Strangford mussels issue nets Brussels warning

The failure of measures supposed to offer protection of delicate mussel beds in Strangford Lough, which is a Special Area of Conservation, have resulted in a formal warning letter from the European Commission being sent to the Department of the Environment.

Environmental groups concerned at the plight of the horse mussel beds in Strangford Lough lodged a complaint that many of the beds appeared to have been damaged by seabed trawling.

This led to a formal written warning from the European Commission, and the NI administration must now prove its commitment to protecting the Lough’s unique marine habitats or face the prospect of legal action.

Environmental groups the World Wildlife Fund and the Ulster Wildlife Trust, operating as the Joint Marine Partnership (JMP) in a campaign for better protection of the Lough's flora and fauna say that taking the Strangford case to judicial process was a "last resort".

The ‘formal letter of notice’ issued to the Department of the Environment could end with the case appearing before the European Court and Northern Ireland government departments facing major fines.

In a statement the JMP said it hoped that the "initial investigations from the EC would be enough to galvanise strong managerial action from the departments involved, but this has proven not to be the case".

The group warn that since investigations started over five years ago, "poor decisions made on aquaculture developments, and other activities which are likely to have severe impacts on the Lough’s protected wildlife".

Kate Hutchinson, JMP Irish Sea Policy Officer, said: “The Joint Marine Partnership has been frustrated by the slow response from the NI Administration in reacting to the management crisis in Strangford Lough.

“We provided further evidence this year of the continued degradation of the horse mussel reefs and other habitats, and of shags and other sea birds being caught in static fishing nets. We are pleased that the European Commission has acted upon this evidence but it’s disappointing that it has been necessary to initiate these legal steps in the first place.”

The JMP is calling for a marine bill for Northern Ireland to help achieve sustainable marine management in local waters.

(SP/MB)