Comments from the Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
We welcome the inclusion of amendment 1.359 which notes “Offshore wind energy has the potential, if unmitigated, to result in loss of access to fisheries which has the potential to impact upon this industry”. We would like to add, in this respect, commercial sea fishing is a long standing, pre-existing and traditional activity in the marine environment. It is essential that any negative impacts on fisheries are avoided. The evaluation of potential impacts on any commercial sea fishing activities needs to be given consideration as part of any planning/proposal process and during the development process itself. It is imperative that engagement should be sought with the fishing industry and other relevant stakeholders at as early a stage as possible to discuss any changes that may affect them to afford a chance for their input. Fishers’ interests and livelihoods must be fully recognised, supported, and taken into account.
In the ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report for Proposed Material Alterations to the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028’, we have one comment. The text notes: Paragraph 6.64 “Any agricultural or fishing/aquaculture activities related developments or would be considered subject to compliance with the Habitats and Birds Directives and in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland as relevant”. Please note marine commercial fisheries and aquaculture falls under the remit of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, not the IFI (which deal with inland fisheries in rivers and lakes etc).