The Celtic League have written to Fisheries agencies in Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man expressing concern about the potential damage to the marine environment which could be caused if aggregate extraction is sanctioned off the North East coast of the Isle of Man.

The Manx government have authorised initial exploratory 'prospecting' work in the area and this could lead to substantial sea-bed working in the area.

The League have already expressed concern about potential dangers caused by the radioactive pollution of the area. However, they point out to the Fisheries agencies that this particular section of the N E Irish sea is also a vital spawning area for several species of fish. As such the potential working could be extremely damaging to fishing communities around the Irish sea that are already hard-pressed.

A copy of the correspondence to the various agencies is set out below:

"Dear Sir,

I write with reference to the decision by the Isle of Man government to license exploratory work off its North east coast in respect of possible aggregate extraction.

The Celtic League has already voiced concern about these plans which although initially limited in terms of the investigatory element do have the potential to result in a substantial sea-bed working. The substantial sea area of the initial prospecting licence is set out in the attached chart with its southern extremity adjacent to Maughold Head and the Northern most point off the Point of Ayre.

The sea-bed area in question is of course heavily polluted by radioactive waste discharged from the Sellafield reprocessing plant and any disturbance of these sediments is, in our view, unwise.

However, an equal and more pressing concern is the potential for long term ecological damage to sea fisheries in the area. Marine charts we have looked at indicate that the area to be 'prospected', and the adjacent sea areas which could be polluted if any working was authorised, are critical for the spawning of several species of fish vital to the fishing communities of Mann, Scotland, N. Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

I am sending identical letters to Fisheries Agencies in Mann, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and N. Ireland and trust that some of these agencies will take a keen interest in this issue.

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt"

See also Celtic News:

No. 2190 OFFSHORE AGGREGATE EXTRACTION - WAKE UP TO THREAT ISLAND URGED Apr 23, 2007 No. 2183 MANX URGED TO BLOCK AGGREGATE EXTRACTION FROM RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED SEA-BED Apr 21, 2007

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

28/04/07

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