For shellfish growers around the coast, and for those along the south-west coast more than most, the past two years have been traumatic and difficult. The naturally occurring Red Tide phenomenon, which causes a toxic algal growth, almost ruined the industry.
Curiously, the toxin does not kill the shellfish but, if ingested by humans, it can be extremely harmful. The authorities had no option but to order a ban on the harvesting of the fish. Effectively, the industry was forced to close down for almost two years.
In human terms, despite a compensation package offered by the Government, this led to hard times for hundreds of coastal families. Now things are returning to normal after losses of more than €6 million, most of which occurred on the south-west and west coasts.
Over the past two years the method of testing for the toxin came sharply into focus as organisations including the Irish Shellfish Association (ISA) held talks with the Marine Institute and the Food Safety Authority.
Shellfish growers were concerned that the old system of testing was throwing up too many false positives.
Now, according to Mr Richie Flynn, executive secretary of the ISA, more sophisticated methods of testing have been agreed without compromising the need to protect public health, and the industry is hoping for a period of sustained recovery.
It will need it, says Mr Tim Coakley of the Bantry Fish Farmers' Co-Operative. "We received some help from the Government to get us over our difficulties, but the blow took the heart out of the industry. It was a very hard set-back and it will take us a long time to recover. In these parts, we weren't able to harvest a single mussel until recently," he added.
The importance of the industry to Bantry and the south-west is obvious. Some 200 people are employed in the sector, which is worth €12 million in exports annually. The main employment is in the two mussel-processing plants in the town which create added value through an array of readymade meals and pot-ready catering packs.
It all began as an uncertain experiment 20 years ago, but today Bantry Bay mussels can be found in restaurants and supermarkets all over the world.
The town has become synonymous with mussels and celebrates this fact each year with the annual Bantry Mussel Fair.
So this year's festival, beginning on May 9th, will be a special celebration, marking the end of a chapter which most people in the industry would prefer to forget. For three days, the town will be en fete.