Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 4

Written Answers - Zebra Mussels.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

54 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the steps, if any, he will take to prevent the spread of zebra mussels through our waterways in view of the fact that they can inflict widespread environmental damage on hundreds of important ecosystems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20273/97]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

Following discovery of the presence of the non-native zebra mussel in the Shannon catchment earlier this year, the Marine Institute initiated an urgent investigation, the results of which have formed the basis for management strategies to contain and deal with the phenomenon. The Marine Institute has brought together all the agencies involved, 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 under the leadership of the Marine Institute to implement an immediate four-point

Action Plan as follows: information dissemination; monitoring of locations of zebra mussels and other non-native species; scientific assessment of the mussels' long-term ecological impact, and advice on appropriate control measures.

The steering group will meet regularly to monitor progress on all these fronts. An information leaflet on zebra mussels and steps to control their proliferation has been issued to the main water user organisations in the Shannon area, including Lough Derg angling groups, the Inland Waterways Association and An Taisce. A second leaflet aimed at industrial water users is in preparation.

I have asked the Marine Institute to report to me regularly on the ongoing action to address the problem and to advise on future additional strategies which might be necessary to tackle the proliferation of this species.