Farmed mussel harvest in Galicia. (Photo: Xunta de Galicia)

Galicia reopens some raft polygons and shellfish beds

SPAIN
Friday, August 29, 2014, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

The presence of the lipophilic toxin in the Galician estuaries is subsiding significantly. This situation has contributed to the opening of six mussel farming polygons in floating nurseries in Arousa, and two production areas of clams, cockles or razor shells, in Arousana estuary and another one in that of Vigo.

This improvement would mainly benefit fishermen, who are in a difficult situation because of this red tide event and the storms that took place this autumn, after being hit last year due to the closure of several polygons.

The outlook had improved in July, but this month was complicated due to a rebound in lipophilic toxins in Galician waters, the newspaper Faro de Vigo reported.

Following the partial opening set this week by the Technological Institute for the Control of the Marine Environment (INTECMAR), there are 38 closed raft polygons in Galicia: sixteen in Arousa, four in Muros-Noia, one in Baiona, another one in Corme, eight in Pontevedra and several more in the Estuary in Vigo.

The sector will now try to resume the capturing and trading activity, and to supply the market that has become depressed by the lack of resources.

Meanwhile, processing and canning industrialists maintain an expectant attitude given the start of the mussel season, as they need to be sure that they will have raw material.

According to INTECMAR director, Covadonga Salgado, after several weeks’ red tide there is already an "improving situation with caution," Diario Atlantico reported.

Last week, France issued a health alert due to the detection of infected Galician mussels. Nevertheless, the French Government did not close the borders for the entry of mollusc from Galicia, El Pais reported.

Mussel Producers' Organisation of Galicia (OPMEGA) president, Ignacio Lorenzo, dissociated the institution from any attempt to demand compensation from France.

Meanwhile, Ramón Blanco, president of the Galician Association of Cleansing Firms (AGADE), pointed out: "The alert is not materialized, therefore, it is not explained how it was possible to make these disproportionate comments accusing France of malpractice when the commercial borders had not even been closed for the Galician mussel."

Galician mussel production is around 200 million kilograms per year, and out of that total, 10 per cent is purchased by France.

"The trend is that France is already beating Italy in import volume of our bivalves and I think we should be more careful with our customers," Blanco warned.

"And, above all, we should be especially cautious when assessing an alert that should not affect us even if we do things right and control protocols and health analytics are met," he sentenced.

Related articles:

- Health alert in France due to Galician mussels
- Mussel market could run out of supplies, industry warns

By Analia Murias
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

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