Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available to fishermen fishing for mussels in Castlemaine Harbour, County Kerry, who have been unable to fish at the harbour for a long period of time; if he will ensure they will be able to continue to be able to earn their livelihoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6157/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A comprehensive framework exists to deal with seafood safety in Ireland. The Marine Institute is responsible for monitoring shellfish for the presence of naturally occurring phytoplankton toxins. Toxicity can occur at any time during the year and the periods of closure can vary considerably from year-to-year. The monitoring programme is designed to detect toxicity in shellfish growing areas before harvesting, thereby providing the necessary information to restrict the placement of toxic shellfish on the market. Regulatory controls, which are enforced by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, exist to support these restrictions.

Cromane Bay has been on a closed biotoxin status on an almost continuous basis since July 2012 for azaspiracid toxins, with levels of azaspiracids detected occasionally up to 9 times the regulatory limit. Azaspiracid shellfish poisoning can cause diarrhoea, nausea, headaches and chills. I am advised that the azaspiracid toxicity event is expected to pass in the near future.

I am aware of the difficulties that these naturally occurring toxicity events cause for shellfish fishermen and aquaculture operators. I understand that mussel farmers in Cromane have been unable to bring their product to market because of this toxicity event, but the State controls are there to protect public health and indeed the international reputation of Irish seafood thereby ensuring the future of this important sector.

While there are no specific funds available for operators affected by these natural occurring events, which are an inevitable occasional feature of operating aquaculture farms in Irish coastal waters, a range of financial support measures co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund are available to the seafood sector through the Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013.