Shellfish farmers say government red tape is costing jobs and exports

Irish Shellfish Association (ISA) Chairman, Flor Harrington addressing a meeting of growers from around the coast in Galway called on Ministers Brendan Smith and John Gormley to speed up the process of bay by bay assessment which had been delayed by over a decade to remove the logjam of over 500 licence applications for aquaculture businesses.

“Not only are the unnecessary delays hitting our licences but also preventing farmers from accessing vital capital grant aid for modernisation, improving quality and environmental management,” he said.

The farmed shellfish industry is worth over €50 million in mostly export earnings to coastal communities each year. Mussel growing is a key part of the sector providing quality seafood to the fresh and retail market as well as raw material for the important seafood processing sector at home.

Mussel farmers, in common with other licence aquaculture producers, have been left in limbo by the Department of the Environment’s failure to implement the European Habitats Directive since it was introduced into law in the 1990s. The Department’s inaction resulted in a European Court of Justice judgement in 2007 which requires the State to carry out “Appropriate Assessments” on all licensed activity in areas designated as SACs (Special Areas of Conservation) or SPAs (Special Protection Areas for birds). At least 80 per cent of all Irish aquaculture takes place in these areas.