Fears over zebra mussels discovery

Five zebra mussels have been detected on the hull of a boat in the North just months after the harmful shell fish reappeared there, it emerged today.

The species can have a damaging impact on the ecology of lakes and unpredictable implications for wildlife.

The mussels were found on a boat in Kinnego Marina, Lough Neagh, Co Antrim, after it was removed from its berth.

Bob Davison of the Environment and Heritage Service warned: “Invasions of alien species are the biggest threat to native biodiversity after habitat destruction and the zebra mussel is ranked among the world’s 100 worst invasive species.”

The boat has been moored in the berth since May and had not been to any other lake, such as Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh, where zebra mussels are already well established.

Mr Davison said: “We have started an investigation into how widely they have colonised the lake.

“We have started an investigation into how widely they have colonised the lake.

“We do not know if the mussels are confined to Kinnego Bay or if they are already present throughout the lough.

“Over the next few weeks we will be working with other government departments to find out how widespread the mussels are and to work out how best to reduce the problems for users.

“We will let people know what the situation is as we develop a better picture.”

Zebra mussels, were first detected in Ireland in 1994 and have spread rapidly throughout the Shannon-Erne waterway.

Earlier this year the DoE expressed concern that zebra mussel sightings have been confirmed in Carran Lough, Derrygonnelly, which is not connected to the navigable Shannon/Erne system.

This was the first confirmed sighting of zebra mussels outside the Erne Navigation in the North since they were discovered in Lough Erne in 1997.

The zebra mussel is a stripy, freshwater mussel native to the Caspian Sea area of eastern Europe.

They form large colonies that attach to almost any hard surface and have already affected private and public water abstraction stations on Lough Erne.

As a result £100,000 (€146,200) of modifications had to be introduced at the Killyhevlin Water Treatment Plant.