Northern Ireland Bottom Grown Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Fishery
Last Updated: 20 April 2012
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Mussel (Mytilus edulis). Irish sea blue mussel seed.
MSC assessment status
The Conformity Assessment Body, Global Trust, has announced that the Northern Ireland Bottom Grown Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Fishery is now entering the information gathering phase of the assessment. The primary objective of this stage is to collect information on the fishery and in particular to speak to representatives of the fishery, fishery management bodies and other stakeholders of the fishery. Meetings will be carried out over the period 21 May in Dublin and 22 May in Belfast. Global Trust also expect to carry out additional consultation meetings from the 23 - 24 May and the 1 - 9 June in regional locations across Ireland on request namely Donegal,Kerry, Dublin, Belfast and Wexford.
Because this assessment will use the Risk-Based Framework for PIs 1.1.1, 2.2.1, 2.3.1, 2.4.1, 2.5.1, the certification body will request stakeholders to participate at meetings to obtain qualitative information about this fishery.
Any stakeholder with information on this fishery that should be considered in the assessment, who wishes to meet with Global Trust, or who wishes to participate in RBF meetings, should contact Clare Murray, no later than 17 May 2012.
To find out more please view the assessment downloads.
Fishery location
Various Irish Sea locations within designated under Northern Ireland or Ireland fishery regulations (e.g. Wicklow Bank, Skull martin). FAO 27
Fishing method
Modified Dutch bottom dredge
Fishery management
DAFF, Ireland (for seed mussel fishing within Irish waters).
Commercial market
Bottom mussels are sold in fresh (live) and prepared forms (fresh, frozen vacuum packed mussel in sauce) and more advanced ready meals(half shell with toppings) and as frozen meats into the wholesale, retail and food service markets. products are largely exported to Europe (France, Benelux, UK, Germany and others) and US (prepared frozen mussels in sauce).
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is expected to take 11 months and is scheduled for completion around 11/2012. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is the 05/02/2012.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
Tonnage of the fishery
The total Seed allocations for 2010 season (Northern Ireland and Ireland) were 35,397 tonnes.
