The blue mussel sectors in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development NI, and the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine have earned Marine Stewardship Council certification.
Subject to chain of custody traceability certification, mussels from the fishery are now eligible to bear the MSC’s eco-label.
Fishing involves collecting mussels in mid-summer to early autumn and moving them to inshore, protected areas to grow. The mussels are then harvested from licensed and leased beds at any time of the year. The seed mussel fishery is managed as a joint resource and licenses for re-laying have been granted in both countries.
The bottom grown blue mussel sector is a key contributor to the aquaculture sector in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland both in terms of export volume and value. In 2011, the fishery produced 7,613 metric tons (MT) of mussels in Northern Ireland and 12,524 MT in the Republic of Ireland. Together their production was worth more than EUR 17 million (USD 22.5 million) with key markets in the Netherlands creating a strong business case for certified sustainable seafood.
“This is a significant achievement by the Irish and Northern Irish mussel fisheries,” said Claire Pescod, MSC fisheries outreach manager. “This cross border collaboration between their respective governments and industry is a great example of how governments can work together to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries as well as the long term sustainability of their fishing industries and coastal communities. Congratulations to the mussel farmers who have made this possible.”
