Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 5

Written Answers - Zebra Mussels.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

50 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the zebra mussel dreissena polymorpha found in the lower Shannon during 1977 was introduced by accident or as a solution for removing plankton following scientific studies. [6732/98]

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

54 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the name of the ship or boat which carried the zebra mussel into Lough Derg. [6736/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 54 together.

While the presence of the zebra mussel in Irish waterways was not scientifically established until 1997, it is estimated that the species may have been present in Ireland since at least 1994. No specific carrier vessel has been identified. It is considered that the zebra mussel was most probably introduced on the hulls of secondhand cruising boats from Britain and the Continent. No deliberate introductions are known to have taken place. Research and management and public information strategies are continuing to be actively progressed by the Marine Institute and other relevant bodies.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

51 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the ecological effects of the introduction of the zebra mussel to Ireland from its natural habitat. [6733/98]

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.

Top
Share