Londonderry festival underconsideration

She said the suggestion was one of a number of initiatives being discussed by local stakeholders in fishing, angling and tourism.

Speaking at the Stormont Assembly she said the stakeholder advisory forum is a group that involves a wide range of people and it looks at all the issues around Carlingford lough and Lough Foyle.

“It is important that we exploit the tourism potential that exists in those areas. Some of the ideas that were discussed included having an oyster festival similar to the one that takes place in Carlingford and whether that could happen in Derry, perhaps tied in with the Clipper yacht race. A number of initiatives are being taken forward, and many stakeholders are represented on the forum,” she said.

Elsewhere she noted the recent improvement in local shellfish populations.

“The improvement in the oyster population of Lough Foyle was noted, and we encouraged the agency to continue to develop management strategies to consolidate and refine these improvements.”

However, in contrast to the positive news on the oyster front the fate of local salmon populations has not been so good.

“We also noted the disappointing drop in sea survival of Atlantic salmon since the 1990s and welcomed the Loughs Agency’s action, following extensive consultation, in issuing a declaration suspending commercial fishing in Lough Foyle and the tidal Foyle and the restriction on angling carcass tags to help to improve the survival of Atlantic salmon,” the Minister stated.