Oyster farm ‘no benefit' to ‘Haven

AN application for a foreshore licence for an oyster farm in Castlehaven Bay has met with local opposition.

A group of local residents are working together to oppose the application made by AG Oysters, which has a registered address in Dublin.

The members of the group are sending letters of protest to the Minister for the Marine – who has the authority to grant a foreshore licence – outlining their objections.

They claim that the oyster farm would ‘severely impact and limit the recreational use and would have a negative visual impact on this beautiful coastal area.’

The protesters have also warned of the damages that could be caused by ecological changes due to the fact that oysters are ‘a foreign species.’

They claim that the proposed access point ‘is not suitable for commercial use’ and that the condition of the road would easily deteriorate under the burden of heavy machinery.

Commenting on the applicant’s assertion that the proposed oyster farm would employ one full-time person and a seasonal person, the protesters said: ‘There is no real economic benefit to the local community of West Cork.’

They claim: ‘Castlehaven Bay has long been an area of independent commercial fishing. Currently, there are seven independent fishermen who depend on these waters for their livelihood. If the proposed oyster farm were erected, these fishermen would no longer be able to viably fish there and it would have a devastating economic impact for those individuals.’