Coastwatch Europe has lodged a complaint with the European Commission over the dumping of dredged spoil in Galway Bay. The dumping site is in a candidate special area of conservation.
Ms Karin Dubsky, Coast watch international co-ordinator, has criticised the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, for approving the licensing of the activity as part of dredging work by Galway Harbour Company.
The effect on the marine environment and on the livelihoods of traditional inshore fishermen had been completely ignored, she says.
Galway Harbour Company says it is dumping only on spoil grounds which are marked on the Admiralty Chart for the bay, and which have been used before.
Ms Dubsky is particularly critical of the role of Duchas in failing to protect a marine habitat. She says she found it impossible to contact Duchas during the immediate period after the dredging started in early August.
Duchas says it has made recommendations in relation to archaeology and points out that fisheries is a matter for the Department of the Marine.
Mr John O'Flaherty, chairman of the Galway and Claddagh Boat Owners' Association, says the incomes of up to 30 fishing families will be severely affected by the dumping of material on grounds behind Hare island.
The association met the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, earlier this week, but Mr O'Flaherty believes that this came too late to make any difference.
Shrimp, lobster and crab stocks could be wiped out for up to seven years, Mr O'Flaherty says. "We can't put out pots, and it is like soup out there."
The Department of the Marine says the licence was subject to an environmental impact assessment, and the material being disposed of is largely organic. The site would be monitored after the dredging, a spokesman said.
Capt Brian Sheridan, harbour master, said he had met the fishermen several times earlier this month. The licence application had taken 18 months, and had been sent to all relevant statutory bodies, including Duchas and the Western Regional Fisheries Board.
It covered dredging of the inner dock, a lay-by berth and approach channel and precluded a quarantined area where tankers tie up, where there are higher than average readings of lead and cadmium.
Capt Sheridan said he had instructed the dredger not to work in this quarantined area, and denied a claim by the boat owners' association that this had been ignored.
Capt Sheridan said that extensive studies were to be carried out by NUI Galway after the dredging work was complete at the end of this month. The spoil ground area was to be monitored periodically to study the impact.
Mr O'Flaherty said there was now a complete breakdown of trust between the boat owners' association and the harbour company. "We didn't go into meetings looking for compensation. Our main concern is the fishery. But if our livelihoods have been damaged, then those responsible will have to reimburse us," he added.
