The Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative's suspension of eel fishing remains in place until the week commencing 14 July, as the Member is aware. The society will provide test fish to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the coming weeks. Scale fishing continues in the lough, and DAERA continues to monitor the situation.

I remain committed to providing whatever support is practical and affordable to eel fisheries, including support through existing grant schemes and any potential new grant schemes. Any case for direct financial support for the shortened fishing season will need to be robustly supported with scientific and financial evidence for the scheme and the impact of the scale of losses that are endured.

I met the cooperative on a number of occasions, and it is looking to pull together the information that will help me to provide the support that we are going to have to provide to fishermen in the lough. Let me say that the story of eel fishing in Lough Neagh that has been emerging in the past number of weeks breaks my heart. If there ever were an example of a link between cause and effect, this is it. I am trying my best to turn the situation in Lough Neagh around. All that I ask from Members is a bit of flexibility and that they work with me on the matter. If we do not work together, those situations will get worse.