To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) for his assessment of the continual harvesting of periwinkles, lugworm and ragworm from the Outer Belfast Lough Area of Special Scientific Interest; (ii) to outline the impact this will have on local ecology; and (iii) whether his Department has any plans to address this.

As part of my Department’s routine monitoring of protected areas, shellfish gathering and bait digging is occasionally observed at Outer Belfast Lough Area of Special Scientific Interest. My Department also receives reports from members of the public. The current level of activity is not considered to be impacting on the local ecology but there is a risk that excessive harvesting could cause damage and disturbance. My Department is currently reviewing all activities that occur within marine protected areas to identify where additional conservation measures are required and intertidal harvesting will be included within this review.