A DECISION by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to reopen Castlemaine Harbour in Co Kerry for sourcing mussel seed has been welcomed in the area.
The industry is worth €4 million to the Mid-Kerry area and fishermen were allowed to start work yesterday.
The ban had been in force for the past two years for environmental purposes because the harbour area is part of a Special Protection Area (SPA).
Killorglin area FF councillor Michael Cahill said the decision to reopen was good for the area and was welcomed by local fishermen whose boats had been tied up due to the ban.
"We have always believed that the sourcing of mussel seed has never had a negative impact on the wild bird life in the area, but rather enhances it," he said.
Mr Cahill said the harvesting of mussel seed was the main source of employment in the community.
Fishermen who had made significant investments in their boats for health and safety reasons were being deprived of a livelihood by the ban, he maintained.
The closure led to anger among fishermen and community leaders who claimed there was no scientific basis for it.
There had been intense political pressure to have the ban lifted and, this year, former Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, who represents the area, led a deputation to Fisheries Minister Seán Connick.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, August 31, 2010
