Hundreds gather in Kinsale to voice opposition to mussel farm

More than 300 people attended a public meeting in Kinsale this weekend, where attendees voiced concerns about a recently-approved mussel farm, which will be located in the centre of Kinsale Harbour.

The meeting came as a petition was launched by locals in the area, which at the time of going to print, had close to 2,750 signatures opposing the proposed development.

An application for the mussel farm was initially submitted in December 2018, by Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd, with an address at Dunmore East in Co Waterford.

The application, which previously saw 609 submissions made to the Department of Food, Agriculture and Marine between 2019 and 2021, sought an aquaculture and foreshore licence to establish a mussel farm in Kinsale Harbour, spanning approximately 25 hectares.

The licence, which was approved by the department at the end of May, will see the commercial cultivation of mussels in the harbour, using bottom culture on the sub-tidal foreshore, at a site between the Dock Beach, James Fort, and Charles Fort.

The public meeting at the Temperance Hall on Sunday, was headed by Kinsale resident Donal Hayes, and attended by representatives from a range of commercial and recreational interests.

A number of concerns were raised, ranging from issues pertaining to safety; impacts on harbour-based livelihood; ecological impacts on protected species and plants in the area; and concerns surrounding impacts to local amenities such as the Dock Beach.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Hayes said that he was delighted to see such a turnout at the meeting.

“I think it was great to see the town come together; it’s been a long time since we’ve had such a combined spirit,” said Mr Hayes.

“People came out of the woodwork — there was just a very positive attitude. It wasn’t about a public hanging, we’re all in this together.

“We have nearly 3,000 signatures [on the petition], which is remarkable,” he added.

“We just have to cross our fingers now and battle on.”

During the meeting, a number of locals pledged their to the campaign, some offering legal and istrative services, as well as one man who committed to a €1,000 donation in memory of his late wife, who he said had a fondness for the Dock Beach.

Additionally, an idea for a peaceful protest was proposed, which is set to take place in Kinsale Harbour on Friday from 6.30pm.

Jon Hynes, director of the Kinsale Outdoor Education Centre (OEC), who proposed the idea for the protest, said that the aim of the event is to raise awareness for the “catastrophic” impact of the proposed development.

“What we’re going to do is organise a peaceful protest in the harbour,” said Mr Hynes.

“It’s in draft format at the moment, but we’re inviting boat owners and water enthusiasts of all descriptions, both commercial and private, to come together this Friday.

“I have a vision for gathering hundreds of boats and kayaks to show the impact that this will have on the harbour.

“Kinsale has a long legacy of defending itself, and perhaps we have a modern-day battle here to protect Kinsale again,” he added.

“If this development were to go ahead, it will have a serious impact on our [the OEC’s] ability to operate our activities safely. So from that point of view, it would be catastrophic.

“This has caused a lot of anxiety among my staff. The OEC was set up to preserve local maritime skills and traditions. We’ve carried that legacy forward, and hope to do so for many years to come.”

Mr Hayes said he thinks the protest will be “very impactful”.

“I think it’ll make people aware of the huge objection to [the development] in the town.”

A number of public officials were also in attendance at the meeting, including Fianna Fáil Cork South West TD Christopher O’Sullivan, and Independent Ireland Cork South West TD Michael Collins, as well as Cork county councillors Marie O’Sullivan (Fine Gael), Gillian Coughlan (Fianna Fáil), and John Collins (Independent Ireland).

Speaking at the event, Mr Collins said that the proposed development will be a “disaster” for Kinsale.

“The facts are that we should have nipped this in the bud a long time ago,” he said.

“In 2019, I raised this issue in the Dáil; I was totally and utterly opposed to this.

“This is going to be a disaster for the marine and leisure [industries] in Kinsale — it’s bad news.

“The powers that be need to pull the plug. I see wrong in this [development] from the word go, and I will not it.”

Mr O’Sullivan said it was very clear that this is something “very close to people’s hearts”.

“Needless to say, I am very disappointed with the outcome of the decision,” he said.

“There will be protected species that may be impacted [by the development] — so if a case can be made, there are angles there.

“I can’t predict what will happen, but I think a really good submission could help the case.”

Shrimp fisher Elton O’Hea, who spoke at the meeting about the impact the development will have on his livelihood, told The Echo that the use of a trawler in the harbour will prevent him from earning a sustainable income.

“I fish shrimp exactly where the planning [for the farm] has been granted, and I’ve been fishing there for over 30 years,” said Mr O’Hea.

“The harbour is not big enough for me to move from there to another part, because of the way it’s set out. You can only get shrimp in certain parts of the harbour, and that spot is where I have 140 pots.

“Nobody ever came down to the small fishing boats in the harbour to ask us anything about it [the development] — which is my concern — this could take away a good chunk of my catch,” he added.

“If I get pushed out of there, where do I go? Shrimp are very unpredictable. We get a better catch in the harbour, and it makes the rest of our season easier.

“I don’t see why they have to come in and change what’s working — mussels will attach themselves to everything and multiply. It won’t help any of the locals.

“The room is not there for a big mussel farm to come in — I will absolutely be putting in an appeal against it.”

Ms Coughlan subsequently raised the issue of the mussel farm at a Cork County Council meeting yesterday, where council CEO Moira Murrell said she needed to give consideration to the approach taken by the local authority.

“Obviously it’s an independent process and we are in an appeal period [so] I need to be conscious of that,” she said. “It’s open to individual councillors to make submissions, and if the elected council was to make a submission, that could be submitted as well.

“I do have to make that distinction as the planning and regulatory authority, we have to give consideration notwithstanding a submission that has been made previously.”

Ms Coughlan said that the council should “stand up” for the people of Kinsale.

“I am disappointed that Cork County Council won’t be counted on this,” said Ms Coughlan.

“I accept that there are mitigating circumstances, but we are the port authority, and we should stand up to the minister on this occasion.”

Woodstown Shellfish Bay Ltd has been ed for a comment on the matter.