Hot topics on agenda at Irish shellfish event

Issues affecting the Irish shellfish industry will be up for debate at a conference in Co. Mayo next month.

Due to be attended by Minister of State, John Browne, the Irish Shellfish Association conference features presentations on a number of key topics.

The event takes place on May 15 and will open with a session on three major issues for the shellfish sector - licensing, the Shellfish Waters Directive and The National Development Programme for Aquaculture. Updates from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be given.

The afternoon session will see more technical subjects covered, including: Shellfish markets in the EU; The views of French shellfish customers; Opportunities for investment in Western Norway; The effect of alien species on Irish shellfish; Classification of shellfish waters under the new Good Practice Guide; Research on azasparacid; Eco-labelling; and marketing of oysters in the USA.

A special session on the relevance of carbon-footprinting to the Irish industry will feature, along with an opportunity to take part in a joint ISA/Marine Institute project on gigas spat settlement in Ireland. Speakers will include BIM and Marine Institute staff as well as invited guests from Ireland and overseas.

The ISA Annual General Meeting for members will take place at 6pm, before the conference dinner.

The conference will be held at the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport, Co. Mayo.

The event begins with a welcoming reception at 7.30pm on Wednesday, May 14 in the hotel with the Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Declan Dever.

The conference and trade show opens for registration at 9am on Thursday 15, with formal proceedings beginning at 10am.