Action plan to prevent wild boar threatening agriculture, environment and economy published

Release date: [18 November 2011]

Download the Wild Boar Policy Position Statement

Download the Wild Boar Invasive Species Action Plan

[Update: Additional information on this topic was added to the website and can be found at the following link:  https://invasivespeciesireland.com/news/wild-boar-statement/]

A wild boar is not something you would expect to see in the Irish countryside. The archaeological record indicates that wild boar died out in Ireland over 5000 years ago.  However, in recent years this large animal has been found in Counties Kilkenny, Roscommon, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow.

The release of wild boar into the wild in both Ireland and Northern Ireland is illegal. This species is not a welcome addition to the wild animals of Ireland. The wild boar has been identified as one of Ireland’s Most Unwanted Invasive Species by the North/South Government led Invasive Species Ireland project. The Invasive Species Ireland Steering Group warns that if wild boar were to become established it could threaten agricultural productivity. There would be a high risk of wild boar transmitting disease to livestock; damaging crops, fencing and farmlands; damaging protected sites and habitats; and injuring people either by charging at an unsuspecting member of the public or colliding with vehicles.

These threats have prompted state bodies in Ireland and Northern Ireland to work together and develop an Invasive Species Action Plan. This plan, launched today (18 November 2011) is supported by a Policy Position Statement on the subject. The documents will help coordinate both Governments’ response to the threat posed by the release of wild boar.

John Kelly from Invasive Species Ireland said ‘the focus of the Action Plan is primarily on prevention and responding to any threats that arise’. He also added ‘if we can prevent wild boar from becoming established in Ireland we can prevent the economic and environmental harm that a wild population could cause’.

Both Ireland and Northern Ireland have animal health strategies in place that help protect farm animals from diseases. In the event of an outbreak of one or more notifiable diseases with the presence of wild boar in the wild, the task of eradicating the disease would be significantly more challenging, cost more and be more difficult to achieve. John Melville, animal health expert from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said ‘we want to work with anyone keeping wild boar to ensure that they are compliant with the regulations in place. These regulations protect agricultural productivity and the environment, today and in the future’.

If any wild boar escape, the keeper should report it as soon as possible and work to recover all animals. Similarly, if you know of anybody keeping wild boar with the intention of releasing them, or if you spot a boar in the wild, we would ask that you report this to Invasive Species Ireland: www.invasivespeciesireland.com

Ends

Notes for Editors

• Wild boar is not currently established in the wild in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
• Wild boar was once found in Ireland but went extinct in pre-historic times. The archaeological record indicates wild boar survived to c 5600 before present but its later history is lost.
• In Ireland, it is illegal to release wild boar under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
• In Northern Ireland, it is illegal to release wild boar under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (as amended).
• Anyone farming or keeping wild boar in the Republic of Ireland must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Only persons registered with the Department and issued with valid pig herd numbers are allowed to own or trade in pigs including wild boar.  This provision applies to anyone who wishes to own pigs and wild boar, however few.
• Anyone farming wild boar in Northern Ireland must be registered with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
• Any private citizen keeping wild boar in Northern Ireland must be registered with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency under the terms of the Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.
• Both Ireland and Northern Ireland have in place strict controls to prevent the establishment of exotic notifiable diseases. However, in the event of a disease outbreak, a population of wild boar is a serious threat to eradicating the target disease.
• Exotic notifiable diseases associated with wild boar include: Classical Swine Fever (CSF), African Swine Fever (ASF), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD), Aujeszky’s Disease, and Rabies.

Contacts

Name: John Kelly                                Tel: +44 (0) 28 90 44 7166

E-mail: john@invasivespeciesireland.com Website: www.invasivespeciesireland.com

The Invasive Species Ireland project is a joint venture between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Invasive Species Ireland project aims to substantially reduce the impact of invasive species on biodiversity, to contribute to halting the biodiversity loss by 2010 and beyond; and to minimise economic and social costs caused by invasive species. This will be achieved by preventing the introduction of new invasive species and to reduce the impact of established invasive species.

For more information on the Invasive Species Ireland project see www.invasivespeciesireland.com

NIEA publish an updated Species Alert for the invasive Quagga Mussel.

