The Celtic League reiterates its opposition to the potentially catastrophic environmental impact of marine aggregate extraction
It is now almost a year since the Isle of Man government announced its decision to grant licences to carry out exploratory work leading to possible major commercial extraction of sand and gravel from the sea-bed around the Island.
The news provoked a storm of controversy from a broad range of interest groups from environmental bodies and local authorities to fishermen.
Since that time, although the exploratory work has gone ahead ,the Isle of Man DTI has been remarkably (and perhaps understandably) quiet on the issue.
Whilst the initial furore which followed the announcements has died down the government should not construe this as meaning that opposition to the potentially catastrophic environmental impact of marine aggregate extraction has gone away.
The Celtic League still have grave misgivings about the wisdom of allowing any commercial extraction which would lead to pollution and probable long term damage to the marine environment. (See links to early CL News articles)
Areas to the north (west and east) of the Isle of Man are currently being assessed for exploitation and should that exploratory work ultimately lead to full licences to extract aggregate we stand the risk of seeing a vast area of sea-bed which is the common heritage of all the communities around the Irish sea being despoiled. This is too valuable a resource to be trashed so that commercial interests can make profits and the Isle of Man government can boost its revenues
In 2000 in a general report on the Marine environment UK agency, DEFRA, said in relation to mineral extraction:
"The process of removal of sea-bed material inevitably involves some disturbance of the benthos and alteration of the sea-bed profile. This can lead to major local changes".
They also pointed out that:
"extraction of sand from near-shore banks has led to beach erosion".
The Celtic League reiterates it's opposition to the commercial extraction of gravel and sand from the sea areas around the Isle of Man. We urge other bodies (environmental groups, fishermen and local authorities) to restate their concerns.
A clear message needs to be sent to the DTI and their commercial 'bed-fellows' that the sea-bed off the Isle of Man is not for sale.
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
12/01/08
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