THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of misinterpreting a European Court of Justice ruling in deciding to close a valuable mussel fishery in Co Kerry.
The Irish Farmers Association's aquaculture division has warned that more than 50 jobs are at stake over the closure of the Cromane fishery without consultation.
The fishery is valued at more than €4 million annually to the local economy.
Some 24 bays, including Cromane, were closed to mussel seed fishing almost two months ago by statutory instrument to "conserve the resource and protect the environment".
The order was signed by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in response to a European Court of Justice ruling of December 13th,2007.
The European Commission has "clearly stated" that SAC designation and aquaculture can "easily and sustainably co-exist", and this was confirmed in an appeal by the Cromane community in March 2000 to the original SAC designation, the association's aquaculture executive secretary, Richie Flynn, said.
A public meeting in Cromane earlier this week called on the Minister to rescind the order immediately to allow for the fishing and relaying of seed mussels during its peak season.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has said that it is working with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service on "arrangements to manage fishing, including mussel seed harvesting within Natura 2000 sites, on an interim basis". The agreement of the European Commission's environmental directorate was being sought for this approach, it said.
"Pending the discussions, the opening of the affected sites will be delayed," the department added.