The first confirmed case of the highly invasive quagga mussel in Northern Ireland has been reported in Lower Lough Erne.

This was confirmed on 10 December following DNA analysis at Queen’s University Belfast.

The quagga mussel is a small bivalve mollusc similar to the invasive non-native zebra mussel. Like the now widespread zebra mussel, the species originates from the Ponto-Caspian region – an area around the Black and Caspian Seas.

It is highly invasive and has spread rapidly from its native region in Ukraine during the last few decades through Western Europe and to North America and Mexico.

It was first recorded in Britain in 2014 and in Loughs Ree and Derg (Ireland) and in the main River Shannon system, in 2021. It was recorded in Lough Sheelin (Ireland) this year which confirms its continued spread in the Shannon- system.

Compared with zebra mussels, quagga occupy a wider range of depths, they colonise softer substrates and have higher filtration rates. It is expected they will survive in some places that zebra mussel can’t and will eventually outcompete and displace them.

Possible vectors include recreational boating, angling traffic, trailered craft travelling overland and inter-catchment transfer of equipment such as paddle boards/canoes..

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “This confirmation that the highly invasive quagga mussel has arrived in Northern Ireland represents another significant pressure to our already beleaguered freshwater system.

“Increased vigilance and surveillance is critical.  My officials are engaging with stakeholders and public agencies to alert them to this arrival and the need for enhanced biosecurity measures.  Cross-border engagement also continues through the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative.” 

Rose Muir, Senior Scientific Officer NIEA Invasive Non-Native Species team added: “There is no effective control or eradication method for quagga mussel once it has established in a water body.  The best method of slowing the spread and reducing the risk to other water bodies is by applying better biosecurity through the CHECK CKEAN DRY biosecurity protocols. We are urging all water users to follow these protocols strictly when moving between water bodies, especially Lough Erne.”

Dr Kevin Gallagher, Senior Scientific Officer at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) said “The confirmation of quagga mussel in Lower Lough Erne is significant given the connectivity of major water bodies. Once established, this species can spread rapidly and cause substantial ecological and economic impacts, including altered food webs and infrastructure fouling. This underlines the need for enhanced surveillance across connected systems, including Lough Neagh, and strict biosecurity to limit further spread.”

With quagga now confirmed in both the Shannon system and Lower Lough Erne, the most likely scenario is that there has been a connected invasion along the Shannon–Erne corridor.  It is therefore plausible that quagga are already present but undetected in intermediate waterbodies, including Upper Lough Erne.

The Department has contacted relevant stakeholders to make them aware of the new arrival and our response to it and will initiate extra monitoring to investigate the extent of the population.

Officials are planning to identify those waters that should also be sampled by assessing the potential pathways for the spread of quagga mussels into other water bodies.

Following the success of the inaugural Forum in 2024, the second Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Forum was held in Belfast on the 4th November 2025. This year’s event once again brought together representatives from across sectors; industry, public bodies, and non-governmental organisations, to strengthen collaboration on invasive species and biosecurity across the island of Ireland.

The one-day programme featured a rich mix of expert presentations, interactive workshops, and open feedback sessions. An opening address was given by Minister Andrew Muir MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and closing remarks were provided by Ireland Minister Christopher O’Sullivan TD; Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Forum provided a valuable space for exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, and fostering cross-sector dialogue. Stakeholder engagement remains central to shaping effective, inclusive, and forward-looking policies and actions to address invasive species threats.

Invasive species continue to be one of the most significant drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. It is important to address invasive species on this island from a biogeographical perspective across the two jurisdictions. By building on the momentum of the 2024 Forum, this second gathering aimed to deepen our shared understanding of biosecurity challenges and opportunities, helping to protect the island’s unique ecosystems and reduce the economic risks posed by invasive species.

You can view the full programme here: Full Programme (4th November 2025)

Forum Presentations

Following the opening address from Minister Muir, the day’s proceedings kicked off with a series of presentations from guest speakers.

