David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on statements in the recently published report on the environmental assessment of the east tip area of Haulbowline Island by a company (details supplied) published on 8 December 2008 that the harvesting of mussels is prohibited in Cork Harbour; the way this statement can be reconciled with findings published by the Marine Institute of Ireland which indicate that the toxicity in mussels has only required that the fisheries be closed on two short occasions since 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47551/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department has been advised that there is currently no specific ban on the cultivation of mussels in Cork harbour due to PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning). There have been temporary closure orders issued in the past but these closure orders were mainly for public information purposes as Cork Harbour is not designated for mussel cultivation and it is not permissible to commercially harvest mussels.

Cork harbour is a complex marine environment. In the event that an application was received to have the area classified in respect of mussels, consideration would have to be given by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to a number of factors including the bacteriological and biotoxin status of the area. The known intermittent occurrence of PSP in the area is one of a number of such factors that would be part of any such consideration.