SFPA PUBLISHES ANNUAL CLASSIFICATION LIST OF IRELAND’S SHELLFISH PRODUCTION AREAS

SFPA publishes annual classification list of Ireland’s shellfish production areas. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has published the annual classification list** for commercial shellfish (bivalve mollusc) production areas across Ireland, assessing 134 classifications in 60 production areas against strict safety requirements for human consumption.

During this year’s 2023 annual review of classifications, five production areas received ‘upgrades’ to their classifications, and fifteen production areas received ‘downgrades’. The breakdown of these downgraded areas was as follows: six production areas changed from an A classification to Seasonal A classification; one production area moved from a Seasonal A to a B classification and eight production areas decreased in seasonality (i.e., shortening in seasonal length). One production area was declared as dormant due to inactivity over the last twelve months and limited monitoring data is available.

Live shellfish can only be harvested from production areas which meet strict classification requirements for human consumption, as set out under European and Irish Food laws. The SFPA, in collaboration with the shellfish industry, conducts regular shellfish sampling in all production areas, monitoring the levels of bacterial contamination of shellfish to determine the risk and classification status.  Each production area is designated a rating that determines the conditions, if any, which need to be observed before shellfish can be sold for human consumption (see notes for more information).

Ireland produced an estimated 29,000 tonnes of shellfish in 2022 – including mussels (both rope and bottom culture), oysters, clams, cockles, and scallops – from classified production areas annually, and an additional 2,200 tonnes of scallops are landed from offshore sites. The Irish aquaculture farmed shellfish sector is worth an estimated €71 million annually (up 10% on last year’s figures) which was reported in the BIM report on The Business of Seafood 2022. Around 90% of shellfish produced in Ireland is exported, principally to European and Asian markets, and Ireland is the second largest producer of oysters in Europe after France. *

Paschal Hayes, Executive Chairperson of the SFPA said that Ireland’s shellfish monitoring programme was important for both consumers and commercial producers.

“One of the principal remits of the SFPA is to ensure that Irish and international consumers can be assured of the quality and safety of fish and seafood harvested here.

Shellfish production is an important industry in many coastal communities around Ireland and it is essential that the highest standards of food safety are maintained at all times. The SFPA works in collaboration with industry and other state agencies to ensure that production areas are of the highest possible standard and meet rigorous assessment criteria to ensure that the safety and quality of the shellfish placed on the market is not compromised in any manner.

This work is an important pillar in both preserving and further enhancing Ireland’s global reputation for quality, safe and delicious seafood. It is incumbent upon all working in the industry to remain vigilant to any risks which have the potential to impact our seafood production areas and that we adopt a collective approach throughout with a focus on quality and sustainable seafood.”

Sinéad Keaveney, Team Leader, Shellfish Microbiology, Marine Institute said:

“The publication of the classification list is the annual culmination of the ongoing partnership between the Marine Institute and the SFPA in the microbiological monitoring of shellfish production areas in Ireland. As the National Reference Laboratory for monitoring E. coli contamination in bivalve shellfish, the Marine Institute oversees the national E. coli testing programme ensuring high quality test results produced by the laboratories. This contributes significantly to the assessment of the risk of microbiological contamination in shellfish production areas and the overall classification status of individual production areas.”

• *Bord Iascaigh Mhara, The Business of Seafood Report 2022 https://bim.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BIM-The-Business-of-Seafood-2022.pdf

• ** 2023/24 List of Classified live Bivalve Mollusc Production areas in Ireland  https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Molluscan-Shellfish/Classified-Areas
• The SFPA’S Code of Practice on Ireland’s microbiological monitoring of classified live bivalve mollusc production areas is available at www.sfpa.ie.

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