1. Moving Mussels Offshore 24 September 2007 Trish Daly BIM

3. Killary Harbour

5. Licensed Areas in Kilmacillogue

6. Licensed Areas in Ardgroom

7. Licensed Areas V Hectarage in use

8. Production V Floatation

9. Why Move Offshore Many established Bays are overcrowded Growth rates have dropped off in some Bays Risk of bacterial and viral pollution is reduced Conflict with other Bay users is reduced The nature of our coastline offers many opportunities There is possible reduction in incidence of biotoxins

10. Offshore Mussel Trials in Ireland Semi submerged mussel longlines, single headrope lines Submerged mussel longline, Seaflex mussel float Longtube longlines, Smart Farm system

11. Semi-submerged longlines First trial 1990, Seal Harbour Adopted and modified a system from IFREMER, France Single headrope longline, 1-3m below surface Purpose built Irish mussel floats Floatation kept to a minimum

13. Seal Harbour

14. Outer Bantry Bay

16. Galway Bay Started in 2005, 7 longlines and 2 Smart lines Maximum site depth is approx. 30m Hard sandy bottom Fully exposed to southwesterlies Difficulties with droppers tangling Collected on a new heavier Spanish rope, 400g/m Preference for single anchor at either end Site access limited

17. Submerged Mussel Longline “Seaflex mussel float 2 x 20m x 300mm sandor hose Moored at both ends and in the centre Buoyancy in the water controlled through a hose connected at one end Situated 5m below surface Trial abandoned No dedicated workboat

18. Longtube System Smart Farm Individual HDPE pipes, 126m x 250mm, wall thickness 7.7mm 2 – 2.8m deep collector made from square mesh, 8mm p/p, 250mm x 250mm square 32mm headrope lashed to pipe Stainless steel clamp Pipes generally moored as grid system with prefabricated fan. Two machines available for husbandry & harvesting

19. Collector mesh & fan system

20. Thinning machine, Kenmare

21. Harvesting machine, Kenmare

22. Smart Farm in Ireland Three Bays selected: Lough Swilly, Bantry Bay, Kenmare River Different focus for each trial site Lough Swilly: strong currents, seed collection Bantry Bay & Kenmare River: Varying degrees of exposure

23. Lough Swilly

24. Max depth 20m Strong current, up to 4 knots Traditional system tried and failed, as did semi- submerged lines The lines yielded about 10 tonnes of seed each but a dive survey had estimated 14 – 16 tonnes. Brushes were not strong enough for removing the crop Collector mesh offered great potential for seed collection and relaying

25. Smart Farm in Bantry Bay Three potential sites Permission for two, licensed to Southward Ltd at Horse Island and Whiddy Lines moored individually Two lines damaged, clamp failed. Clamp design has since changed Slippage at more exposed site

26. Kenmare Bay

27. Kenmare Trial Site

28. Kenmare Bay Site characteristics Maximum depth 40m Seabed varies from hard sand to rocky Fully exposed to prevailing southwesterlies Over 12m swells recorded, current speed of about 2 knots Highly productive site

29. Mooring point specification

30. Trial Results Disappointing Pipes failed on all sites. Harvesting machine never operated to its full potential Availability of workboat and machinery major limiting factor Load cells attached to 2 westerly anchors, 2 anchor ropes and fan ring unreadable. Currently 32 lines on commercial site in Kenmare

31. Summary results Semi-submerged lines have been the most successful to date A dedicated, purpose built workboat is essential. Limited opportunities to manage and harvest lines In all these systems the tidal range of 4m is always a major factor

32. Strengths Growth rates, shell quality and meat yield all improve With advancements in reusable drop ropes and the natural flushing out associated with exposed sites the environmental impact of these farms is greatly reduced Significant advances in husbandry technology in recent years make it more achievable on a practical level

33. Weaknesses Limited technical data available on sites Workboat must be capable of operating in exposed conditions Cost of setting up V market price of mussels Weather windows limited from Autumn through to Spring Results to date did not show an improved biotoxin profile for sites tested.

34. Opportunities for the Future Shellfish farming has a place offshore and Irish coastal waters offer huge potential for mussel production in exposed and semi-exposed sites. A detailed understanding of environmental parameters, including wave climate, topography, water exchange, current speed, temperature, salinity, oxygen and assessment of risk of harmful algal blooms is needed Collaboration between the Agencies and between the sectors is essential