They can all be downloaded below:

• Update on Asian hornet response in Ireland; Áinle Ní Bhríain; National Parks and Wildlife Service
• Update on Asian hornet response in Northern Ireland; Richard Gray; Northern Ireland Environment Agency
• The National Biodiversity Data Centre’s Invasive Species Work Plan One Year On; John Kelly; National Biodiversity Data Centre
• Update from NNSS on progress and inspectorate work in GB; Olaf Booy; GB Non-native Species Secretariat
• The status of Muntjac deer on the Ards Peninsula; Erfan Fadaei; AECOM
• The midlands mink eradication programme; Owen Murphy; Breeding Waders EIP
• A Shared Island review of surveillance and monitoring for invasive and non-native species; Hannah Tidbury; APEM
• Scottish Invasive Species Initiative – people power at landscape scale; Callum Sinclair; Scottish Invasive Species Initiative
• Introduction to new research into the trade of exotic pets across the island of Ireland; Michel Dugon; University of Galway
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Invasive Species – An opportunity for action? Emer Ní Dhúill; Business for Biodiversity Ireland

Forum Workshops

In the afternoon, delegates participated in focused workshops. Reports containing the summary findings and conclusions from these workshops are accessible by the links below.

• Workshop 1: Towards comprehensive invasive species monitoring – opportunities and challenges.

    Chair: Úna FitzPatrick; Rapporteur: Paul Brett 

     REPORT

• Workshop 2: Closing the gaps: setting priorities for marine invasive species management.

    Chair: Dave Wall; Rapporteur: Victoria Poppleton

     REPORT

• Workshop 3: Local action as an integral support mechanism for strategic invasive species management.

     Chair: Eammon Horgan; Rapporteur: Chantel Carr

  REPORT Word cloud generated from attendees thoughts on Blue and Green Spaces

• Workshop 4: Identifying invasive and non-native species knowledge gaps and working towards solutions.

     Chair: Ann Haigh; Rapporteur: Colette O’Flynn

     REPORT

The day concluded with closing remarks from Ireland Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions. Together, we can protect our shared island’s unique biodiversity for generations to come.

If you have any queries please email us on invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk 

For networking purposes, a list of the delegates that attended for the Forum may found here: Forum Attendees 4th November

Gallery from the Second Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative Forum

The growing threat of Invasive Species on the island of Ireland, and collaborative action from both jurisdictions to tackle it was the focus of the second Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Stakeholder Forum in Belfast on Tuesday November 4^th. Invasive species such as Asian hornet, mink and Rhododendron ponticum damage native species and habitats, threaten our biodiversity and have a significant economic impact. A range of contributors from government, academia and civil society discussed recent responses and the role of monitoring, research and public engagement in protecting the island of Ireland from the impact of invasive species.

Speaking at the event in Belfast, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir said:

“The complex issues presented by invasive species cannot be fixed in the short term or in isolation, they require long term planning and coherent policy, underpinned by the most up to date science and evidence, and that will only be achieved by working together across these islands.

This Forum’s programme reflects these needs and objectives, as well as providing a platform to share our collective experiences. I very much value the contribution made by the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative in developing and informing actions for the benefit of all.”

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD said:

“Invasive species can move across landscapes, waterways, and ecosystems, impacting both jurisdictions. That’s why cooperation and coordination across our shared island are not just beneficial—they are essential.

Recent sightings and capture of Asian Hornet in Cork and in Belfast present common challenges for us, but also the opportunity to learn from each other and to collaborate. Together we have the potential to significantly reduce the risk of new introductions of invasive species, which continue to pose a growing threat to biodiversity, ecosystem stability, and the livelihoods of our communities.”

Invasive Species found on the island of Ireland include the Zebra mussel in our rivers and lakes,  Rhododendron ponticum affecting woodlands and landscapes, and most recently, the Asian hornet posing a risk to Ireland’s pollinators. Earlier this year two Asian hornets nests were successfully located and removed in Cork, and in October a nest was found and destroyed in Belfast. Authorities in both jurisdictions are continuing to monitor and plan to prepare for any future presence of this destructive species.

The Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Stakeholder Forum is part of a five-year project with an investment of over €1.3m from the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Initiative, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The project is led by the National Biodiversity Data Centre with input from the NIEA and oversight by the NPWS. The forum brings together experts, policy makers, land managers, community groups and cross-border agencies to strengthen collaboration on protecting the island of Ireland from biosecurity threats and invasive species.

