Pollution, erosion seen as the main threats to coastline

Ireland's coastal zone is threatened by litter, sewage, builders' rubble, plastic fishing gear and coastal erosion, the launch of an island-wide coastal survey carried out by the environmental protection group Coastwatch was told yesterday.

Addressing the survey launch and one-day seminar in the European Parliament offices in Dublin, Mr Liam Cashman, an administrator with the European Commission said pollution - as well as inaction on the EU Habitat Directive - had made habitat conservation the island's most pressing issue from the perspective of EU environmental law.

The survey was carried out last autumn and Mr Cashman said continuing threats to individual habitats were worsened by delays in processing a complete list of proposed special areas of conservation (SACs).

Northern Ireland fared better than the Republic in the survey in terms of litter pollution, builders' rubble and household refuse found in the coastal zone, while the amount of oil found in both parts of the island was small.

In terms of future threats to the coastal environment the survey revealed that erosion was seen as the number one threat in the Republic.

The seminar was chaired by Ms Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch Europe international co-ordinator, who told The Irish Times that six key areas of action needed to be addressed by the authorities in the Republic as a matter of urgency.

These included:

a change in the appeals board set up under the 1997 Habitat Directive to allow individuals or bodies to contest the size of a designated habitat. Also a removal of the bar on appeals from those not directly affected by a designated habitat.

Clarification of which State agency should deal with a threat to a habitat and an end to "buck-passing" between agencies.

Enhanced wetland protection, including the requirement that reclamation of wetlands be subject to planning permission.

Clarification on whether the plans for Dublin dock-land development are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

The establishment of a coastal zone management body - preferably an all-Ireland body.

The enforcement of a public right of access to beaches.