Oyster Farm Proposed for Castlehaven Bay – Make Your Voice Heard Before April 19th

map of proposed oyster bedscastletownshend bay co cork ireland

map of proposed oyster beds castletownshend bay co cork ireland
News arrives of an application (filed in 2016) for an aquaculture license for “Castletownshend Bay”.

The period for public comment expires April 19th 2019, so if you wish to express your opinion for or against the proposal, now is the time. See below for the address, the formal applications and other resources.

Here are brief details of the proposal:
What: Oyster farming. From seed or half-grown to full grown. Bags on frames in the inter-tidal section of the bay (so, covered at high tide, uncovered at low tide). To be tended by tractors.
Where: Off The League, south towards Reen Pier (see the map above)
How big: 3 hectares (about 3 rugby pitches)
Who: AG Oysters, France

The address to write to is:
(For the attention of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine
Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division
National Seafood Centre
Clonakilty Co. Cork P85 TX47

Recommended email address for your comments: APC@agriculture.gov.ie (clicking this link will automatically open your email client and insert a subject line with the application number)

Contact form for DAFM Choose the “Sea Fisheries” category and then the “Aquaculture Licensing Section” sub-category. (Application number 250219)
Contact page for DAFM (Application number 250219)

Here is a template for a letter of objection, kindly provided by the Castletownshend Rowing Club. You may wish to change it in ways which better express your own opinions.
Objection to Oyster Farm (Template) (RTF)
Objection to Oyster Farm (Template) (DOC)

The formal application by AG Oysters:
T05605AApplic250219-oysters-castlehaven

The formal statement of environmental impact (including a passing reference to sewage):
Castlehaven Bay Natura Screening for Aquaculture 250219 (PDF)