Ireland's first artificial reef could generate several million euro in marine tourism income, according to the Mayo-based backers of the project.
The Ship2Reef Ireland group plans to sink a retired British naval vessel in Killala Bay, Co Mayo, as an attraction for sports divers and sea anglers - subject to statutory approval.
Funding for the €4 million project has already been sought by the group, comprising members of the Granuaile Sub Aqua Club in Ballina, Co Mayo, it was confirmed at a meeting in Ballina last night.
Mick Loftus of Ship2Reef Ireland says that it could qualify as a marine tourism venture under the National Development Plan.
Artificial reefs have become very popular in many inshore regions of North America and Asia, due to their ability to attract a myriad of marine organisms on which fish feed.
Those involved in designing and constructing such structures argue that they can become as "productive" as naturally occurring hard-bottom marine habitats.
Sinking of the first reef of this type off Britain's coastline attracted some 60 million visitors, Mr Loftus points out. The HMS Scylla, a retired British destroyer, was scuttled off Plymouth in 2004.
"Cork and Donegal/Derry provide great diving sites, due to the number of shipwrecks in their waters, but we don't have anything of this type in Mayo," Mr Loftus said yesterday. "We have estimated that a reef of this type in Killala Bay could generate €2-3 million annually in tourism, through visits by sports divers."
