New report on mussel sector

The review was launched by Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Mary Coughlan and Minister of State for Fisheries John Browne.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Gildernew said she recognised the current value of the Irish mussel industry and the potential this sector has to provide further wealth creation and employment to Ireland's coastal communities. “This is a truly indigenous sector based on natural resources, producing a healthy food that is in great demand and providing a sustainable livelihood to people with a range of traditional skills in fishing, farming and seafood processing.”

Minister Coughlan added: “The time has come for the bottom grown mussel sector to come together in a structured way that will leverage the most value, not only for those directly engaged in the business, but also for the wider community from this shared natural resource.”

Also commenting on the report Minister Browne TD said: “We feel that the Review Group has done a thorough job, both in teasing out the critical issues that surround the sector and in ensuring that the views of the mussel fishermen and farmers themselves were heard and reflected in the recommendations.”