BBC Newsline

To the untrained eye its not easy to tell apart from native seaweeds. But it can grow to substantial lengths and examples stretching 16 metres have been discovered in Europe. It is also called wire weed and can bring boats and ferries to a halt by tangling in their propellers. It is spreading very fast in UK and Irish waters. Christine Maggs is professor of Marine Biology at Queen's University in Belfast.

The recent discovery of the invasive slipper limpet in Belfast Lough has stopped the export of seed or baby mussels to Carlingford Lough in the Republic of Ireland. It is a critical part of the industry and has already led to job losses. In a further search over the past 24 hours, a further 9 limpets were discovered during an intensive search by staff from the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland. One of those affected in the fishing industry is George Golden.