Green Party calls for a Marine Park for Scotsman's Bay

Press Release: Dún Laoghaire 14 March 2007

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14 March 2007

Green Party calls for a Marine Park for Scotsman's Bay

"Designating the Bay as a Marine Park would ensure that sea-life was protected"

Dún Laoghaire TD and Green Party Environment spokesman Ciarán Cuffe has called on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council to consider proposals for the creation of a Marine Park in Scotsman's Bay in Dún Laoghaire.

Ciarán Cuffe TD stated: "The Green Party has been investigating practical proposals for the improvement of our coastline and one of the more interesting ideas has been the suggestion that a Marine Park be created in the area to the front of Newtownsmith between Sandycove and the East Pier. This part of Dublin Bay is apparently a spawning ground for lobsters and contains all sorts of sea life. According to a report from Coastwatch Ireland Scotsman's Bay is an important nursery for brown crab and lobsters. Designating the Bay as a Marine Park would ensure that sea-life was protected, and could help to improve their spawning grounds.

"Marine Parks are more common in other countries such as New Zealand, and provide a way to protect and enhance the natural amenities in and around the sea. Designation of the area would also limit fishing in the bay.

"The new sewage pipeline in Dalkey will lead to less sewage discharges into the sea at Coliemore. As the currents in the Bay bring water into Scotsman's Bay from the south, this will help to improve the quality of the sea-water in Scotsman's Bay. This could be a great opportunity to create a Marine Park that would protect the sea-life and the Bay.

"We'd love to see a bathing facility on the coast through either the restoration of the existing Dún Laoghaire baths, or the building of a modest development would put back in place an amenity for children as well as creating a visitor attraction close to the People's Park. It could house adult baths, a children's pool and a café. I have written to the County Manager Owen Keegan, asking him to consider these proposals.

Cllr. Kealin Ireland added:
"The Green Party wants to see the protection and enhancement of the coastline. Save our Seafront did a fantastic job in getting the high-rise proposal for the Baths site turned down. What we now need to see is action on putting in place a Marine Park as well as an appropriate development of the Baths site.