To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) for his assessment of whether concerns about the spread of zebra mussels, and their relationship with trout-stocking, could be mitigated by restocking in colder months when the water temperature drops below the 12 degree Celsius breeding level required for zebra mussels; and (ii) to detail the difference in risk between the currently halted movement of trout from fish farms and that of the currently permitted relocation of elvers to Lough Neagh from areas such as the Severn and Loire, which are considered to have high numbers of zebra mussels.

A stocking protocol is being developed and reviewed for periods when zebra mussels veligers are not present. However, there is also a gap in our knowledge as to the life cycle of zebra mussels in Northern Ireland with scientific evidence suggesting zebra mussels may be spawning at temperatures exceeding 9oC. DAERA is currently considering how to address the knowledge gap.

The major risk associated with stocking live trout is in the river water that they would be transported in, as it may contain zebra mussel veligers. Elvers used for stocking from France are caught in the marine environment. Bio-security measures are also in place to transfer elvers to Lough Neagh. After capture, elvers are held in potable water. They are then removed from the water and placed into polyboxes. This is done "dry" with ice in their own slime before being transferred. Only one stocking has taken place from France for glass eels since the suspension of stocking from Movanagher was put in place.