Two months have passed since the Native Oyster Workshop 2017 (NOW 2017). In that time, we at Cuan Beo have been collecting and collating the abstracts and outputs from the workshop, so that valuable information and ideas relating to the restoration of the native oyster can be made available to the widest possible audience in a concise format. The NATIVE OYSTER WORKSHOP 2017 PROCEEDINGS attached here summarises information provided by stakeholders of the Native Oyster fisheries present at that meeting.
One of the major outcomes from NOW 2017 was the agreement to establish a focused working group to implement actions in a joined up approach – fishermen, communities and governing agencies working towards restoration. This working group should comprise representatives from the co-ops, the Marine Institute, SFPA, Inland Fisheries Ireland, and local government. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has kindly agreed to facilitate this action.
Cuan Beo is committed to the sustainable development of resources around Galway Bay, and in particular, rural regeneration, through the restoration of the Native Oyster fisheries….On this the 1st of December, the opening day of the Native Oyster Fishing season in Galway Bay, we are making the NOW 2017 Proceedings public. We are also circulating the NOW 2017 Proceedings to the Heads of the 7 Government Departments and 10 Government agencies responsible for various aspects of the governance of our oyster fisheries. These are highlighted in Figure 1 in the introduction.
Restoration of the Native Oyster Fisheries in Ireland is an intergenerational challenge not only facing the current and future fishing communities but also the wider communities in rural Ireland. Demise of the native oyster reflects a demise in water quality, the environment and our ecosystem and has implications for many aspects of rural community life.
Click link below to download a PDF of the proceedings:
