The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has published the results of a comprehensive Sanitary Survey for Killala Bay, undertaken to meet EU legislative requirements for the classification of shellfish production areas. The survey carried out informs the classification and monitoring of Pacific oysters and any future classifications for the currently unclassified and inactive wild common cockle fishery within the bay.
The survey was required under Article 56 of Regulation (EU) 2019/627, which mandates an in-depth assessment of bacterial contamination risks before a shellfish production area can be officially classified for commercial harvesting.
Key Findings from the Survey
The sanitary survey report collates an extensive dataset to trace how bacterial contaminants travel from source, through the environment, and circulate throughout the bivalve mollusc production area (BMPA). This includes the characterisation of the entire contributing catchment area spanning 2,149 km2 across 104 river sub-basins to provide a comprehensive assessment of the key contamination pathways and their circulation within the Killala Bay BMPA.
The findings indicate that the primary source of freshwater inflow, and consequently potential bacterial contamination, is via the inflow of the Moy Estuary at the southernmost point of the BMPA. The principal contamination risk is assessed as likely stemming from episodic catchment inputs, driven by heavy seasonal rainfall, agricultural runoff and point-source pressures from private septic tank systems and non-compliant Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants (UWWTPs).
The sanitary survey report for Killala Bay confirms the existing 25.6 km² Bivalve Mollusc Production Area (BMPA) boundary with no amendments to its boundary recommended.
The area contains 3 licensed sites for Pacific Oysters totalling 10.9 hectares. Based on sanitary survey data, hydrodynamics and bacteriological results, one fixed Representative Monitoring Point (RMP) has been established along with a species-specific sampling plan.
An unclassified and inactive wild common cockle fishery is also present within the bay spanning 466 hectares and is located between Bartragh Island and the mainland. An RMP placement and sampling plan have been proposed to support any potential future classification and commercial exploitation of the wild cockle fishery. Please note that any future classification of the inactive cockle fishery is contingent on fully satisfying the provisions of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Protocol for Opening a New Fishery for Bivalve Molluscs.
Read the full Killala Bay Sanitary Survey here.
Further details on the SFPA’s work on sanitary surveys can be accessed here: https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Molluscan-Shellfish/Sanitary-Surveys
For further queries, please contact: sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
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Note to Editor
For consumers and producers, the results from the survey provide for an updated shellfish sampling plan which improves accuracy of monitoring microbiological quality in shellfish and will inform future annual classification decisions. By identifying localised risk areas and strengthening representative monitoring, the survey enhances protections for public health and supports the sustainable operation of shellfish aquaculture in Killala Bay.
The survey reflects the SFPA’s commitment to evidence-based classification of shellfish areas and the protection of consumers through robust monitoring of potential bacterial contamination. Shellfish monitoring is a critical safety measure for consumers and helps protect the shellfish industry by preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness, ensuring that seafood remains safe to eat.
Further Information
About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie