'Extraordinary public effort' as 7,500 people sign petition against mussel farm in Kinsale
Campaigners opposing the mussel farm proposed for Woodstown Bay in Kinsale Harbour have submitted an unprecedented 147 formal appeals to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB), representing the voices of more than 7,500 individuals.
The Department of Agriculture granted a licence in May to Waterford-based Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd, for a mussel farm across some 23-hectares next to Dock Beach, in an area used by swimmers, kayakers, sailors and crab fishers.
A delegation of campaigners delivered a petition signed by more than 7,000 people to the department this week, calling for it to reverse its decision to grant the licence.
Minister of state at the Department of the Marine Timmy Dooley accepted the petition and expressed an interest in exploring shorter licensing periods in future, but campaigners said he noted he would be unlikely to overturn a decision made by ALAB for legal reasons, even in the face of strong public opposition.
A large turnout on Dock beach and flotilla of boats in the waters nearby protesting about the proposed mussel farm in Kinsale harbour last month. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The 147 appeals have been submitted to ALAB from individuals, marine users, environmental groups, and local organisations.
One appeal includes a petition of 6,200 names, while others were submitted by groups representing more than 200 members each.
The cost of appeal fees alone has exceeded €25,000, with many appeals including professional input, and some taking six weeks to complete.
However, there is growing concern ALAB may treat them as a single objection, rolling them into one file.
'This process involved extraordinary public effort," said Marc O'Riain of Kinsale Harbour Watch.
"To flatten it into a single case would not only diminish the voices of thousands but seriously misrepresent the scale of opposition."
Campaigners argue this would undermine the democratic process, and risk breaching the Aarhus Convention — the international agreement, ratified by the EU, that guarantees the public's right to meaningful participation in environmental decision-making.
They have called on ALAB to recognise the integrity of each submission, acknowledge the volume of public concern, and hold a formal oral hearing.
'We remain hopeful that the appeals process will deliver a fair outcome. But if necessary, we are prepared to pursue a judicial review to protect Kinsale Harbour,' he said.
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