The Irish Shellfish Association has put a strong case to Minister Simon Coveney outlining the severe crisis in the mussel production sector in west Cork and Kerry as a result of highly unusual algal blooms this winter.
According to the association, some bays have been forced to close down for five consecutive months and farmers have had to watch their crops wash away during the winter storms instead of fetching premiums in top supermarkets and restaurants. Producers from Castlemaine to Dunmanus Bay have been impacted, with up to 10,000 tonnes of top quality mussel crop lost to the elements or now unusable.
The Irish Farmers Association’s aquaculture executive, Richie Flynn, said, “By closing their harvesting operations, the mussel farmers ensured the consumer and food safety comes first but unfortunately they have no control over the length of time these natural blooms can persist in the ocean.”
The association calling on Minister Coveney to use EU rules to find a scheme to help dozens of small family businesses along the south west coast to stay in business, and Irish Shellfish Association chairman, Jerry Gallagher said he was appealing to Minister Coveney to find a financial solution to the problem as allowed under the EU Fisheries Fund rules.
“This is the Minister’s chance to make a real difference and keep open a successful indigenous industry in an important economic black-spot. With the expertise of BIM and other agencies such as the Marine Institute, a full assessment of the damage is possible and a legal and justifiable scheme can be implemented without delay”, said Mr Gallagher.
