EU support sought as mussel producers cease fishing to protect consumers
Cork South West Fine Gael TD, Noel Harrington, said these producers, in order to protect consumer safety and guarantee the highest standards and image abroad for Irish seafood, had halted harvesting for most of the winter because of biotoxins in the water.
Mr Harrington asked Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister, Simon Coveney, if he would recognise the call by the Irish Farmers’ Association to immediately support the many family businesses facing closure.
In a written reply, Minister Coveney said a robust shellfish biotoxin-monitoring regime was essential to protect consumers and to safeguard the good reputation of the Irish seafood industry.
The Minister said he was aware that a number of bays in the southwest had temporary suspensions of harvesting over the winter, as the level of biotoxins exceeded the regulations.
Harvesting suspensions are not unusual and all aquaculture enterprises know these suspensions are a business risk, he said.
“However, I am informed by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority that the toxicity events in the southwest are abating.
“Some of the production areas in the southwest have already re-opened for harvesting, and lifting of suspensions in certain other production areas appears to be imminent,” he said
Minister Coveney said he had received a request from aquaculture industry representatives for compensation for rope-mussel farming enterprises affected by harvesting suspensions.
Minister Coveney said his Department was finalising a new Seafood Development Programme under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
This will determine, in the best interests of Ireland and its seafood sector, how to use the finite resources that will be available in the coming years.
“I will be publishing a detailed consultation document and Strategic Environmental Assessment, for public consultation, in the next month or so, with a view to submitting the new programme to the Commission, by May this year, for its consideration and adoption,” he said.