The project will include actions in both jurisdictions to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species across freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It will strengthen biological data collection, early detection systems, rapid response strategy development, and enhanced public awareness campaigns to educate communities and industries about invasive species.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has successfully completed the safe and controlled removal of an Asian Hornet nest in Dundonald today (18 October), close to the location of the first reported sighting on 10 October.

The Asian hornet nest found in Dundonald that was successfully removed.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has successfully completed the safe and controlled removal of an Asian hornet nest in Dundonald today (18 October), close to the location of the first reported sighting on 10 October.

This is the first occurrence of such a nest in Northern Ireland. The Asian hornet poses a significant threat to honeybees, native insects, pollinators and local ecosystems, as well as crop production which relies on pollinators.

The operation was led by NIEA officers (Invasive Non-Native Species Team), using the services of a suitably trained pest control company, with advice provided by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and on the ground support from an official from the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford through the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative.

Surveillance will continue in the area to monitor any Asian hornet activity.

Rose Muir from the NIEA INNS Team urges continued vigilance amongst the public and beekeeping community, and reporting of any suspected sightings, post nest destruction, via the Asian Hornet Watch app – https://www.brc.ac.uk/app/asian-hornet-watch or CEDaR – https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/ISI.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed a recent sighting and subsequent capture of an Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) in the Cork area. This is the second confirmed record of Asian hornet in Ireland, with the first specimen recorded in May 2021. NPWS will continue its extensive monitoring over the coming weeks to determine if this is one individual or if there is evidence of a larger population.

See the NPWS press release for further details.

The Asian hornet is a highly effective predator of honeybees, wasps and other important pollinators, such as hoverflies. The huge size of its colonies (consisting of up to 10,000 individuals per season) means that they can rapidly decimate bee numbers.

Due to its aggressive nature and feeding habits, it could have a serious impact on native insect biodiversity and on pollination services in general.

Given that queen hornets are highly mobile and very adaptable, there is a strong risk that the species, if established, will be able to spread rapidly across the landscape, causing significant economic and ecological damage.

At this time of year, the population within a nest increases and the queen and workers relocate to a new location, forming a secondary nest. Predation by the Asian hornet on other insects would be noticeable.

In preparation for the possible arrival of Asian hornet to Northern Ireland, and to allow for a rapid and proactive response to any confirmed sightings, the Department published the Northern Ireland Rapid Response Contingency Plan for Asian Hornet in 2020. This plan is currently under review with the aim of updating it, along with the Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Northern Ireland.

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet in Northern Ireland, please submit your suspected sightings (with a photograph, if possible) via:

• The Asian Hornet Watch app
• The CEDaR online recording form
• The iRecord app

Or

• Email the NIEA Invasive Non-Native Invasive Species Team: invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you are a beekeeper living in Northern Ireland, you can register your apiary here – it will assist us in circulating information quickly to beekeepers if you are already registered at the time of an invasion.

Beekeepers should remain vigilant, spending a small amount of time at each apiary visit observing the entrance of their hives and the surrounding flora to check for possible Asian hornet activity. While live trapping can assist with detection and can act as a useful management tool, we would only encourage this to be used by beekeepers in the vicinity of a sighting. Trapping can result in the unwarranted killing of non-target native species. For this reason, if trapping is required, we would only encourage the use of traps that prevent by-catch. The National Bee Unit in Great Britain provides guidance on suitable monitoring traps (see page 2 of their document). 

Following a review of the available evidence and risk assessments carried out, an updated Species of Union Concern list was released on 17^th July 2025 to include a further 26 species, 8 plants and 18 animals.. This brings the total number of regulated species to 114. The official update to the list can be viewed here. You can view the updated consolidated list here on our website.  From the 7th August 2025 the same restrictions will apply to these newly added species as the previous 88.

It is important to note that Regulation of 2 of the 26 additional species, Castor canadensis and Neogale vision, will not enter into force until 7^th August 2027.

Some interesting updates from GB and a “Save the Date!” for Invasive Species Week 2025, which will take place from 12th-18th May this year.

