Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 3rd February, 2012.

I, SIMON COVENEY, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 15 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8 of 2006) and the Sea Fisheries, Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 ( S.I. No. 707 of 2007 ) (as adapted by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 455 of 2011 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Mussel Seed (Closing of Fisheries) Regulations 2012.

2. In these Regulations "mussel seed" means mussels (mytilus edulis) whether alive or dead and includes mature and immature mussels, any part of a mussel, any part of the shell of a mussel whether intended for direct human consumption or otherwise.

3. A person shall not fish for mussel seed in the exclusive fishery limits of the State

4. The Mussel Seed (Opening of Fisheries) Regulations 2011 ( S.I. No. 204 of 2011 ) are revoked.

GIVEN under my Official Seal

26 January 2012.

SIMON COVENEY,

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

These Regulations are to provide for the closing of the mussel seed fishery.