A Department of Marine-approved dredging operation got under way in Dunmore East yesterday, amid protests from the environmental group, Coastwatch.
The Department had granted a licence to the port of Waterford for the excavation of more than 500,000 tonnes of spoil, for a three-month period from July 31st to October 31st this year only.
Yesterday, Coastwatch insisted that, if dredging was absolutely necessary, the spoil should be brought further out into the estuary for dumping and there should be independent monitoring of the operation by fishermen and the local community. It said all monitoring results should be published on an ongoing basis.
The dredging coincided with a number of environmental events organised by Coastwatch in conjunction with local fishermen.
Coastwatch released almost 3,000 marker sticks last Tuesday as an experiment to determine tidal conditions and water quality, but said yesterday that the dredging would invalidate the experiment.
It also said the dredging would reposition more than 500,000 tonnes of spoil in an area which has an unusual wealth of spawning and juvenile grounds, as well as protected species and protected sites.
It was particularly angered at the timing of the dredging which takes place at the height of the tourist season.
In addition to the stick experiment, Coastwatch had organised a public information event for Dunmore East for yesterday as part of the Kilmore to Tramore environmental week.
Yesterday was also to have been an important working day with tagging and "v-notching" ( a form of marking) by the East Waterford Lobster Fishermen's Co-op.
"Now, yet again, we have to focus on the threats to the sea," said Ms Karin Dubsky, spokeswoman for Coastwatch.
According to Ms Dubsky, fishermen and locals had not expected dredging to get under way immediately, particularly as members were still calling for an investigation into works carried out in 2001 and 2002.
"Serious concerns were expressed about fine silt which was recorded by divers in areas off the Hook Special Area of Conservation where the water was previously clear and where lobster fishermen have become alarmed at the loss of juveniles."
The Coastwatch stick programme has sought the co-operation of members of the public in finding the sticks, and noting the location of the find as well as details such as colour, type and number of sticks present. Coastwatch had offered to pay €10 for the first sticks in differing categories returned to them.
All other sticks would attract a payment of 10 cent each, and the group was hoping the participation of the public in the event would raise awareness of the environment of the estuary. However, according to Ms Dubsky, no sticks had been discovered since the dredging began.
Efforts to contact a spokesman for Waterford Port were not successful yesterday afternoon.
