The planting of mussels in Castlemaine Harbour, Co Kerry, was stopped yesterday by order of the High Court. Mr Peter Ward, counsel for four local mussel fishermen, was granted an interim injunction restraining Castlemaine Harbour Co-Op Society or any of its members from causing or permitting any further planting of mussels in the harbour.
Mr John O'Sullivan, of Stook Island, Co Kerry, told Ms Justice Laffoy that he and three other plaintiffs were members of the Co-Op Society which had been granted a licence by the Department of the Marine to farm mussels in the harbour.
Every five years a division of beds took place in the harbour in which local mussels fishermen were allocated areas. The latest division, over which there was a dispute, purported to run until the year 2003.