Following confirmation of the presence of the non-native zebra mussel in the Shannon catchment last year, the Marine Institute initiated an urgent investigation, the results of which have formed the basis of management strategies to contain and deal with the phenomenon. All the agencies involved are working together, including the Central, Shannon and Northern Regional Fisheries Boards, the Environmental Protection Agency, my Department, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A zebra mussel steering group has been established representative of all interests to drive an action plan covering:
— information dissemination
— monitoring of locations of zebra mussels and other non-native species
— scientific assessment of the mussels' long-term ecological impact
— advice on appropriate control measures
The steering group is monitoring progress on all these fronts. An information leaflet on zebra mussels and steps to control their proliferation was issued last year to the main water user organisations in the Shannon area, including Lough Derg angling groups, the Inland Waterways Association and An Taisce.
I have asked the Marine Institute to report to me regularly on the action under way to address the problem, to advise on future additional strategies which might be necessary to tackle the proliferation of this species and to report on the results of ongoing monitoring of the species.
The Marine Institute has, at my direction, already carried out extensive surveys of the distribution of the species and will continue these studies during the year.
The development of further management, information and remedial strategies is ongoing and will be informed by the surveys and the outcome of a conference held in Galway last month.