They are embarking on a project, funded by the Marine Institute, to find out more about the distribution of the species. In a separate project, which began in January, Dr Burnell is working with Kilkenny-based animal feeds producer, Red Mills, to develop an artificial diet or diet supplement which will bringthe periwinkle up to market size. The periwinkle is principally a seaweed eater or macroalgivore, and although it is recognised that aquaculture is the only route for its development, the variable abundance and quality of native seaweeds and the high cost of artificial feed has up to now been prohibitive. The trick is to find a diet that is not too expensive. There is a problem finding a palatable, cost effective diet which will be stable in water for up to one week.
Commercial hatcheries are already in operation for sea urchins and abalone.
With all three species being principally seaweed eaters, it means they could theoretically use a vegetable protein source which would be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the fishmeals fed to farmed marine fish. Although perwinkles are the least commercial of the farmed fisheries, their value lies in their numbers. His research team has done some research on the periwinkle's life cycle. They lay eggs which float away. The eggs develop in plankton.