Fears for Bantry Bay sprat to be highlighted at West Cork event tomorrow

Concerns over the overfishing of sprat will be highlighted at a public meeting taking place in West Cork tomorrow.

The Save Our Sprat Bantry Bay group will lead the public event, taking place at the Beicín in Bantry on Sunday 1pm to 2pm.

The public demonstration, with an expected turnout of 100 people, will feature an address from group spokesperson, Dolf D`Hondt, who will highlight the ongoing aim of the campaign.

“It is the view of Save Our Sprat Bantry Bay that the restrictions proposed in July don’t address the real issue.

“The ban on specific boat sizes is a redistribution of fishing resources from larger boats to mid-sized ones rather than an effort to protect the sprat populations from overfishing,” he said.

“The Government is avoiding the real issue, which is the increasing depletion of sprat in our bays and estuaries.

In his address, Mr D’Hondt will call on the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, and Fianna Fáil Cork South West TD, Christopher O’Sullivan, to “demand a moratorium on all sprat fishing” ahead of the spawning season.

Mr D’Hondt’s address will be followed by an address from Social Democrats’ spokesperson on the Marine, Jennifer Whitmore TD, at 2.30pm at the Marino Church, Wolfe Tone Square. Attendees will then be invited to watch a free screening of David Attenborough’s new film Ocean,which highlights the importance of healthy oceans and the threats they face.

The screening will take place at the Marino Church from 3pm.

For more information, visit: www.saveoursprat.ie, or email: info@saveoursprat.ie.