There is a strong case for European support to combat the threat to Irish freshwater and to angling and tourism from zebra mussels, according to MEP Mr Liam Hyland (FF). Having seen the effect the zebra mussels, a foulant organism recently discovered here for the first time, are having on Lough Derg, and with confirmation that the organism is spreading to the upper Shannon region, major funding would be necessary, he said. "If the EU is serious about greater involvement in environmental matters, then it should be prepared to support measures addressing threats to so many Irish ecosystems."
Irish waterways were still among the most unspoiled in Europe, but the effects of the zebra mussel on the angling and tourism sectors should not be underestimated, he said.