To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) the reason behind the cessation of trout stocking from the Movanagher hatchery; (ii) the impact this has on trout numbers in the Lower Bann; (iii) the impact this has on private fisheries such as the Loughinsholin Fish Farm; and (iv) what consideration he has given to reducing the fee charged for angling permits.

After the identification of zebra mussels at Movanagher fish farm in June 2023, the Department suspended the movement of live fish from Movanagher to comply with the Wildlife Order (NI) 1985.

The Department does not stock the Lower Bann; it is a wild fishery.

The Department is currently withholding permission to move any live fish or aquatic species from the Lower Bann in order to comply with the Wildlife Order (NI) 1985. This includes Loughinsholin Fish Farm. Private angling fisheries can still purchase live fish from other fish farms in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

The permit fee has not increased since 2016. A review of permits and licences is underway, and I will be considering options towards the end of 2024. I would also highlight that the DAERA game permit gives permission for the permit holder to fish a Public Angling Estate water, but it does not guarantee the stocking of fish into a water or the level of fish stocks within a water. This information is available to anglers on the Department’s website.