§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) temperature and (b) quality checks have been carried out in the last 12 months by staff of the Movanagher Fish Farm to detect poor water quality. [181819]
§ Angela SmithThe information requested is as follows:
(a) Staff at Movanagher Fish Farm record the temperature of the inflowing water supply on a daily basis for management purposes.
(b) Staff at Movanagher fish farm do not monitor water quality in the river and canal supplying water to the farm. This is the responsibility of the EHS Water Management Unit. Water quality is monitored at four points on the Lower Bann. The nearest monitoring point to Movanagher Fish Farm is at Kilrea Bridge, 3 to 4 km upstream of the farm. Samples are taken monthly. In addition, farm staff undertake checks of dissolved oxygen of the inflowing water supply if flows and temperature suggest that fish may be stressed.
EHS is committed to chemical and biological monitoring of all significant waterways in Northern Ireland in line with national and international classification schemes and agreements. DCAL continues to engage with EHS and others to bring forward initiatives to address widespread water quality problems in Northern Ireland's waterways.