Click here to download a PDF of the January 2025 issue of the GBNNSS Non-Native Species Newsletter

A HTML version of the Newsletter is available on the GBNNSS website

On 11/12 November 2024, officials from across the BIC’s Member Administrations responsible for dealing with Invasive Species attended the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Forum 2024 where Ireland’s National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency launched a consultation on their Invasive Species Theme Plan. Read more in December Newsletter

The National Biodiversity Data Centre hosted the inaugural Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Forum in Dublin on 12th November 2024. The Forum was attended by invited representatives from a wide range of sectors, including industry, public bodies, and non-governmental organisations.

This one-day event featured presentations, workshops, and feedback sessions, and facilitated debate and the exchange of information and ideas. Stakeholder engagement and collaboration are crucial for developing effective and appropriate invasive species policies, objectives, and actions.

You can view the whole programme here:

Forum programme (12th November 2024)

Invasive species are one of the five leading drivers of biodiversity loss globally. By advancing our understanding of biosecurity and invasive species across the island of Ireland, this Forum aims to help preserve our Shared Island’s unique ecosystems and safeguard our economy from the growing threat of invasive species.

The day’s proceedings kicked off with a series of presentations from guest speakers.

They can all be downloaded below:

• Curbing the global threat of biological invasions: perspectives, predictions and policy (Prof Helen Roy, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

• Ireland’s New Invasive Alien Species Regulations (Alan Moore, National Parks and Wildlife Service)

• Building on our shared progress and successes – Progress in the battle against invasive species in Northern Ireland(Rose Muir, Northern Ireland Environment Agency)

The Forum programme also included a session of short five-minute presentations to introduce attendees to various topics and stimulate thought and conversation. Thank you to the chairs of the presentation sessions who kept the speakers on time; Claire Cooper, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Dr Sara McGuckin, Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

• Tourists as vectors of biosecurity threats (Dr James Hanrahan, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo)

• An overview of the Alien Species Work Programme at BIM the Irish Seafood Development Agency (Grainne Devine, Bord Iascaigh Mhara)
  
  
• Integrating Plant Pest Risk Registers, National Surveillance and Inspector Training (Dr Conor McGee, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
  
  
• Tackling Invasive Species – progress made, building momentum(Colette O’Flynn, National Biodiversity Data Centre)
  
  

Workshops and Afternoon Sessions

In the afternoon, participants engaged in focused workshops that addressed data collection, early detection, rapid response strategies, and catchment management. These sessions provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, network, and collaborate on future work. 

Click the links below to read summaries of the Forum’s afternoon workshops:

• Workshop 1: Understanding contingency planning and rapid response.
• Workshop 2: How can we work better together to manage invasive species at a catchment level?

Information Session

A knowledge sharing session was also held, where Alan Moore (National Parks and Wildlife Service) and Rose Muir (Northern Ireland Environment Agency) hosted an open discussion on invasive species legislation in their respective jurisdictions.

Click the link below to learn the three key themes that came from this session:

Plenary information session with Alan Moore and Rose Muir: Invasive species legislation in both jurisdictions.

The Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Team produced some wonderful themed posters. They can be seen at the links below:

• Developing Invasive Species Pathway Action Plans: Dr Ann Haigh, Pathway Action Plan Officer
• Risk Assessment and Contingency Planning​: Berni Moloughney, Risk and Contingency Officer
• Engaging With People – Call to Action! Colette O’Flynn, Invasive Species Officer
• Actions On Invasives​: Kate Moore, Invasive Species Engagement Officer
• Shared Island Citizen Science and Biosecurity: Rachel Hamill, Citizen Science and Biosecurity Officer
• Towards an Invasive Species Management Strategy for Marine and Coastal Areas​: Victoria Poppleton, Marine Invasive Species Officer

Forum Close

The day concluded with a lively Q&A session, where attendees explored future approaches and audience questions were addressed.

Thank you to Prof Frances Lucy, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo for chairing this plenary session.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions. Together, we can protect our shared island’s unique biodiversity for generations to come.

If you have any queries please email us on invasivespecies@daera-ni.gov.uk 

Gallery from the Shared Island Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative Forum

Some interesting articles about marine biosecurity and a trial for zebra mussel eradication

Autumn 2024 issue of GBNNSS non-native species newsletter