Decline of the inshore fishery off north Co. Wicklow.

[twinkle]

does that mean that what there doing is illlegal?

[lodore]

What really has me holding my head in utter dismay at reading news like this is the fact the sea bed isn't even being gouged for something that's particularly hard to get. When a female mussel reproduces, it ejects between 5 and 12 million eggs into the water, which are then fertilised by the males. In the wild, most of these obviously won't survive, but think about it: a single mussel produces enough offspring to support the entire Irish mussel industry.

So, does the government of our allegedly 'smart' economy sponsor any research into how seed mussel can be artificially cultivated? No, because that would require some forward planning, and those clowns have proved already that reaction--rather than action--is about all they're capable of. Instead, they allow for a holocaust to be visited on the sea bed to the detriment of everyone and everything that isn't a commercial fisherman.

Honestly, it makes you sick to think about it.

[paul skelly]

hi all is there any point in fishin these beaches any more? fished graystones first river yesterday and blanked

[bigsod]

hi all is there any point in fishin these beaches any more? fished graystones first river yesterday and blanked

Greystones and surrounding beaches still throw up fish, sizable Codling, coalies, bass, various flats, rays and tope have all been caught here in the last year, while nothing like the glory days good catches can still be had.

[Caz-Galway]

Hi All,

Its not feasible to set up a hatchery for the rearing of mussel spat as so much spat is needed. As I have stated before you need to relay 1 ton of mussel spat for the harvest of 1 ton of suitable sized harvest mussel as there is so much predation and mortality on a relaid mussel bed.

The oldest company doing re-laid mussels in the south-east has been running since the early 60's so this is not a new industry for Ireland. Also there are only certain bays in Ireland that are suitable for re-laying mussel seed and hence you can only get so much product/mussel no matter how much seed you harvest.

The problem as I see it has been the exporting of seed from Ireland to other EU countries such as Holland. This needs looking at. Another example of short term gain for long term environmental destruction.

For those interested in learning more about the bottom mussel industry in Ireland look at this

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/mig ... port08.pdf

Caz

[Ashley Hayden]

Hi all,

A number of good points have been raised and I am glad to see that Caz has posted up a link to the "Rising Tide" report. This is the most up to date report on the industry and I have to say is quite fair in its assessments. However it also highlights the head in the sand approach that the commercial sector continues to take. A few points to illustrate:

1. Demand for mussels exceeds supply by four to one. The whole marketing aspect of the report is based, AS USUAL, on market forces, this just is not sustainable.

2. Exploitation of the Irish Sea seed mussel stock has increased in the last decade by 300%.

3. To meet market demand negotiations are being made with other jurisdictions such as the Welsh and Scottish regarding seed mussel harvesting.

4.In 2005 and 2006 €25million was spent on 7 new mussel dredgers. This while the quantity of mussel seed available in the Irish Sea is diminishing due to over exploitation from Northern Irish and Wexford based boats.

5. The bottom growing mussel sector represents 60% of all mussels harvested in Ireland.

6. 96% of all marketable Northern Irish mussels are bottom harvested.

7. The bottom mussel industry supports 167 full time and 107 part time jobs. Very important and necessary in this day and age. However these jobs are under threat as are all commercial fishery sector jobs due to the "inexhaustable sea approach" of the people that manage the industry. Essentially a dark ages approach based on short term gain.

8. 75% of all Irish sea mussels presently are harvested off Wicklow Head on the India bank.

I believe in the present economic climate with the industry both here and in Holland hamstrung by shortages of mussel seed that subsidising hatchery and or rope reared spat for the bottom mussel industry is the way forward. There is also room for more traditional and sustainable methods like the original Boyne Estuary mussel fishermen used. BIG IS NOT BEST when it comes to seafood harvesting, it is about time that the industry in total got its head around this. When that happens more jobs will be created and the consumer will be able to buy a greater variety of seafood with a far better quality.

Regards,

Ashley Hayden

http://www.anirishanglersworld.com