Concerns ‘foul-smelling’ algae could hit tourism

THE tourist industry in a part of west Cork could suffer serious damage if Minister for the Environment John Gormley doesn’t immediately release funds to clean up a tidal bay which is infested with a foul-smelling algae.

As the first bank holiday weekend of the summer approaches, the bay in Courtmacsherry is beginning to turn green with “sea lettuce” – an algae which thrives on nitrates and heat. For the past few years, cash-strapped Cork County Council has spent large sums of money trying to clean it up but recently admitted it needed financial help from the department for a comprehensive eradication project, which could cost in the region of €1.5 million.

Clonakilty & District Chamber of Tourism chairman Jim Daly said there was a lot of concern among his members that Mr Gormley had yet to react positively to a request sent from Cork County Council for financial aid.

A task force was set up last October to address the issue. It comprised of officials from the Marine Institute, Cork County Council, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, the Environmental Protection Agency, HSE, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Environment.

It completed its report last April and it was subsequently sent to the Department of the Environment.

“Minister Gormley has to step up to the plate now. The June bank holiday weekend is upon us and all the indications are that we are going to get a good summer.

“This [sea lettuce] has been a blight for the past two years and it’s affecting tourism revenue. It’s not helping us promote our tourism product,” Mr Daly said.

He added if the sea lettuce remained on for another summer it will deplete tourism revenue in the area. “This revenue is needed like never before,” he said.

Councillor John O’Sullivan said Courtmacsherry bay was “not looking good at the moment” because the sea lettuce was beginning to bloom again.

Some council workers were trying to remove it from Harbour View but he said a more comprehensive clean-up was urgently needed.

“The area needs it and the minister needs to find a mechanism to sort it out now. It is imperative he provides the money immediately,” Mr O’Sullivan added.

The algae was first observed in the early 1990s in several bays throughout west Cork but its growth has escalated in recent years. The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that many of the estuaries along the west Cork coast are sheltered and flushing of waste water is restricted.

Last year, the council arranged 15 collections of sea lettuce from the shoreline.