asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is intended to develop and extend the mussel industry in Cromane, Killorglin, County Kerry by the induction of sufficent money to plant all the mussel seed which is available in Castlemaine harbour and which is going to waste.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Mussel Industry.
56.
For a number of years past my Department and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara in association with the local fishermen's co-operative society have been actively engaged in the transplantation of seed mussels in Castlemaine Harbour to areas in the harbour where fattening conditions are more favourable and it is intended that this work will be continued. Since 1961 the State subvention of the cost of mussel transplantation in this area has been in the region of £8,000 and a further subvention is being made towards the cost of this work in the current year. An average of about 1,500 tons per year of mussels have been relaid in recent years and it is expected that a further 3,000 tons will be relaid this year. The success of this rehabilitation programme can be judged from the statistics of mussel landings which have risen from 15,000 cwt. valued at £7,600 in 1966 to 53,000 cwt. valued at £32,000 in 1969.