Fish farm ‘will cut off access to shellfish pots’

A third generation West Cork fisherman has said fishermen are objecting to a proposed fish farm in Bantry Bay because if it proceeds, they “won’t be able to access their shellfish pots” in bad weather.

Up to 20 fishermen from Bantry, Adrigole, Castletownbere and Glengarriff fish for shrimp, prawns, crabs, lobster and scallops around Shot Head — a location which has been earmarked for Marine Harvests’ €3.5 million organic salmon farm.

“I have wanted to fish ever since I could walk. If this project goes ahead, we won’t be able to get at our pots as when the weather is bad, we will get tangled up with the ropes and buoys attached to the fish farm mooring,” said Kieran O’Shea, 21, from Adrigole.