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‘Extraordinarily flimsy evidence’ cannot be relied on to regulate shellfish farming

By Gery Flynn

Shellfish farmers and processors as well as public health regulators throughout the EU are weighing up the implications of the latest statement by the influential European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of the effect of processing on levels of certain marine biotoxins in bivalve shellfish such as mussels.

Issued on March 25 and officially termed a ‘Scientific Opinion‘, it builds on a similar statement issued in 2007 and is the result of a European Commission request ‘to elaborate further on the influence of processing’ on the levels of two specific groups of marine biotoxins: okadaic acid (OA) and azaspiracids (AZA) which triggered a Rapid Alert by the French authorities last year after higher than acceptable levels were detected in processed mussels imported from Ireland.

Is there light at the end of aquaculture licencing tunnel?

By Gery Flynn

Government commitment to solving the licensing logjam which is preventing expansion of the aquaculture industry here has been reinforced by the revelation that discussions between Irish and EU officials are on-going, and have also involved a bilateral meeting between the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the EU Environment Commissioner.

This was Minister of State Tony Killeen’s key message at the IFA Aquaculture conference in Kenmare where he underlined “government confidence” in the industry by committing €3.8m for new developments in 2010 and €1.4m specifically for data collection to support aquaculture licencing in marine NATURA 2000 sites.

“We have to face up to the fact that there are licencing and regulation issues facing your industry now that cannot be circumvented or walked away from. We cannot just pretend they don’t exist,” the Minister Killeen declared.

Fishermen’s federation welcomes CFP green paper but questions the analysis

By Gillian Mills

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s green paper on the Common Fisheries Policy, which kick starts a ten-year review, saying it represents the start of a “vital and overdue reform process” but takes “major issue” with much of its analysis.
According to FIF chairman, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, the document makes clear that the Commission “finally accepts the need for ‘whole-scale (sic) reform of the CFP’ which is a welcome acknowledgement of the position of the Irish industry for many years.”
A consultation period will follow until the end of 2009, with the substantive political negotiations to be completed by 2011. “It is vital that the Irish government and fishing industry engage fully in the process to maximise Ireland’s national position,” he warns.