes, vibrations, Electromagnet fields that radiate off energy transport cables will have a huge negative effect on the whole ecosystem in inshore
waters and the potential to wipe out Irelands charter boat fleet on which many coastal villages depend.
The ICSA are calling for a Turbine free zone inside our Territorial waters (12) to protect our fragile ecosystem , Marine Tourism Sector , Inshore Fishers and the economics of coastal communities around our coast.
2. The lack of accommodation is having an effect on our marine tourism sector especially for our overseas clients who because of the lack of accommodation are not coming to ireland. bookings are down 50% and, in some cases higher We know and understand the reason for this , but are calling for government supports to get us through this season, we got no covid supports during the pandemic so another hit would see more vessels go under
Eamonn raised the following issues
1. My Name is Eamonn Hayes I am the southern rep for the Irish Charter Skippers Association ICSA which represents Irelands charter boat fleet operating in the recreational sea angling sector in Irelands inshore waters,
our vessels also operate Eco cruises e.g. Dolphin Whale & Bird watch, showing the public the wonders in our seas.
Kilmore Quay has the largest charter boat fleet in any one port in Ireland . The ISCA Members are very alarmed at the proposed developments in our inshore waters and the negative effects they will have on the ecosystems within them ,which in turn we depend on.
In our inshore waters (12nm) are important Spawning and Nursery areas and in the South East (Wexford Waterford ) coast the Herring, Mackerel, Sprat and Sand-eel shoals are supporting the larger predatory fish like cod bass up to the mighty Fin whale.
The Geotechnical and Geophysical elements of the surveys, waters Sediment Plumes, vibrations, Electromagnet fields that radiate off energy transport cables will have a huge negative effect on the whole ecosystem in inshore
waters and the potential to wipe out Irelands charter boat fleet on which many coastal villages depend.
The ICSA are calling for a Turbine free zone inside our Territorial waters (12) to protect our fragile ecosystem , Marine Tourism Sector , Inshore Fishers and the economics of coastal communities around our coast.
2. The lack of accommodation is having an effect on our marine tourism sector especially for our overseas clients who because of the lack of accommodation are not coming to ireland. bookings are down 50% and, in some cases higher We know and understand the reason for this , but are calling for government supports to get us through this season, we got no covid supports during the pandemic so another hit would see more vessels go under