Bere Island Conservation Plan - The Heritage Council

The shores and surrounding waters have good habitat diversity, with some beds
of maerl (a soft white sediment, high in calcium) off the coast and the presence
of many warm-water species characteristic of the south-west. Although listed as
being of relatively high value in terms of marine habitats by the national BioMar
Survey (a national survey of marine and coastal environments), the offshore
areas adjacent to the island have not received any statutory protection. Water
quality around the island is generally considered satisfactory, although some
deterioration is suspected due to discharges from the Castletownbere area on
the mainland and Rerrin village on the island itself.
Traditionally, the waters around the island have contributed significantly to the
livelihood of the islanders, with scallops, lobsters, oysters and sea urchins the
most profitable species fished. Current commercial fishery activities are based
principally on aquaculture (mainly salmon), shellfish farming (abalone, scallops,
urchins, rope mussels) and the harvesting of seaweed (Plate 1).
Plate 1: Rope mussel lines off the northern shore of Bere Island
The continued diversity of the waters and habitats around the island, as well as
the success and sustainability of commercial fishery enterprises, are dependent
on the maintenance of good water quality, sensitive exploitation of wild
fisheries, and the maintenance of aquaculture developments to within the
natural bearing capacity of the surrounding marine environment. (This bearing
capacity has yet to be established.) The final results of a study (by Aberdeen
University, in conjunction with the Bantry Bay Coastal Zone Charter) carried out
to determine the harbour’s water quality will go some way towards establishing
a baseline of water quality around the island.
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