Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 593: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he is closing the mussel industry in Cromane, County Kerry through his proposal to designate the area where they harvest their mussel seed as a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25988/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The foreshore adjacent to Cromane, Co. Kerry has been designated under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as Castlemaine Harbour candidate Special Area of Conservation by reason of its Annex I marine habitats: mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide, and estuaries, amongst others.

My Department has not objected to any currently licensed aquaculture within this site which includes areas for both blue mussels and pacific oysters.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the responsible authority for licensing activities of this nature although I, as Minister, am a statutory consultee.