More than 20 groups representing fishermen, environmentalists, hoteliers and residents came together in Buncrana yesterday to "Save the Swilly". They are campaigning for a moratorium on new salmon- and shellfish-farming licences in Lough Swilly until the full environmental impact is assessed.
The umbrella group called for consultation with local people before further licences were granted.
"The Department of the Marine has confirmed that existing and proposed installations cover well over 1,000 acres of the surface of Lough Swilly," said a spokesman, Mr John Mulcahy.
Some 25 licences have already been granted for either shellfish- or salmon-farming in the lough, and a further five applications are pending. The Save the Swilly group says locals are concerned that the Department of the Marine is "in the process of designating the lough for intensive aquaculture with little or no public consultation".
Mr Mulcahy said Mulroy Bay on the other side of the Fanad peninsula had seen intensive aquaculture development, and people did not want to see this repeated. "Local opinion is that Mulroy Bay has become seriously polluted as a result of aquaculture, and people feel there has been inadequate research into its impact," he said.
"We want a moratorium until there is a comprehensive assessment of the impact of aquaculture on Mulroy Bay and until it is seen if similar consequences are acceptable or desirable for Lough Swilly," he added.
Groups represented in Save The Swilly include the Buncrana Anglers' Association, An Taisce, Aileach Net Fishermens' Association, Donegal Inshore Fishermens' Organisation, Rathmullan hotel-owners and a number of residents' groups.
The group is arguing that it does not make sense for the Government to spend £2.5 million on building marinas on the lough while also encouraging aquaculture. "Most users will tell you that navigation is now difficult because of the lines and cages," said Mr Mulcahy.
It is also argued that the economic benefits from aquaculture could be negated by the impact on tourism. Hotel-owners have received complaints from guests about the fish farms, and commercial fishermen say their livelihoods are threatened.
Mr Mulcahy said they were also concerned about health issues raised in a BBC documentary screened earlier this week on salmon-farming. They were concerned about antibiotics, pesticides and other chemicals used in fish farming and that excess food and faeces were ending up on the sea bed.
"Divers say the sea bed in Mulroy Bay looks like it is covered in volcanic ash. Everything is killed off except mussels, and the sea bed is devastated," he said.
Mr Chris Shaw from the Buncrana Anglers' Association said they were worried about farmed salmon escaping and the impact this would have on wild salmon. He said 15 per cent of the anglers' total catch in 1996 was of farm origin.
The group is also unhappy with the procedure for lodging objections. The Aquaculture Appeals Board considers objections only after licences have been granted. To date only one decision relating to Lough Swilly has been overturned.
They want a long-term plan for the future of the lough and for angling and tourism interests to be considered. "What we need to establish is what Department policy is and how far they are going on this. They have not handed down any policy statement," Mr Mulcahy said.