Locals in West Cork raise serious concerns over kelp harvesting project
Locals in West Cork have raised concerns about a project that they claim could result in an ecological disaster.
The Protect our Native Kelp Forest Group in Bantry Bay are calling on Minister Simon Coveney to reverse a decision to grant a licence to a biotechnology company, to mechanically harvest almost 2,000 acres of a native seaweed forest.
A 10 year trial licence to cut the large brown seaweed was granted by the Department of Planning to company BioAtlantis in 2010, and work is due to begin in the coming months.
Over 3,000 people have signed a petition to reverse the decision, saying marine life along the shorelines of the Beara and Sheep’s Head peninsula will be adversly affected.
However BioAtlantis said the project fully complies with all Marine Institute regulations and will create 58 jobs locally.
Speaking to RedFM News Deirdre Fitzgerald from the Bantry Bay group says the planning must be halted to allow a review to take place:
More from Cork
-
Woman Cycling Around Ireland Arrives In Cork
She's raising money for the RNLI
-
Yacht Crew Off Cork Coast Rescued By RNLI Over Bank Holiday Weekend
The crew called for help on Saturday night
-
Emergency Services Responded To Road Collision In Cork Overnight
The incident happened at Knocknahowla near Ballinclashet.
-
Death Toll Rises To 290 Following Bombings In Sri Lanka
No group has said it was behind the attack
-
The Top 4 Things You Need To Know Now
The main stories making the news across Cork
-
More Steps Need To Be Taken To Tackle West Cork's Homeless Crisis
That's according to Social Democratic candidate Evie Nevin