Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEARA) has published an FAQ regarding the impact of zebra mussels on the public angling estate.
Fears have been expressed that tens of thousands of fish could be culled after the invasive mussel was discovered at Movanagher Fish Farm, which supplies brown and rainbow trout to DAERA, as the Belfast Telegraph reported last month.
Since the discovery this past June, DAERA says it “has taken a precautionary approach and suspended movements of live fish from Movanagher fish farm for stocking to other fisheries to ensure compliance” with the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
“The Department is currently considering Agri Foods and Biosciences Institute’s scientific advice to inform the way forward,” it adds.
DAERA also moved to assuage concerns over the perceived delay in its taking action, saying: “There is no scheduled stocking over the summer due to the warmer weather conditions. In addition, a temporary suspension of stocking into the PAE was put in place on 19 July.
“DAERA used the time during the summer to consider additional information to fully assess the zebra mussel issue and its impact on the fish farm and the department’s stocking programme.”
Meanwhile, Movanagher Fish Farm remains open despite the suspension of the PAE stocking programme, and DAERA says it is “currently considering options in relation to it and the stocking of fish into the PAE waters”.
