For many years, abandoned boats have been allowed to disintegrate before our eyes, blotting our beautiful seascapes as well as posing very real safety hazards.

Concerned residents and mariners have complained without avail. Apparently, in many cases, the powers that be had, in fact, no real powers to remove the offending boats.

This is all set to change.

Donegal County Council are in the final stages of introducing new by-laws regulating beaches, harbours and piers.

An important aspect of the new regulations is that the local authority will now be able to prosecute those who use public harbours as dumping grounds for their old boats. If the owners can't be identified or contacted, the council will have the authority to go ahead and remove the wrecks without worrying about any potential litigation.

Moville's councillor Marian McDonald welcomed the news.

She told the Journal yesterday: "Over the years, I have had so many people coming to me with concerns about old boats at Carrickarory and other piers near Moville. The state of some of these boats has to be seen to be believed and some of them are just about ready to sink. They pose a very real threat to other harbour users - potentially banging off other boats and damaging them, leaking oils and other toxins, and more. I'm also worried about the condition of some of the cranes on Carrickarory pier, and whether they are up to standard.

The Moville councillor has been working hard to keep the area tidy and attractive for tourists and locals alike. "Eyesores like these boats just take away from all that good work. Since the new picnic tables have been installed near Carrickarory pier, as part of the HEART public art project, they've proved quite popular, especially with families. But, as you look at the beautiful view, it's ruined by these old wrecks. And, you also worry about the potential danger to children and teens who might want to explore the pier and its environs. It's a real health and safety issue."

Few 'ruining it'

Colr McDonald thinks it's a pity, that just a few fishermen are ruining things for everyone. "Without question, 99% of the fishermen around Moville and Greencastle are very good custodians of the harbours and piers. They tidy up after themselves and keep the piers as safe as possible. But, there seems to be that 1% who just don't want to take any responsibility."

One regular harbour user, who does not wish to be named, says there's no doubt that some of the boats just shouldn't be there. "We're talking about businessmen who are from Inishowen, going to the trouble of removing the names and registration numbers from the boats, some of which are quite big dredgers, and stripping them right down. They obviously intended to sell the hulls for scrap, but weren't happy with the prices they were being offered. So, they've literally dumped their problem on the public."