Ireland’s rope grown mussel fishery has been awarded Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. As certification for both rope-grown and bottom-grown mussels is held by Ireland’s seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), this means that the entire Irish mussel fishery under BIM management is certified.
“BIM’s strategy is to enable sustainable growth of the seafood sector in Ireland,” commented BIM’s CEO Jim O’Toole, speaking about the collaborative, cross-industry approach taken by BIM to achieve this result.
BIM celebrated the announcement during a visit to Blackshell farm in Westport, Co Mayo, where Jim O’Toole was joined by Jo Pollett, MSC UK and Ireland, and Michael Mulloy of Blackshell Farm Ltd who is also Chair of IFA Aquaculture.
“The prestigious certification achieved allows for a unique national approach where all mussel growers operating in licensed harvest locations in Ireland can now label their mussels with the MSC ecolabel, showing that they are MSC certified as sustainable and from a well-managed fishery. Ireland’s mussel industry is export focussed and MSC certification of Irish rope grown mussels provides valuable evidence to the marketplace of the sustainable environment in which our seafood is produced. This recognition by the MSC means our seafood is produced to the highest standard and protects our aquaculture for future generations,” Jim O’Toole said.
“This is a significant achievement and great news for Irish mussels,” added Jo Pollett, MSC Senior Fisheries Outreach Officer, UK and Ireland.
“BIM has shown ambition and leadership in pushing for the sustainability of Irish fisheries. We’re really excited to have this fishery as part of the MSC programme and look forward to a healthy future for Irish mussels.”
The Irish mussel industry was valued at €11.7 million in 2018 according to the BIM Business of Seafood report. The rope grown sector produces in the region of 9000 tonnes each year. This method of mussel farming was introduced in the 1980s predominantly along the west coast of Ireland and is subject to MSC from today.
