Concerns have been raised about the possibility of oyster farming on Lough Swilly.
Recent reports of consultants surveying the Quay Shore near Manorcunningham have sparked fears over the visual and environmental impact of trestles.
Local Councillor Paul Canning is calling on the community to get educated about the targetted area.
“Research and education are critical, we need to be aware of the pros and cons of this type of farming,” Cllr Canning told Donegal Daily.
“I know that this type of farming generates employment but there are places for it and places that are not geared for it.”
Lough Swilly is a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The site supports a population of otters and the flock sizes for Whooper Swan and Greylag Goose are the highest in the country.
Cllr Canning said there is a high visual impact of oyster farms: “We are trying to promote Inch levels, Burt Castle, Grianán of Aileach, and you don’t want to be putting a blob on the visual amenity we have. When you are driving from Manor Roundabout to Newtown into Derry, and you look at the water, you don’t want to be looking down at trestles.”
Cllr Canning has suggested that a community group convenes to gather information on the shoreline should any foreshore license applications be made.
“We need to be aware of the consequences of oyster farming,” he said.
“As well as them being an eyesore, there are elements of plastic pollution that people need to be aware of.
“I would want our local area to have our children and our people educated as to what is on the foreshore so that if the application needs a submission, we are ready.”
Cllr Canning said he is liaising with an Irish Marine ecologist at Coastwatch Europe on the matter. A survey unit has been proposed to get citizens to study a 500m area of the coast at low tide.
“A Coastwatch survey would make people aware of what is out on the coastline,” Cllr Canning said. “It’s not rocket science but it’s valuable to the information being gathered.”
“If I had half a dozen people to get their heads together, gather information and make people aware, we can create a site synopsis to protect the lough.”
He added: “No point in parading about with placards if our argument doesn’t stack up.”
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