Terrible smell, but millions of shellfish slow down erosion at Rosslare beach
ROSSLARE hotelier Bill Kelly says the deluge of millions of shellfish on the beach could have a positive effect in slowing down coastal erosion, although the short term effect was the strong odour given off by the decomposing sea animals.
Huge numbers sand gapers and razor clam,s along with various other shellfish and crabs, were washed ashore a few days ago and according to some locals they keep on coming.
One woman said more shellfish landed on Thursday last week, adding to the piles already there.
She said she believed that dredging at Rosslare Harbour was responsible, however both Mr Kelly and port captain Aedan Jameson said the weather was to blame.
‘With an easterly wind they came off the lower banks and washed off the sandbanks a kilometre off the beach. I wouldn’t say it’s anything to do with dredging which has been going on for some years and has been absolutely positive for us.
‘I would say a lot of the razor shell guys who are exporting to Japan and other places put them on beds that were quite high and where the waves stared battering first,’ said Mr Kelly.
‘It’s unusual to get such strong easterlies, but what has happened is part of nature and the shells on the beach will actually curtail the erosion,’ said the hotelier.
Gerry Forde, senior engineer (environment) at Wexford County Council, said the north easterlies were definitely to blame.
‘We had some inspectors out on the dredgers and it’s not them, it’s the north east winds,’ he said.
Mr Forde said that while the phenomeon was unusual, there had been similar events affecting spider crabs and razor clams in the county before.