Boats which collect seed mussel in Dublin Bay for maturing in Northern Ireland waters faced being denied permission to fish there
The Irish agriculture minister is preparing legislation to tackle a legal row that could cost Northern Ireland's mussel fishermen £300,000.
In October, the Irish Supreme Court ruled that a 40-year-old agreement allowing cross-border access to inshore waters was unlawful.
It cast doubt over "lucrative" access for Northern Ireland-registered boats to waters off the Irish Republic.
Fishermen had said banning them would be "catastrophic" for the industry.
A court ruled that an 40-year-old agreement allowing cross border access to inshore waters is unlawful
Northern Ireland fishermen collect baby mussels which are then re-laid and matured in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough.
The ruling was made after a number of fishermen in the Irish Republic had taken the Supreme Court case claiming too much seed was being taken.
Stormont's Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen told the assembly that her Irish counterpart Michael Creed, was preparing legislation to regularise the situation.
The long-standing agreement had been based on a "gentleman's agreement" reached between civil servants on both sides of the border in the 1960s.
Industry representatives said the decision could have "catastrophic consequences" for the industry
The Supreme Court found that as seed mussel was a national resource, rules around its use required a law passed in the Irish parliament.
Ms McIlveen said that was now being worked on and was important to the local fleet as it was a "lucrative" opportunity.
She told the assembly the once the legislation was drafted it was hoped that it could pass through all its stages in the new year.
"I'm hopeful that that will then correct this particular issue," she said.
It was thought the ruling could affect around 10 companies in Northern Ireland.
- Published28 October 2016
