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
-
Social Democrats Co-Leader Confirms Party Won't Be Involved In Any Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Coalition
Catherine Murphy has tweeted that it's a "definite no" to their 6 TDs supporting such a government
-
Over 150,000 Euro Awarded To Spike Island For Development Of Coastal Walkway Route
The funding has been awarded under the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltachts Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
-
The Language We Use To Describe Sexual Violence Is Important
That's according to Mary Crilly of Sexual Violence Centre Cork
-
Cork Has Been Assigned 17 Of The 201 New Gardaí Who Passed Out From The Garda College In Templemore Yesterday
The new recruits bring Garda numbers for sworn members to their highest level in a decade
-
Organisation Calling On The Next Government To Refocus On Issue Of Assisted Suicide
Exit is a non-profit public company which provides information on the law surrounding assisted suicide
-
Cast Of 'Friends' Are Set To Reunite For An Unscripted Special Of The Programme
The show will air on HBO Max, according to the streaming service