Future of €40m mussel industry in jeopardy, parliament told

THE future of the country’s €40 million mussel industry was at risk at a time when demand for shellfish was increasing, the European Parliament was told.

The Department of Fisheries has banned fishermen collecting mussel seed in some locations around the coast because they are in, or close to, specially protected areas.

The worst affected are up to 70 families in the Kerry region of Cromane who have been told that their entire fishing area is out of bounds, South MEP Colm Burke told the Parliament.